Golden Oldies World Netball Festivals were first launched in 1984 when the innaugral Festival was held in Auckland, New Zealand.
The philosophy of the Festivals have always been the same - to provide an opportunity to travel to different places for a fun week with like-minded enthusiasts. Its advent has changed people's lives and resulted in many of them travelling away from their home countries for the first time.
Festivals have been held in the following locations
| 1984 | Auckland | New Zealand |
| 1986 | Vancouver | Canada |
| 1988 | Brisbane | Australia |
| 1990 | Christchurch | New Zealand |
| 1992 | Cook Islands | |
| 1994 | Singapore | |
| 1996 | Fiji | |
| 1998 | Adelaide | Australia |
| 2000 | Hawaii | |
| 2002 | Gold Coast | Australia |
| 2005 | Cook Islands | |
| 2007 | Perth | Australia |
| 2009 | Queenstown | New Zealand |
How does a city win the bid to host a World Festival?
The first consideration is the ability of the Host City to provide the facilities and services to ensure an enjoyable Festival. The World Secretariat and Air New Zealand consider all applications, looking at such issues as:
- The attractiveness and appeal of the city for Golden Oldies and their partners and families. (Questionnaires are sent to Golden Oldies teams seeking their preferences for destinations and their Festival expectations).
- The range and standard of sporting facilities available.
- The availability of suitable, reasonably priced accommodation meeting the different needs of teams.
- The availability and ability of a Festival committee to plan and manage a successful Festival.
- The opportunity the Festival will create to support the sport at a local level.
Attendance at a Golden Oldies World Festival can be to experience the indescribable. Participants expect the games will be highly organised and the whole Festival a masterpiece of co-ordination, but importantly they are there for the true love of their sport.
