Demand Exceeds Expectations – Over 900 registered in hours for the Winter World Masters Games 2028

The full competition programme for the Winter World Masters Games 2028, the largest winter sports event for adult athletes, has been published, and registration is off to a flying start. More than 900 masters athletes registered within the first few hours, around 23 per cent of the target. Figure skating is already practically sold out. The ten-day Games take place on 14–23 January 2028 in Lahti, Heinola and Levi.

Registration opened on Monday 2 November for just under 3,000 pre-registered athletes. Most of them were interested in figure skating, and one in six was interested in more than one sport.

That is the very idea of the Masters Games: alongside your main sport, you can pick others from the ten-day programme. At the 2028 Games, a single entry fee covers three sports, and each sport offers several events to choose from.

Tomi-Pekka Kolu, CEO of Salppuri Oy, the company organising the Games, is pleased with the result. The programme across three host cities and multiple venues is complete, and registration opened just over a year before the Games.

“The ambitious ten-day programme across 14 sports is now in place. It responds to the demand for winter sports and also showcases local, Finnish sports. Our cooperation with the three host communities began while the programme was still being built, and we believe the schedule will work well for every participant,” says Kolu.

Salppuri Oy organises the Games in cooperation with the City of Lahti, the City of Heinola and Levi in Kittilä.

Figure Skating and Biathlon Lead the Way – 41 Countries Already In

Figure Skating drew the most interest in the first 18 hours. More than 600 athletes, or 66 per cent of all registrants, chose figure skating, and the sport is practically sold out. There is already a waiting list as well.

Biathlon is the second most popular sport with 123 participants. Around twenty Synchronized Skating teams have already registered. After the first day, Cross-Country skiing and the Winter Trail Run complete the top five.

The first day confirms that the Games will be truly international, with registrants from 41 countries. Europeans make up 46 per cent of participants, but the largest single country is Canada with 240 participants, followed by the United States and Australia. The largest age group is 55–64, accounting for 27 per cent of registrants.

“The registration launch was brilliant. Adult athletes are enthusiastic and will travel a long way for the major championships in their sport. Early indications also suggest that they stay for a long time and enjoy meeting fellow competitors at community events,” says Kolu, describing what drives masters athletes and events.

Ten Days, 14 Sports and 48 Medal Events

The Games open on 14 January 2028 and are expected to bring together 4,000 participants. Competitions take place at ten venues in five locations.

Lahti is the heart of the Games, with competitions at Lahti Sports Center, Wemasto Areena, RTK Arena and Kisapuisto. Ice Hockey is played in Vierumäki and Heinola, and Heinola also hosts Winter Disc Golf. Pajulahti hosts Curling and the Winter Swimming championships. Alpine Skiing takes place in Levi.

The full programme is available at masters2028.com/programme.

Registration Opens to All on 9 November 2026

For everyone who did not pre-register, registration opens on Monday 9 November 2026. Anyone aged 30 or over can take part. No licence or club membership is required: registering is all it takes.