Senior Olympics

Last updated
Senior Olympics (NSGA)
Logo for National Senior Games Association.png
OrganisersNational Senior Games Association
Start date July 24
End date August 4
Host city Des Moines (2025)
LevelNational
Type Masters athletics

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.

Contents

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. Bronze Medal Senior Games.jpg
Man with a bronze medal in swimming from the 2022 Senior Games.

Summer

M50 800 meters at 2022 games 2022 National Senior Games M50 800 meter run.jpg
M50 800 meters at 2022 games

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

NumberYearHost CityNumber of SportsNumber of Athletes
11987 St. Louis 152,500
21989 St. Louis 163,400
31991 Syracuse 183,400
41993 Baton Rouge 187,200
51995 San Antonio 188,200
61997 Tucson 1010,300
71999 Orlando 1212,000
82001 Baton Rouge 188,700
92003 Hampton Roads 1810,700
102005 Pittsburgh 1811,100
112007 Louisville 1812,000
122009 Palo Alto 1810,000
132011 Houston 1810,100
142013 Cleveland 1910,881
152015 Bloomington-Minneapolis-St.Paul 199,989
162017 Birmingham 1910,530
172019 Albuquerque 2013,882
182021 (postponed to 2022) Fort Lauderdale 2111,938
192023 Pittsburgh 2111,681
202025 Des Moines TBDTBD

Winter

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

NumberYearHost CityNumber of Athletes
12000 Lake Placid 265
22002 Lake Placid 240
32003 Buffalo 640
42004 Blaine 560
52005 Blaine 440
62006 Blaine 500
72007 Blaine 420
82008 Providence 500
92009 Fort Lauderdale 410
102010 Rochester 260
112011 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:

See also

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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/