Games (Senior) People Play
Randal C. Hill
50plus Magazine
Before leaping into this can’t-miss scenario, let’s consider some stats regarding senior-games athletes:
- Over 70% have a lower prevalence of diabetes.
- Their walking speeds are similar to adults in their thirties.
- They have lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress than typical older adults.
- They experience fewer falls.
- There’s a lower frequency of cardiovascular disease — 34-38% lower for male senior athletes, 41-57% lower for female senior athletes.
These statistics (from the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam) offer nothing but good news when it comes to the benefits of athleticism during one’s golden years. And there’s more. Another survey shows that the fitness age of Senior Games participants is nearly 25 years younger than their actual age — 43 versus 68!
Wow! But all this fails to factor in the sheer abundance of FUN that Senior Games participants 50 and better experience when being involved in the action — including volunteering or cheering on competitors each August in picturesque Corvallis.
Wait. What if one is NOT physically active? The numbers aren’t so good here.
- Inactivity contributes to 1 in 10 premature deaths.
- About 110,000 deaths annually could be prevented with 10 or more minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity,
- Annual healthcare costs of $117 billion are directly associated with inadequate levels of physical activity. In 2020, fewer than 1 in 4 senior adults met US exercise guidelines.
Let’s look at the Games themselves. The OSG website highlights a vast array of activities, ranging from the easygoing (golf, archery, cornhole, shuffleboard) to more demanding sports (pickleball, disc golf, table tennis) to outright physically challenging events (basketball, beach volleyball, racquetball, swimming, tennis, power walk and race walk, and other track-and-field events). There’s undoubtedly something for everyone interested.
You say you’re hesitant to try out your athletic skills right now? Keep in mind there’s always a need for volunteers; you’ll be much appreciated and even rewarded with an ultra-cool Oregon Senior Games T-shirt.
Or you can just cheer on those who are getting their game on!
So, if you’re ready for some truly exciting “fun ‘n’ games,” mark your calendar for the first three weekends in August, and get to the 5th annual Oregon Senior Games with your enthusiasm level set to 10!
To register to participate or volunteer, or if you have questions, visit oregonseniorgames.com or call 541 766 6918 noon to 5pm weekdays.
See you there!