Do you enjoy meeting people, participating in activities and even learning something new? Are you willing to challenge yourself and enjoy life to the best of your ability?
If you have answered "Yes!" to these questions then why not add participating in the 2014 BC Seniors Games to your bucket list. Over 3,700 seniors aged 55-94 participated this year in Kamloops. Olga Kotelko, aged 94, was honoured for her outstanding passion for the Games and she didn't even start competing until she was 77 years old.
There are many wonderful stories about the various participants at the Games and the vast range of abilities in each of the events, says Judy Francis, the Zone 2 Area 4 representative. There are some truly outstanding athletes but there's also a huge majority of participants who just want to be involved, try their best and enjoy the wonderful BC Seniors Games experience.
There are over 18 events to choose from: archery, badminton, bridge, carpet bowling, cribbage, cycling, darts, dragon boating, five-pin bowling, floor curling, golf, horseshoes, ice curling, ice hockey, lawn bowling, pickleball, slo-pitch, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field and whist. Generally, you would be competing with others in your age category but this could vary depending on the specific activity.
The 2013 BC Seniors Games were held in Kamloops in August and the organizing committee, volunteers and the city of Kamloops are to be congratulated for making us all feel so welcome, Francis said. "They really know how to throw a party and that's not an easy thing to do with over 4,000 participants and guests invited."
We competed, danced till we dropped, met friends from previous games, made some wonderful new friends and came home winners with smiles on our faces – some even had medals! The dragon boaters definitely get into the spirit of the Games and even had their own beer tent conveniently located at the finish line of the race.
Courtenay/Comox is in Zone 2 which includes Campbell River, Fanny Bay, Ladysmith, Parksville, Port Alberni and Qualicum Beach. The zone is again divided into areas and Courtenay/Comox is Area 4 which stretches from Fanny Bay to Black Creek. There were 350 participants in Kamloops from Zone 2 winning 253 medals coming fourth overall.
The 2014 BC Seniors Games will be held in Langley Sept. 9-13 so why not join the team and have some fun? "Men and women do not quit playing because they grow old, they grow old because they quit playing" – Oliver Wendell Holmes.
– BC Seniors Games