The
26th Annual Polk Senior Games are scheduled for February 24 – March 12, 2018.
The Games offer a two-week series of 100 athletic and recreational
Olympic-style events. They attract nearly 2,600 men and women, 50 and over,
with a variety of skills - the serious competitor,
the fun at heart, the seasoned athlete, the late bloomer, and the physically
challenged.
The purpose of the Games is to promote friendly competition, fellowship, health
and wellness, an active lifestyle, and volunteerism.
Competition,
held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Archery, Badminton,
Bag Toss, Basketball Shooting, Basketball 3 on 3, Billiards, Bocce, Bowling
including Team Bowling, Bridge, Checkers, Chess, Cribbage, Ballroom and Social
Dancing, Square Dancing, Darts, Euchre, Field Events, Fishing, Fly Casting, Golf
18 Hole Singles, Mixed Doubles & Putt & Chip, Horseshoes, Lawn Bowling,
Pepper, Pickleball, Punt Pass Kick, Racquetball, Road Race 5K, Scrabble, Senior
Smarts, Shooting – Pistol, Rifle, Skeet, Sporting Clays & Trap,
Shuffleboard, Softball, Sudoku, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track, and
Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age
division.
Registration
begins the first week of January. The individual entry fee is $10 for the first
event and $3 for each additional event up to a maximum of $28. Fees for team
sports are $125 for Softball, $50 for Basketball 3 on 3, $36 for Team Bowling, and
$50 for Square Dancing. There are also facility fees for some events. Everyone
receives a specially designed T-shirt. A free Closing Celebration for
participants, family and friends includes goody bags, health fair,
entertainment, special awards, and door prizes.
Polk
Senior Games was founded in 1992 by Nancye Thornberry of Lakeland who was
inspired by her 70-year old brother competing at the 1991 National Senior Games
in Syracuse, NY. With the support of the Polk County
Polk
Senior Games is a non-profit, 501(c) (3), organization managed by a salaried
Executive Director and a volunteer Board of Directors. The Games are presented
annually in cooperation with parks and recreation departments, sports and civic
organizations and over 700 volunteers.
Polk
Senior Games is sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation to qualify
participants for advancement to the annual Florida Senior Games, which leads to
the National Senior Games.
To
request an entry booklet to be mailed in January or for more information about participation,
volunteering or sponsorships, contact Deena Wilbur at 863-533-0055 or polkseniorgames@verizon.net
or check out the website at www.polkseniorgames.org.
