If you are over 50 and enjoyed watching the Olympics, it is not too late to take your chance and you don’t even have to learn obstacle course racing or break dancing.
In fact, here in Virginia, you can even participate in non-sporting events like puzzles and Scrabble.
The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics, founded in 1982, are back for another year of competition. People over 50 can register through August 29 to compete in competitions ranging from athletics such as rowing, pickleball and horseshoes to board and card games such as Sudoku and Canasta.
The games begin on September 14 with the opening ceremony at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington, but events will be held at 26 different locations throughout the region.
Participants pay a fee of $20 to participate in as many Events as much as they can. This year, the pickleball competition for ages 50 to 59 will be held near Prince William County at the Manassas Park Community Center.
Last year, more than 900 participants took part in the games, said Mike Coleman, vice chairman and treasurer of the Senior Olympics. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded, but the games are more about camaraderie than competition, he said.
“Nobody takes it so seriously that they forget that it’s fun and that it’s a great way for people to express themselves,” Coleman said.
The events promote both activity and an opportunity for people to come together, says Adrienne Lopez, Prince William County representative on the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics committee.
“Many seniors are isolated and this gives them the opportunity to interact with their peers and like-minded people who are also working toward the same goals,” Lopez said.
Movement is also a stimulus of the games and is beneficial at any age. It’s inspiring to see that, says Coleman.
“Some of these competitions even have people in their 90s taking part,” he said. “To see them in rowing events, for example, it’s just great to see people of that age who still have the mental capacity and willpower to go out there.”
While there are physically demanding events such as athletics and cycling, the Senior Olympics also feature events such as Wii Bowling and Mahjong. The Wii Bowling competition takes place in a senior living facility.
“It gets a lot of the residents who don’t normally get out much out doing something,” Coleman said. “They get to participate in an event they enjoy and they know they have something to look forward to next year. It helps break the daily grind that we all struggle with, no matter how old we are.”
Judy Massabny, who has been involved in organizing the event for 23 years, said that because of the variety of events, virtually everyone can find something for themselves.
“Look at our list,” she said. “And I bet you’ll find something on the list that you can do.”
A big part of the fun is watching friends and family at the games, Massabny said. People are proud to participate in the games.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Massabny said. “People feel good because they can still do different things. Their families feel good too because their parents, grandparents or friends are out there doing something. So it’s just a wonderful thing for seniors to get involved in and they seem to enjoy it a lot.”
