(by Steve Hopkins)

Countdown to the Games?  80 Days

The 2024 Pan Am Masters Games kicks off in Cleveland on July 12th, just 80 days from today.  Butterfly will be there.  Butterfly and Bowmar Sports are the sponsors for this huge, Olympic-style event that will include twelve age categories (starting at age 30 and increasing up to 80+) across a range of singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.  Para athletes are also invited to compete in the same age divisions – competing against all other athletes.

The Games will be held in the Cleveland Public Auditorium in the heart of downtown – a 220,000 square foot event space known for cultural, art, and sports events.  A number of activities are now planned between the Welcome Celebration on July 13 and the Farewell Celebration on July 21.  On July 16, there will be a Rock and Roll Party at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  On July 10, there is a special night at Progressive Field at the Cleveland Guardians game.  And on July 21st, there is a 5k run.  The Pan Am Masters Games will be fun for the athletes and their families – and Cleveland is rolling out the red carpet to make everyone feel welcome.

The Pan American Masters Games were first organized in Vancouver in 2016.  These Games are organized by the International Masters Games Association, which hosts regional “masters” (or seniors) events and has hosted a World Masters Games since 1985.  The World Masters Games has grown to include more than three times as many athletes as the Olympic Games making it the world’s largest international participatory multi-sport event.

Bowmar Sports is a natural partner of the Pan American Masters Games, as Bowmar has helped bring Butterfly sponsorship to events not just in the United States but also in Canada, Puerto Rico, and throughout this Hemisphere in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.  Bowmar Sports also supports the Butterfly Puerto Rico Open – the largest USATT sanctioned event outside of the contiguous “lower” 48 States.

Join thousands of athletes from around the world as senior athletes compete in 26 medal-contending sports from table tennis to cycling to basketball to track and field.  A full sports program for the Pan Am Masters is available here.  We look forward to seeing you in Cleveland this Summer.

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