Registration opens for Senior Olympics
Older folks don’t need to give up competitive sports – the Senior Olympics offers a great opportunity to get in shape and outperform your peers.
The 40th anniversary edition of the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics takes place Sept. 10-24 at 25 venues throughout the region.
Participation is open to anyone age 50 by Dec. 31 who lives in one of the sponsoring jurisdictions: the counties of Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church.
Sports include track, indoor ergonomic rowing, cycling, swimming, diving, 10-pin bowling, eight and nine-ball pool, tennis, croquet, football and frisbee throw, softball hit and throw, bocce, horseshoes, cornhole, pickleball, table tennis, 5K trail race, basketball field goals and free throw, field events, racquetball, handball, line dancing, miniature golf, and badminton.
A new sport added this year is weightlifting.
There are also less-active events, including orienteering, Scrabble, crossword puzzle, Mexican train dominoes, Sudoku, Rummikub, jigsaw puzzle, mah jongg, cribbage, Bunco, duplicate bridge, canasta, yoyo, and Wii bowling.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded after each event.
Several events will be held in the Annandale/Mason District area:
- Audrey Moore Rec Center – handball and racquetball.
- Wakefield Park – tennis, football throw, frisbee throw, softball hit, and softball throw.
- Falls Church High School – field events, including long jump, shot put, discus, mini javelin, high jump, and three-mile power walk.
- Bowl America Shirley – bowling.
- Lincolnia Senior Center – cribbage and pool.
- Goodwin House, Bailey’s Crossroads – Mexican train dominoes.
Register for the 2022 Senior Olympics online. The $20 registration fee covers unlimited events. There are additional fees for 10-pin bowling, orienteering, and cycling. There is no onsite registration.
“We are expecting a record turnout as many of our indoor events were not available last year due to Covid,” says Senior Olympics Chair Herb Levitan, who has been a participant for 20 years.
The public is invited to the opening-day ceremony Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m., at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington. Several track and one rowing event will follow. All events are open to the public.
