Senior Olympics bring out competitive spirit
Senior Olympics bring out competitive spirit
By Stephanie Grinnell
Staff writer
The Olympic games came to Biddeford this year – the Senior Olympics that is. On Nov. 28, a group of about 80 senior citizens gathered at the Rochambeau Club in Biddeford to participate in the York County Senior Olympics. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the games. The club was decorated with red, white and blue balloons and marching music played during breaks and during the scoring.
The senior citizens participated in multiple competitions including Baggo, Frisbee toss, beach ball kick, basketball toss and a Nerf ball relay. Some were individual sports and others required a team effort. A game list was provided to the participating agencies so the seniors could practice for the games beforehand. Donna Davis, activity director of Gorham House, coordinated the games. This was Davis’ seventh year of organizing the games.
“You have to think about the different abilities,” she said of the games that are chosen. “The same games have been used since the inception of the Senior Olympics because they allow everyone to be able to participate.”
A number of Southern Maine agencies were involved in getting the seniors up and moving. The Truslow Adult Day Care Center of Saco, Maine Veteran’s Home of Scarborough, Wardwell Assisted Living Services of Saco, Gorham House of Gorham, Scarborough Terrace of Scarborough, Sentry Hill of York, Southridge Rehabilitation and Living Center of Biddeford and the Inn at Village Square of Gorham all had seniors participate in the games.
Employees from the participating facilities as well as additional volunteers were nearby to assist the seniors and to keep score.
The seniors from each center brought their own lunches and were treated to the Westbrook based band The Saccarappa Boys to round out their outing.
Many of the seniors have participated in the games before.
“We do this at the center and here. It’s really fun and it’s good exercise,” said Connie Wilkinson from Truslow, a two-year veteran of the games.
Wilkinson said seniors get to practice beforehand at the senior center as well as warm up before the actual competition.
Biddeford Mayor Wallace Nutting said a few words before he handed out medals for first, second and third place for each event.
“First of all, it’s another great day in the state of Maine,” he said to the chuckles of the crowd, because outside there was a cold drizzle coming down.
“It’s delightful to welcome you here. This is the third year I have been invited to these games,” Nutting said. “We all recognize the strong effort you put forth.”
He continued by welcoming each of the cities participating and congratulating all of the seniors for their participation in the games.
There was good-natured teasing among the competing facilities about who would take home a medal, but all participants were hopeful.
Regardless of the place of the medal, the participants were excited to receive one. One woman’s face captured the spirit of the games when her name was called – she gasped and put her hand to her mouth in surprise.
“I won?” she asked as though she could not believe her luck. She sat in disbelief for a moment until someone came to assist her to the front of the room to get her medal from the mayor.
All of the event winners sat in places of honor at the front of the room after receiving their medals.
First place in the Frisbee throw was won by a Gorham House resident, second place went to Truslow and Scarborough Terrace took third place.
The next event was the beach ball kick, during which Wardwell accepted first prize. Coming in second place was Scarborough Terrace and third was Truslow.
The game of Baggo required teams of two. The Gorham House team won first place, the Veteran’s Home team took second, and the Southridge team took home the third place medals.
By Stephanie Grinnell
Staff writer
The Olympic games came to Biddeford this year – the Senior Olympics that is. On Nov. 28, a group of about 80 senior citizens gathered at the Rochambeau Club in Biddeford to participate in the York County Senior Olympics. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the games. The club was decorated with red, white and blue balloons and marching music played during breaks and during the scoring.
The senior citizens participated in multiple competitions including Baggo, Frisbee toss, beach ball kick, basketball toss and a Nerf ball relay. Some were individual sports and others required a team effort. A game list was provided to the participating agencies so the seniors could practice for the games beforehand. Donna Davis, activity director of Gorham House, coordinated the games. This was Davis’ seventh year of organizing the games.
“You have to think about the different abilities,” she said of the games that are chosen. “The same games have been used since the inception of the Senior Olympics because they allow everyone to be able to participate.”
A number of Southern Maine agencies were involved in getting the seniors up and moving. The Truslow Adult Day Care Center of Saco, Maine Veteran’s Home of Scarborough, Wardwell Assisted Living Services of Saco, Gorham House of Gorham, Scarborough Terrace of Scarborough, Sentry Hill of York, Southridge Rehabilitation and Living Center of Biddeford and the Inn at Village Square of Gorham all had seniors participate in the games.
Employees from the participating facilities as well as additional volunteers were nearby to assist the seniors and to keep score.
The seniors from each center brought their own lunches and were treated to the Westbrook based band The Saccarappa Boys to round out their outing.
Many of the seniors have participated in the games before.
“We do this at the center and here. It’s really fun and it’s good exercise,” said Connie Wilkinson from Truslow, a two-year veteran of the games.
Wilkinson said seniors get to practice beforehand at the senior center as well as warm up before the actual competition.
Biddeford Mayor Wallace Nutting said a few words before he handed out medals for first, second and third place for each event.
“First of all, it’s another great day in the state of Maine,” he said to the chuckles of the crowd, because outside there was a cold drizzle coming down.
“It’s delightful to welcome you here. This is the third year I have been invited to these games,” Nutting said. “We all recognize the strong effort you put forth.”
He continued by welcoming each of the cities participating and congratulating all of the seniors for their participation in the games.
There was good-natured teasing among the competing facilities about who would take home a medal, but all participants were hopeful.
Regardless of the place of the medal, the participants were excited to receive one. One woman’s face captured the spirit of the games when her name was called – she gasped and put her hand to her mouth in surprise.
“I won?” she asked as though she could not believe her luck. She sat in disbelief for a moment until someone came to assist her to the front of the room to get her medal from the mayor.
All of the event winners sat in places of honor at the front of the room after receiving their medals.
First place in the Frisbee throw was won by a Gorham House resident, second place went to Truslow and Scarborough Terrace took third place.
The next event was the beach ball kick, during which Wardwell accepted first prize. Coming in second place was Scarborough Terrace and third was Truslow.
The game of Baggo required teams of two. The Gorham House team won first place, the Veteran’s Home team took second, and the Southridge team took home the third place medals.
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