SYDNEY, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Sydney will host the biggest ever World Masters Games, attracting more than 29,000 competitors from 106 countries and regions, Australian Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

    That makes the event two and a half times bigger than the Beijing Olympics in terms of athlete numbers.

    The two previous biggest World Masters Games were also held in Australia, with Brisbane and Melbourne both drawing over 24,000 in1994 and 2002 respectively.

    The oldest entrant is Reg Trewin, a 101-year-old lawn bowler from New South Wales while the oldest woman will be Brisbane field athlete Ruth Frith, who turns 100 this month.

    The Masters Games are for people of all levels of ability, underlined by the fact that more than 100 Olympians have registered for the October 10-18 event.

    Canadians are the most enthusiastic among foreign nations with 2,750 entrants, followed by New Zealand (1,488), the U.S. (938) and the U.K. (466).

    The top five sports are football with 2,634 competitors, athletics (2,593), softball (2,439), swimming (1,880) and rowing (1,584).