55 Plus Games

3 MANITOBA 55+ GAMES presented by Playnow.com BY DANA BALUK ■ Every other year, approximately 2,300 of the country's best older Canadian athletes square off in the Canada 55+ Games. This year, the games will be held in Kamloops, B.C., Aug. 25-28. This will be the first time since the Games started in 1996 that they will be held in our westernmost province. The Canada 55+ Games are comprised of 26 sports, mental games, and skilled activities such as cribbage, 8-ball pool, swimming, contract bridge, slo-pitch and pickleball to name just a few. They follow an Olympics-like structure with an opening ceremony where each province's participants are paraded into the venue. Three days of competition ensue, wrapped up with a closing banquet and dance on the last day. "It's four fun-filled days of friendly competition," says Lois Dudgeon, the Manitoba Director of the Canadian Senior Games Association. With 26 different events over four days, it makes for a very fan- friendly event. The best part? It's free to attend as a spectator. As much as the games are a competition, they prefer to emphasize the social aspect of the event. Of course there is a lot of pride in representing your province and being able to say you competed in your sport or activity at the national level. But equally, a lot of participants take part for the camaraderie and friendships they develop over the years. Dudgeon says the age range of participants representing Manitoba is from 55 to 96 years old, so there's no reason to slow down once you've hit a certain age. In fact, it becomes more important to keep active and socialize as you get older. In order to compete at the national games, participants must place in the top three at the provincial games. The Manitoba 55+ Games presented by PlayNow.com in Selkirk June 16-18 will determine which Manitobans will qualify for Kamloops. On average, about 110 participants from Manitoba take part in the Canada 55+ games. Attendance fluctuates depending on where the games are held. Competitors pay out of their own pocket to get to the games which can make participation a bit of a budget issue. Indeed the 55+ Games are a boost of inspiration for everyone. Staying active and involved can be a challenge as you get older. But the 55+ Games participants are the ultimate role models. They are quite literally at the top of their game. Gordon Oates, president of the 55+ Games, promises an impressive level of competition. "We've even had a few ex-Olympians who compete in another sport, like if they were an olympic swimmer they wouldn't compete in swimming, they might compete in golf," he said. It's fair to assume, even an ex-Olympian would blow away the competition. "Goes to show you, when people are involved in sport, there's no age limit." It takes about 1,500 volunteers to pull off such an event but Oates says there is never an issue finding help. In fact, he estimates hosting the games can inject roughly $3.5 million into the local economy. "There's about 2,300 people that will emerge on that community. they're paying for their food, lodging, transportation, a little bit of tourism, etc. We are currently looking for bids for the 2022 games from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. So if there's anybody out there in Manitoba who wants to put in a bid for 2022, give me a call!" If the idea of representing your province at the Canada 55+ Games gets your competitive juices flowing, you can start by checking out the Manitoba 55+ Games presented by PlayNow.com in Selkirk June 16-18, and get training! THE CANADA 55+ GAMES IN KAMLOOPS, B.C. WILL FEATURE EVENTS INCLUDING PICKLEBALL, TRACK AND FIELD, SLO-PITCH AND HOCKEY. MANITOBA 55+ GAMES PHOTOS KAMLOOPS IS CALLING WALK DOC WITH A Join Dr. Gail Sawa at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month to take part in this FREE doctor-led walking group. It's a fun, safe place to get some steps, learn about health, and meet new friends. Walks will take place on the indoor track in the Sport Manitoba Fitness Centre at 145 Pacific Ave. Learn more by calling 204-925-5944 or at sportmanitoba.ca/walk-with-a-doc For more information about the Canada 55+ Games, visit canada55plus.ca.

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