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Bouncing around a tennis court in Alice Springs, 87-year-old Raymond Maher is already dreaming about the future.
"I hope to keep going as long as I can," he says with a laugh, sending a ball flying across the court.
Raymond Maher is one of the oldest competitors in this year's Alice Springs Masters Games. (ABC Alice Springs: Hamish Harty)
The Alice Springs local is one of the oldest participants in this year's Masters Games — a week-long sports event open mostly to people aged 30 and over.
He has competed in every games since the first — in 1986 — and he does not plan on laying down his racket soon.
"It's two years until the next one," he says.
"Hopefully I'll see how I go and try to keep fit enough to have another hit."
More than 1,200 competitors gathered in Alice Springs for this year's games. (Supplied: NT Major Events Company)
Games return after six years
This week, the Alice Springs Masters Games returned to the Red Centre.
The ordinarily biennial national sporting event has not run since 2018 due to a series of postponements and cancellations.
The Alice Springs competition is the oldest of all the Masters Games events held in Australia, and the longest-running event of its kind.
Some competitors are concerned this six-year hiatus, as well as increased cost-of-living pressures, soaring airfares, and negative crime coverage has sparked a steep downturn in volunteer and participant numbers.
The Alice Springs games is the longest-running event of its kind in the country. (Supplied: NT Major Events Company)
The event drew about 3,800 competitors in 2018, but this year it attracted about 1,250.
Multiple sports also withdrew in the months leading up to the event, including swimming, cricket, rugby union, dirt biking, squash, baseball, and soccer.
"I think if we didn't have [the games] this year, they would've probably been gone forever," Mr Maher says.
Alice Springs local Debbie Page has broken two road-walking records this year. (ABC Alice Springs: Charmayne Allison)
Records broken at games
Debbie Page is one fan celebrating the return of the games, which she says is all about building friendships and "having a go".
"There's just magic in the air," she says.
"Whether you're good at sports or ordinary, there are so many things you can do and it's so much fun."
The Alice Springs Masters Games are mostly open to people aged 30 and over. (Supplied: NT Major Events Company)
The Alice Springs local has competed in 14 events this year, breaking records in the over-65 age group for the 5km and 10km road walk by about five minutes and 16 minutes respectively.
"It just shows that we can have these little personal goals at any age," she says.
In cycling, Alice Springs rider Marcel Angles, 34, also broke a Masters Games record this year, riding the 500m from a standing start in 36.84 seconds.
The multi-sport event has returned after a six-year hiatus. (Supplied: NT Major Events Company)
Uncertain future for event
Despite low numbers, the NT Major Events Company says it has been a "busy", "enthusiastic", and "energetic" games.
However, organisers have stopped short of ensuring its future.
"Every event that [we] deliver is thoroughly reviewed after it's been completed," head of events Aimee Luxton says.
"We consult with our stakeholders, with community groups, and we will do that same process for the Alice Springs Masters Games."
This year's Alice Springs Masters Games has been smaller than previous events. (Supplied: NT Major Events Company)
Competitors like Ms Page say the continuation of the games is vital for the town.
"We need something to focus on that's really uplifting and positive," she says.
"I think after these games, the community's going to be much more positive about it. And more sports that were sitting on the fence will see this and they'll come back bigger and stronger."