By Brad Allen, President and Executive Director of Senior Games
Though the author of the adage is unknown, it is a fact that “You don’t quit playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing”!
In fact, healthy aging is just “par for the course” for over 60,000 year-round participants in the nation’s largest senior Olympic-style program, including North Carolina Senior Games (NCSG).
Approaching its thirtieth anniversary this year, NCSG, Inc., began with a vision of establishing a year-round program for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention for persons 55 and better (not “older”) across North Carolina!
Beginning with just three model Local Senior Games (Charlotte, Wilmington and Haywood), there are now 53 Local Games serving all 100 counties across the state with programs designed to keep citizens active and healthy across the lifespan.
There are many facets to Senior Games in North Carolina. Obviously, there are sports – track and field, team sports such as softball and basketball, bowling, archery and the list goes on. In addition, there is an award-winning walking program in SilverStriders, a line dancing program in SilverLiners and the wonderful Silver Arts program of visual, literary, heritage and performing arts. (North Carolina is the only Senior Games program in the country with a SilverArts component.)
The value of the program to its participants has been measured through scientific research at various times, most recently in 2010. Not surprisingly, the self-perceived health status of Senior Games participants is widely viewed as “Excellent” or “Very Good.” More than 75 percent of respondents said that training and preparation for Senior Games is part of their regular weekly activity. Once folks get involved in Senior Games, they stay involved. And retention is high: 88 percent have never thought about stopping!
Equally remarkable is the diverse array of organizations that host Local Senior Games across the state. Some programs are housed in senior centers or parks and recreation departments while others have homes in Area Agencies on Aging or Councils on Aging. Through each of these important local programs, qualifiers compete each year in State Finals, held every fall in the greater Raleigh area. The first State Finals in 1985 drew 727 participants over three days; today there are over 3,000 competitors for 17 days of sports and arts events!
A private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, North Carolina Senior Games relies upon the support of over 3,000 volunteers year-round. More than 1,000 volunteers give their time for State Finals alone! In addition to this incredible in-kind support, NCSG also relies upon the support of individual contributors and corporate sponsors. Major sponsors are Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, NC Farm Bureau, Genworth Financial and Rex Hospital.The 53 Local Games will be starting up soon, so visit www.ncseniorgames.org to get involved today! Come out and play with us.