Game(s) on in Corvallis for the Oregon Senior Games!

Randal C. Hill

50plus Magazine

Hey, you, there on the couch! Get up and circle these dates! Aug 11-14 and 18-21. Why? It’s time for the 2nd annual Oregon Senior Games, a good time guaranteed for the not-ready-for-the-rocker-yet set. Athletes of all skill levels age 50 and better are welcome in multiple events at the event hosted in Corvallis.

Photos of the 18 sports offered at the Games appear on the website, https://oregonseniorgames.com, which include everything from archery to volleyball and pickleball to power walks. Clicking on each picture brings up dates, times and venues, as well as competition divisions, fees, rules and formats. Also, there are details about qualifying, when applicable, and contact information for the director of each sport.

“We are dedicated to motivating active adults to lead a healthy lifestyle through the Senior Games movement,” says Morgan Baker, Oregon Senior Games State Coordinator. “Participants encourage one another to do their best, whether they are a first-time competitor or a seasoned athlete. You can really feel the community and support at these different events.”

Sara Wade agrees. Last year, she volunteered at the Games, where she checked people in, doled out information packets, T-shirts and bottles of cool water. While there she experienced an epiphany that turned her perception of aging on its head.

“There was a unique atmosphere of both optimism and gratitude,” she recalls, “both of which are the basis of happiness.” She found fit and trim athletes in their seventies and eighties, joyously sprinting and pole-vaulting like school-age jocks. Sara, who spent her career in geriatrics, was so inspired that she began a training program herself. This year, for the first time, she will compete in 50- and 100-meter sprints at different senior meets around the country before returning to Corvallis this summer.

What about those who just want to watch? “There is no charge for spectators to attend, and most venues have some seating or viewing areas,” Baker explains. “The policy on leashed dogs will vary by venue.” (But think seriously about bringing Fido; temperatures in August can be unsafe for pets. Got questions? Reach Baker at morgan@visitcorvallis.com or 541-231-0297.

Registration is now open with early-bird discounts offered through mid-June. The Oregon Senior Games will again be a qualifying event for the National Senior Games to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in fall 2023.

See you in Corvallis!