Senior Olympics workshop set for April 28 at Mansura Senior Center

An informational clinic on the Senior Olympics will be held from 10 a.m. to noon April 28 at the Mansura Senior Center.  All Avoyelles Parish senior citizens interested in participating in the Senior Olympic Games are invited to attend the clinic. The center is located at 2057 L’Eglise St.  Athletes will be able to learn how to compete in numerous events that will be part of the Olympic games. Lunch will be provided.  

 

The Central District Senior Olympic Games will be held in May in Rapides Parish ending with closing ceremonies on May 27. The Central District includes the parishes of Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine and Winn.

 

Individuals must be at least 50 years old to participate and will compete according to age group. There are 20 or more games in which a senior athlete can enter including track and field, shooting, bowling, horseshoes and many more activities.

 

Senior citizen athletes who win gold, silver or bronze medals at the district games will qualify for the state Senior Olympics. State events will be held in September and October, with most competitions in Lake Charles.

 

This is not a “qualifying year” for the National Senior Olympics, which will be held July 3-16 in Minneapolis, Minn. , and not held again until 2017. Winners of the 2014 games will compete in Minneapolis.  The state winners in 2016 will qualify for the 2017 national games.

 

The objective of Senior Olympics is to promote physical fitness, change the public image about aging and to raise awareness that older persons can remain physically fit and active while also having fun and enjoying life.

 

For more information or to sign up for the Senior Olympics, call Iris Ducote at 253-9771 or  253-8416 or Gwen Burke at 305-3404. To reserve a lunch for the clinic in Mansura or for more information call (318) 964-2900.