Radio personality Grant Kereama has been selected as one of the ambassadors for the 2017 Masters Games in Whanganui.

The Games Ambassadors were announced at a launch event in Whanganui on Thursday night.

Kereama, who is from Whanganui, is joined by indoor bowls champion Sean Johnson and retired New Zealand professional road and track cyclist Cath Cheatley.

The Masters Games are on from February 3 to 12. Held alternately with Dunedin it will be the 28th time the event is held.

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Registrations are now open.

Whanganui Events Trust CEO Kathy Cunningham said "we have chosen 50 sports including marathon, touch rugby, table tennis golf, basketball, archery, athletics, blokart racing and Waka Ama.

"It is important that people realise you don't need to be an elite athlete to compete, nor do you need to qualify. Just register online, get your sports gear on and come to Whanganui!"

She said in a New Zealand Masters Games first, a lavish opening ceremony will be held at Cooks Gardens, the site where Peter Snell broke the world record for the mile in 1964.

"It will be a party like Whanganui hasn't seen before, with world-class entertainment."

The games are the country's largest multi-sport event, she said.


The Whanganui Events Trust expects about 5000 competitors to take part.

"With the World Masters Games being scheduled for April 2017 in Auckland, the Whanganui games will provide a rich training ground for competitors to perfect their performances" she said.

There are some changes this year.

"We have moved the Games Village from Springvale to the War Memorial Centre in town, where it will be transformed with a European-style square.

"The Village will play host to seminars, an Expo, several sports and entertainment, which non-competitors and the community will also be able to enjoy.

"In true Masters Games style, the social side of competition is also celebrated and encouraged. While we are promoting participating in sport throughout all stages of life, competition and camaraderie are equally celebrated."