World Masters Games, Sydney 2009

[Alex L]

I wonder how many International shooters intend coming to Sydney next year for the World Masters Games.

I competed in the Melbourne Games in 2002, which was excellent, well organized, and reasonably priced.

I was not able to go to the Edmonton Games, unfortunately. I heard very good reports of it. I don't know what the Registration Fees were, but I heard that some accomodation was a bit expensive.

I have been planning to go to the Sydney Games, but have just found out that the Registration Fee is $220 Australian. This, I feel, is a bit excessive.
I know it has put a few shooters off from going. Add 5 days competition, transport, and accomodation, and it is getting very expensive. --- Especially as most "Masters" are retirees!

I know the competiton will be excellently organized at the Olympic Shooting Range, and with electronic targets everywhere. You will need a bit of training to get used to it. I have only shot on 50m electronic targets a couple of times in Melbourne.

How does the Registration Fee match up to other International competitions?

Regards, Alex L.

[methosb]

The large reg fee is because it is at the Sydney Olympic range. Always is when at that range for any comp there unfortunately.

[David Levene]

How does the Registration Fee match up to other International competitions?

If you are thinking about World Cups then ISSF rule 3.7.7 applies:-

"Entry fees must be paid to the Organizing Committee upon request. A
fee of US$ 150.00 will be paid for each shooter entered in each event. This fee will be retained by the Organizing Committee; they must forward a fee of US$ 5.00 for each shooter in each event to the ISSF within 30 days after the Championships. No further fees can be collected for shooters, but see also 3.7.7.1 to 3.7.7.3.3. A fee of US$50.00 must be paid for each official."

[Spencer]

This is not an ISSF Champiionship. 3.7.7 is not applicable.

The A$220 fee is for the Games - irrespective of the number of sports or disciplines. I.e. for that fee you could shoot, play golf, swim...

Spencer

[Shooter]

Hi, everyone. I am glad someone mentioned the WMG. I have competed in 4 so far and Sydney will be the 5th. When Portland hosted these Games, they had a similar entry fee for everyone. The fee is a little high, but at the same time, you get to travel to another country, compete on some world class and Olympic sites, travel around the area before or afterwards and have a general good time. I have been working for years to improve the entries for the shooting sports and have just gotten in my second package of brochures about the WMG to send to or give to shooting friends to encourage them to attend. For instance, for me to make the trip from Oregon down there, stay for at least a week and likely 2 weeks, and then return home will cost at least $3000, but I feel that it is worth every penny. First off, I like to travel-although the trip there and back is no good but the time spent on site is great, then I like to compete and especially get together with friends that I have not seen for some time, and I just might win a medal or two!!
So, please, don't think too much about the entry fee and just go and enjoy. It will really be worth the trip. Also, I worked at the World Cup prior to the Olympics and that range complex is great. I look forward to shooting and competing on it. There are lower cost lodgings around the area, too. I will more likely stay at the same place I did while working sat the W.C. It was nice and priced right.
Hope to see some of you down there, Don in Oregon

[Fred Mannis]

USD200 doesn't sound like too high a fee for a week of shooting. I just registered for the USAS National Championship matches and paid USD300 in fees to shoot AP, FP, and SP.

[Sawyer]

So just how much of a p.i.t.a. would it be to fly from here to Australia with guns? And then leave them somewhere whilst I vacationed some? Is that kind of thing easily arranged? Are the laws there particularly difficult to navigate?

Anyone from the states done it on their own?

I can, and will, talk to Dave Johnson at the OTC, but thought I'd start here since the idea was tossed out here. It's an intriguing thought...

[Shooter]

Sawyer: It is no big deal, really. I have travelled to Australia and New Zealand many times and it has been a fairly easy trip. But, you need to do your paperwork ahead of time. I have forms here for both countries for a temp. permit/license. What I do is to make out the papers, about a month or so ahead of time, then make a couple of copies. I mail one to the Customs/Police office at the airport where I will be going into. When I arrive, i go through the customs kiosk, and ask where the police office is. Go there and tell them who I am, etc. They check my rifle(s) to see if I brought what I said I was going to bring, they sign the forms, give me a copy and I pay them the 20-30 dollars Aus or NZ and I am on my way and out the door in 5 minutes or less looking for my rental car. As for storage while touring around, don't bother with that unless you just don't want to haul the gun case, etc into the motel every night. I would expect that you could store your gear at the Sydney Int'l Range for a few days or so with little or no problem. I know they have lots of storage rooms and the only thing would be to make sure that someone would be there when you get ready to go home that could give you your stuff back. But, really, it is no big deal to travel down there with firearms. I have done it, to both Aus. and NZ, many times and have had no problems. Just do the paperwork in advance and try not to make waves. Just go along with them, but people are so accomodating it is really no problem. Hope this helps. Don in Oregon.

[Slo cat]

I shot in the last WMG in Edmonton and I am planning to attend the Sidney Games in 2009, bringing along my wife this time. I met some wonderful Aussies in Edmonton and hope to meet them again, as well as many more in Sidney. After the Edmonton WMG, two Aussie couples visited us in the Denver area as they were touring the Western USA.

I too am interested in staying about a week longer to see as much of Australia as we can. Don, thanks for the information about bringing firearms into Oz. It really wasn't too bad doing the paperwork to bring them into Canada either. Don, as we get closer to the Games, I will be asking you about your suggestions for accomodations.

Best Regards,
Slo cat

[Nev C]

I shot in the last WMG in Edmonton and I am planning to attend the Sidney Games in 2009, bringing along my wife this time. I met some wonderful Aussies in Edmonton and hope to meet them again, as well as many more in Sidney. After the Edmonton WMG, two Aussie couples visited us in the Denver area as they were touring the Western USA.

IBest Regards,
Slo cat

It's actually the Sydney WMG.