Useful Facts
Download Entry Booklet here.
Visa Information
Sacramento’s organizing committee looks
forward to having athletes from all over
the world join us for the 2011 WMA
Championships. Depending on the country
or residence and passport status, athletes may
need to qualify for a visa to enter the United
States. We realize that obtaining a visa is time
consuming, but our goal is to help the process
as easy as possible by providing sufficient
resources to determine the
proper documentation needed in
each athlete’s situation.
The chart below references the current countries (as of May 2009) where qualified visitors can enter the U.S. without a visa. Most Canadian citizens do not require a visa. Due to the strict entry procedures enacted by the United States, it is one of the safest countries in the world to visit.
For information on the Visa Waiver Program, visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/
without_1990.html. As of June 2009, 35 countries
participate in the Visa Waiver Program: |
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There are various types of nonimmigrant visas for temporary visitors to travel to the United States. Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country to make sure you are applying for the correct visa. (For a list of U.S. embassies, see www.usembassy.gov.)
In most cases, the correct visa application
for athletes competing in the 2011 WMA
Championships is Visa Types for Temporary
Visitors (B-1). The correct visa application
for families is B-2. See http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/
types_1265.html for more
information on visa types.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security began accepting Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications on August 1, 2008. ESTA is a free, automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications may be completed online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. An ESTA authorization generally will be valid for up to two years. Authorizations will be valid for multiple entries into the United States. ESTA applications should be submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans.
Organizing committee
The Sacramento Sports Commission is the
local organizing committee for the 2011
WMA Championships. In its 20-year history,
the Sports Commission, under the leadership
of CEO John McCasey, has brought and
directed some of the biggest track meets in the
world. Sacramento played host to the 2000 and
2004 U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Trials, four
NCAA Outdoor Championships, one U.S.
Championships and one Junior Olympics.
The WMA Championships will benefit
from the Sports Commission’s expertise.
Additionally, the Sports Commission has
brought numerous other major sporting
events to Sacramento, including four NCAA
men’s basketball tournaments and the NCAA
Women’s Volleyball Championships. For more
information, visit www.sacsports.com.
Currency
U.S. dollar.
Language
The primary language is English. Spanish
remains widely spoken throughout the state,
and many government forms, documents and
services are bilingual (English and Spanish).
Forty percent of California residents speak a
language other than English at home.
Weather
Sacramento enjoys a Mediterranean climate
with mild year-round temperatures. Summers
are dry with little humidity and an abundance
of sunshine. The average temperature in July is
88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 Celsius). It virtually
never rains in July – the average rainfall for the
month is 0.1 inches.
Medical services
There will be first aid at each of the sports
venues. UC Davis Medical Center, Sutter
General, Mercy and Kaiser Permanente have
hospitals near the venues.
Doping control
The doping regulations of WMA will be
followed in Sacramento. All athletes must be
aware that doping is not allowed and violators
will be suspended from competition. For
information on doping control, please visit
www.masters-athletics.org. WMA’s web site
provides information about the necessary
documentation and procedures in case athletes
are using medication for an illness. Please refer to www.wma2011.com for news and updates as the 2011 WMA Championships draw nearer.
