The athlete recruitment drive for the 2016 Alice Springs Masters Games has begun.

Games operational staff are travelling to the South Australian Masters Games in the Clare Valley this week to spread the word about the Masters Games in Alice Springs from 8-15 October.

Alice Springs Masters Games General Manager Jim Lawrie said 2016 marked 30 years since the first Games were held in the Red Centre in 1986.

“South Australia traditionally has the largest contingent of athletes outside of the Northern Territory to attend the Games so it seemed fitting that we begin our awareness drive there,” he said.

“We may still be 19 months away from our Games but it is never too early to get participants to save the date, especially as we are reaching such a milestone.

“Alice Springs is host to Australia’s longest-running Masters Games and we’re planning to make it bigger and better in 2016.

“Part of our recruitment drive is to get as many athletes who have participated in the past 30 years to make 2016 the year that they return to compete. Last year we had 3800 athletes and volunteers taking part and we expect even more next year.

“And with our 30th anniversary slogan of Enter, Compete, Have Fun, the 2016 Games are bound to live up to their reputation as the The Friendly Games.”

Mr Lawrie said the trip to Clare was the start of an athlete recruitment drive to major Australian sporting events in 2015 that would include the Gold Coast Marathon and the Australian Masters Games in Adelaide.

Registrations for the 2016 Alice Springs Masters Games open in October 2015.

Countdown: 562 days to the start of the 2016 Alice Springs Masters Games

Media queries: Andrea Allen 0401 119467.