ABU DHABI – While elite athletics often focus on podium finishes and medal counts, the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 is showcasing a profoundly different competitive ethos: one where participation transcends victory and community outweighs conquest. This alternative sporting philosophy finds perfect embodiment in German archers Manfred and Maria Wirsing, whose global journey exemplifies the event’s core values.
Since their inaugural Masters competition in Auckland (2017), the Wirsings have traversed continents not in pursuit of trophies but meaningful human connections. “We never win,” acknowledges 70-year-old Manfred with cheerful acceptance. “We try. We want to meet friends. Meeting people is what matters.” His wife Maria, a 62-year-old archery enthusiast for quarter-century, shares this perspective: “It’s a hobby. If you win, that’s good – but it’s not necessary.”
Their story converged with thousands of other amateur athletes during Friday’s opening ceremony, where the couple experienced a novel honor – marching behind the archery flag despite their non-competitive status. For the Wirsings, this recognition symbolized something deeper than athletic achievement: validation of their decade-long commitment to global sporting fellowship.
The ceremony itself marked a historic milestone as the first Open Masters Games hosted in the Middle East, featuring a spectacular fusion of visual effects, cultural storytelling, and live performances. Organizers introduced the concept of the “original athlete” – defined not by medals but by movement, resilience, and collective human endeavor. This narrative framework deliberately emphasized sport’s roots in daily life rather than elite performance.
Among those embodying this spirit was Emirati athlete Azza Al Ghunaimi, selected to carry the International Masters Games flag. The 49-year-old runner from Abu Dhabi described her unexpected nomination as culminating years of dedication. “When I came for rehearsals and they called my name, I felt that all these years of hard work meant something,” she reflected, preparing for her upcoming half-marathon participation.
Meanwhile, Lebanese swimmer Racha Kabbara (55) embraced both the honor and anxiety of marching before thousands. “They trained us how to walk, how to hold the flag,” she noted. “It’s not hard – but there is fear. Fear of being in front of all these people.” Kabbara’s ambitions extend far beyond these Games, with plans to attempt an Ironman triathlon at age 60.
The scale of the event is monumental: over 21,000 participants from more than 100 nations, ranging from their 30s to 91 years old, competing across 38 sports until February 15. As UAE Minister of Sports Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi emphasized, the Games represent a broader vision positioning sport as both lifestyle and unifying force.
International Masters Games Association President Sergii Bubka highlighted the inspirational message sent by nonagenarian competitors: “The desire to move has no limits.”
For the Wirsings – already planning future competitions in Kansai and New Zealand – the Abu Dhabi experience reinforces their enduring conviction. As Manfred observed while watching athletes from across the globe parade under stadium lights: “Abu Dhabi is new for us, but this community – it’s always the same spirit.” In an arena where simply participating constitutes victory, the Games continue redefining what it means to be an athlete at any age.