Last Saturday, August 1st, the 2009 Summer National Senior Games started in San Francisco. HAPPYneuron was proud to be present with its sponsoring partner Humana.
Senior Games, you’re saying? Surely, seniors can be active and do regular exercise but doesn’t the term “games” involve a competition? Are seniors actually able to compete in a sports competition?
The answer is yes, they are, and the Summer National Senior Games, also known as the Senior Olympics (the first edition took place in 1987) gives men and women age 50 and older the opportunity to compete in their favorite sport, just like proper athletes.
Like Vivian Stancil, 56, who is blind and has been swimming for years, thus losing 135 pounds and being able to compete at events like the Senior Olympics, the exercise making her feel much happier. Then, there is also Johnie, 82, and Dee, 78, Howard who have been playing tennis, even taking part in competitions, ever since they married in 1995!
The Senior Olympics does not merely provide excellent exercise for older adults but also provides something else very important: the opportunity to socialize and meet new people that share a common interest.
The Summer National Senior Games website gives excellent advice about preparation, training, and workout, all need to do is click on your sport - whether you wish to try out for the 2011 Senior Olympics or just for fun of keeping fit!