Seven local residents of Burns Lake took part in the B.C. Senior Games in Burnaby this summer. And they all did pretty well. Aidan Carroll took part in the cycling and indicated he was happy with his times. “I had better times than anything I’ve ever done in training, so I was pleased with that,” he said.
Paul and Doris Jean competed in cribbage and said that the secret to the whole thing was meeting a lot of nice people and making friends. Pete and Marie Hiebert achieved a gold medal in cribbage after two days of competition with 48 teams. “It didn’t take us long,” joked Marie.
John and Sandy Barth did battle with the athletes in track and field. Sandy earned two silver medals and John came home with a bronze. But it’s the participation, says John, that really counts.
“For me especially, since I’m not a highly trained athlete, this is not something I did growing up, in fact, the first time I ever threw a javelin was about four years ago when I started preparing for the senior games; it’s about participating and trying to do a little bit better every year, having fun and the comradeship of competing, that’s what it’s all about.
Both Sandra and I just love the senior games. They’re really fun, good competition, but also good sportsmanship, good camaraderie, people cheering one another on, encouraging one another to do the best each person can do. This was the 25 anniversary of the B.C. Senior Games so it was quite a big celebration,” said Barth.”
“There were about 3,600 participants from all across B.C. One of the things that’s fun about the senior games, because we’ve been going for five years now, is that you tend to meet the same people each year from all across the province. So we’ve made friends from Williams Lake and Kamloops and Vancouver Island that we look forward to seeing once a year at the senior games and that’s the only time we see them, but each year when we finish up the events, we look forward to seeing them again next year.”
Anyone over 55 is welcome to compete, and you must provide your own accommodations, but some assistance with travel costs may be available from the senior games society.
“You have to find your own accommodation,” said Barth.
“Some bring fifth-wheels or campers.There is some financial support from the B.C. Senior Games Society who get funding from the province of B.C. so seniors get some help for their travel costs. The B.C. government has been really very generous in supporting the B.C. Senior Games. The minister of sport is always at the opening ceremonies and lights the torch.”
And participating is as easy as contacting the B.C. Senior Games Society, said John.
“We have about three or four meetings a year, usually in Houston and if people are interested, they can come to the meeting. We typically start putting up posters in April or May each year so there are posters an signs up around town or a people can also get on the senior games website so you can also register that way. But the best way is to talk to someone who has participated an find out why people like to go and why it’s fun. It’s an athletic competition but it’s also a bit of a party.”
“There is a banquet for 3600 seniors and I think Burnaby had 1,500 volunteers. The banquet was in the hockey rink in Burnaby for all those people. It was a full hot meal with roast beef and salmon and vegetables, mashed potatoes and salads, coffee and dessert, with lots of fun. It’s a great event and it helps seniors stay motivated to keep active and to lead healthy lifestyles, and to be mentally alert and in a positive frame of mind. The oldest participant that I saw in track and field was 93 years old,” he concluded.