Two weeks of competition kicked off Sept. 14 as opening ceremonies for the 2024 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics were held at Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington.
“The seniors assembled here are a different kind of senior,” said Mike Coleman, vice chair of the Senior Olympics executive committee and emcee of the opening ceremonies.
He pointed to the unique mindset of those who remain active later in life, some for the competitive aspects but many simply for camaraderie.
“Everyone who shows up to compete already has won,” said Coleman, who soon will succeed Riley Geary as chair of the organizing committee. (Geary, who is moving out of the area, received the honor of carrying the Olympic torch into the event.)
Immediately after the ceremony, the first events – 1,600-meter men’s and women’s runs – took place on the track inside the community center. They were the first of 90 different competitions being held at more than two dozen venues across the region, wrapping up with cycling events on Sept. 29 in Warrenton.
For the first time in its 42-year history, the local Senior Olympics attracted more than 1,000 competitors, with an age range of 50 to centenarian. [CLICK HERE for slide show of first event, the 1,600-meter men's dash]
“The energy, commitment, excitement . . . is inspiring,” said Cheryl Johnson, who welcomed competitors on behalf of the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation. County Sheriff Jose Quiroz also was on hand (typically an Arlington County Board member will deliver remarks, but that body was meeting at the time.)
Johnson encouraged the local community to come out to events and “cheer on your neighbors, friends and family” as they compete in “both physical and intellectual feats of strength.”
In addition to having record-breaking participation, the event also drew a record number of gold sponsors, and benefited from the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, Coleman said. At the ceremony, the Arlingtones provided the National Anthem and the Alexandria City High School ROTC served as honor guard.
Founded in 1982, the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics includes participation by the governments of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church. New events for 2024 include bunco, badminton, Sudoku pentathlon and the 100-yard swimming individual medley.
For information and results of the competition, see the Website at www.nvso.us.
