The 29th Masters Games, which is being sponsored by the Otago Daily Times, get under way in Dunedin in February and early-bird entries are being accepted up until November 30.
Among the many athletes returning are a local group of four couples who met playing bridge.
It has fallen on Wakari Primary School deputy principal Stacey Gribben (57) to organise the crew and they are still deciding which event they will enter as a team.
They compete individually as well, so finding a event which does not clash can be a struggle.
Gribben, who has been competing at the Masters Games for more than 20 years, said between the original eight and the two additions, they had done everything from step aerobics to tenpin bowling.
In all, she estimated they had tried about 30 different events with varying success over the years.
But sometimes what has started out as a bit of a fun has developed into something different, Gribben said.
Neville and Stefany Frost tried petanque at the Masters Games one year and Neville has gone on to represent New Zealand and Stefany is the president of the national body.
Then there was the blokes’ step aerobics team. The men were looking for an event in which to to compete and Gribben, who loves aerobics, suggested they give it a go.
"It took them a year of actual training to learn how to do step aerobics," she said.
"But they did and they did a really good job and got a great reception."
"They did win gold. The fact that they were the only competitors in their section was irrelevant as they really had put in a huge effort to get there."
That sums up the Masters Games, Gribben said. It is not just about the competition but about being active and social.
"And for us it is about doing stuff that might take you out of your comfort zone a little bit."
Two years ago, the group competing in marching minus the pleated skirts — they opted for a khaki ensemble instead.
"We got nowhere but we were competing against people who had done marching for their whole lives ... and they had pleated skirts.
"But because [our team] had the only men in it, some of the older ladies at the marching could not keep their hands off the men.
"There were these 70-year-old ladies coming up and touching their chests.
"It was so funny. We have a heck of a lot of fun but we did take it seriously."
