Staff Reports
World Masters Athletics (WMA) announced on Wednesday that Alachua County will host the 2025 WMA Indoor Championships (WMACi25).
It will mark the first time the event will be held in the United States. WMA, the international governing body for track & field, cross country, road race, and racewalk for athletes 35+, holds the WMACi25 event every two years.
Alachua County signaled its interest in hosting the WMACi25 in May 2023 at a Board of County Commissioners meeting.
In the WMA announcement, WMA Council President Margit Jungmann thanked the Alachua County, RADD Sports and the Gainesville Sports Commission for hosting WMACi25.
“We are confident their team is exceptionally qualified and capable of organizing a World Championship as they support over seventy sporting events annually,” said Jungmann in the press release. “It will be special having outdoor events in warmer average temperatures than previous Championships and returning to North America.”
The WMACi25 will feature 24 events that include competition in indoor track & field, road race, outdoor events and cross country over eight days.
More than 4,000 athletes participated in the 2023 WMACi championships held in Torun, Poland. Over 10,000 visitors, with over 60% coming from outside the U.S., are projected to visit Alachua County in March 2025.
“My fellow commissioners and I want to thank the WMA Council and its member federations for choosing us to host this amazing international event. We are excited to welcome the world in 2025! We will provide a wonderful experience for all our regional, national, and international visitors,” said Mary Alford, Chair of the Alachua County Commission, in the press release. “Alachua County’s experience hosting major events, our world-class facilities and amenities, rich sports history, and cultural, natural, and entertainment offerings make it the ideal location for the World Masters Indoor Championships.”
The bid committee consisted of Alachua County, Celebration Pointe, RADDSports, Viking Companies, Visit Gainesville/Alachua County and the Gainesville Sports Commission. With the WMA announcement, the Alachua County Local Organizing Committee will now be activated to organize the international event.
“We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with the State of Florida, Alachua County, and our community partners to introduce Alachua County to the world stage,” said Celebration Pointe developer Svein Dyrkolbotn in the press release. “This success demonstrates the power of sport tourism to bring exposure to our community as a destination.”
The event will be held at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center (ACSEC) at Celebration Pointe which had an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony officially opened in June 2023. A dedication ceremony was held for the Jimmy Carnes Track in January 2023.
In early 2023, the center hosted a pre-opening indoor track and field season. The WMA announcement comes prior to the 2024 indoor track & field series at the ACSEC that will feature 16 meets with four collegiate conference championships and a national championship.
“This announcement, and very special event, will put Florida on the world stage to showcase talented athletes from across the globe,” said state Rep. Chuck Clemons, speaker pro-tempore, in the press release. “The economic impacts of this event, and games like it, have on our community are opportunities that all Florida communities pray for.”
This is fantastic. So many Olympians that have trained in Gainesville would have incentive to compete here. Gainesville is historically a great sponsor and organizer of track and field events.