Oregon Senior Games: Not an athlete? Not a problem!
The Oregon Senior Games return to Corvallis Aug 7-16, drawing folks from Oregon and beyond. Longtime volunteer Kathy Willcox says, “You get to meet people from all over, help in countless ways, and it’s just really fun.”
While Kathy was never an athlete, she’s long been involved in sports. She majored in Recreation Administration at U of O and worked in the field for 30+ years, “including small-town YMCAs, and as aquatic manager in Woodburn for 14 years.”
She learned about the Games from her housemate, who manages Corvallis Community Ctr where Kathy works part time. There, in addition to routine tasks, Kathy helps folks register and with questions about the Games.
About volunteering at the Games, She says the ways to help are many. She has done packet pickup for athletes, helped with registration and check-in of athletes and volunteers, worked in set up and breakdown, and more.
While she has much experience in aquatics, Kathy says the Games have exposed her to sports from track and field to softball, pickleball to bowling. “It’s really fun to experience the workings of other sports, and the skills and athleticism involved.”
She says it’s also fun “to see people who inspire me — I’m not an athlete, but seeing people 60, 70, 80, and 90 participate in a sport is great. The people are friendly, and while competitive, they’re not hardcore.”
Kathy loves learning their stories. “People come from all over — in addition to Oregon, there are people from California, Florida, New York. One gentleman from Eastern Oregon, competing in track and field, had 10 family members come to watch him run — it was neat.”
It’s also eye opening, she says. “There are so many aspects of volunteering and ways you can help out — while getting a chance to experience competitions in everything from table tennis, to cornhole, to swimming.”
And anyone can help. Kathy encourages those competing in one sport to consider volunteering to help with another.
“We all have a place at the Games, and it’s a good time for all.”
Kristan Dael
50plus Magazine
Kristan Dael is the alter-ego of Jennifer McCammon.