If you think people older than sixty are too old to participate in sport, think again!
On 26 and 27 October this year almost one thousand persons older than sixty years of age, with some of them touching the ripe old age of eighty – will show off their sports skills in the National Golden Games in Richards Bay. As before, the theme for the Games is “Celebrating Active Ageing”.
The two-day event is co-ordinated and funded by Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) in partnership with the national departments of Social Development and Health, as well as the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government. It will see participants from eight of South Africa’s nine provinces fighting it out for top honours in a number of sport activities designed, in most cases, specifically for older people.
They’ll not only be competing in a number of athletics track events including the 100 m, 400 m and 800 m events, but also in specialised sports and fun games such as Duck Walk, Pass the Ball, Dress Up and Goal Shooting. Several provinces will also participate in Jukskei events, while the football competitions will certainly be the highlight of the two day tournament.
Past editions of the Golden Games – it was held last year in Port Elizabeth - have proven to be visual spectacles with loads of excitement and entertainment. The level of competition is surprisingly high with many older people clearly wanting to prove that age has done nothing to diminish their prowess in sport.
The National Golden Games is the culmination of the ongoing nation-wide Golden Games program, run in residential care centres for older persons with the aim of keeping the elderly physically active and thus helping to improve and keep up their physical well-being.
The Games, which takes place at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex in Richards Bay, will be by various high ranking national and provincial government officials.
For media enquiries, contact:
Bofhelo Balatseng
Cell: 082 584 1892
E-mail: bofhelo@srsa.gov.za,
Bheki Ncube
Cell: 082 575 4164
E-mail: bheki.ncube@kzndsr.gov.za.
