Senior Olympics

The National Senior Games (Senior Olympics) are a sports competition for senior citizens in the United States. It is conducted by the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) once every two years. Akin to the Summer Olympics, it is a multi-sport event devoted to adults above the age of 50. It consists of regional competitions held yearly in all states of the US.

Senior Olympics (NSGA)
OrganisersNational Senior Games Association
Start dateMay 10
End dateMay 23
Host cityFort Lauderdale (2022)
LevelNational
TypeMasters athletics

History

The games were founded by Warren Blaney.[1] In 1969, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission approved the 1970 meet.[2] In June 1970 the first Senior Olympics took place at the Los Angeles Coliseum (1970 known as Senior Sports International Meet).[3] The games continued in the 1970s and 1980s in the Los Angeles and Orange County, California.[4] Today the meet is known as the Senior Games (or Senior Olympics). The Senior Games are now held in every state in the USA.[5] In 1985 National Senior Olympics Organization (NSOO) was formed, and in 1990 NSGA took over control of the Senior Games.[6]

A 1987 version attracted 2,500 people. Recent attendance (Louisville, 2007) had over 10,000 competitors and 20,000 spectators, with oldest competitors being over 100 years old.[7]

In 2021 there are currently five regions under NSGA: Great Lakes, Northeast, Pacific, Southeast, and West.[8] These national games are supported by the National Senior Games Association.[9]

The Huntsman World Senior Games is an international senior sports competition begun in 1987. The 27 athletic events held in Southern Utah begin with the torch lighting in traditional Olympic fashion during the Opening Ceremonies.[10]

Summary
Man with a bronze medal in swimming from the 2022 Senior Games.

Summer
M50 800 meters at 2022 games

The Senior Summer Olympics are conducted from 1970 the present day.[11]

Number Year Host City Number of Sports Number of Athletes
1 1987 St. Louis 15 2,500
2 1989 St. Louis 16 3,400
3 1991 Syracuse 18 3,400
4 1993 Baton Rouge 18 7,200
5 1995 San Antonio 18 8,200
6 1997 Tucson 10 10,300
7 1999 Orlando 12 12,000
8 2001 Baton Rouge 18 8,700
9 2003 Hampton Roads 18 10,700
10 2005 Pittsburgh 18 11,100
11 2007 Louisville 18 12,000
12 2009 Palo Alto 18 10,000
13 2011 Houston 18 10,100
14 2013 Cleveland 19 10,881
15 2015 Bloomington-Minneapolis-St.Paul 19 9,989
16 2017 Birmingham 19 10,530
17 2019 Albuquerque 20 13,882
18 2021 (postponed to 2022) Fort Lauderdale 21 11,938
19 2023 Pittsburgh TBD TBA

Winter

The Senior Winter Olympics were held from 2000 to 2011.[12]

Number Year Host City Number of Athletes
1 2000 Lake Placid 265
2 2002 Lake Placid 240
3 2003 Buffalo 640
4 2004 Blaine 560
5 2005 Blaine 440
6 2006 Blaine 500
7 2007 Blaine 420
8 2008 Providence 500
9 2009 Fort Lauderdale 410
10 2010 Rochester 260
11 2011 Rochester 250

State Games Regions

NSGA State Regions:[13]

  1. Northeast (12): Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C.
  2. Southeast (12): Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
  3. Great Lakes (8): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin
  4. West (9): Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming
  5. Pacific (10): Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Senior State Games

Source:[14]

Empire State Senior Games


USOC Festivals

The USOC Sports Festivals were in the 80s. Teams of North, East, South and West competed in a domestic Olympics.

Many states have held and still hold Sports Festivals.
Master and Senior Games

NSGA Qualifying Games

Veterans Games

Canada Games

Sports

Individual Sports Competitions in the Senior Games:

Team Sports Competitions:

Non-Ambulatory Sports Competitions:

  • Non-Ambulatory Bowling
  • Non-Ambulatory Cornhole
  • Ambulatory Shuffleboard

See also

References
  1. Austin American-Statesman, Austin, TX, Mar 10, 1975. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2020
  2. Coliseum Commission 1969; via LA84 Library. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2020
  3. San Bernardino County Sun, June 23, 1970. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2020
  4. MastersHistory. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2020
  5. NSGA. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2020
  6. NSGA 1987. Retrieved Jan 18, 2021
  7. NSGA 1987. Retrieved Jan 18, 2021
  8. NSGA Jan 18, 2021. Retrieved Jan 18, 2021
  9. NSGA. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2020
  10. World Senior Games. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2020
  11. https://nsga.com/history/
  12. https://nsga.com/wintergames/
  13. https://nsga.com/nsga-regions/
  14. https://nsga.com/state-games-information/
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