Active seniors excel at 2013 Golden Games

Despite the cold and wet weather, 1 000 senior citizens from 30 Western Cape clubs united in their passion for team sports at the Golden Games in Paarl on 19 September 2013. The event was organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS). Spirits were high and participants were determined to have as much fun as possible. Not even the occasional downpour dampened the energy that filled the Dal Josaphat Stadium.

“The Golden Games are an opportunity for active ageing”, according to Ms Alvira Keynhans of the Western Cape Older Persons’ Forum. Councillor Eva Gouws said “participants live their lives to the fullest and show that they can still be active in sports after the age of 60. It is a privilege to be able to provide our senior citizens from many regions with the chance to enjoy themselves and to let them know that the rest of the community has not forgotten about them. After all, our senior citizens helped build and shape their communities and are deserving of all the respect we can show them.”

In addition to track and field events, the Games included fun items such as the duck walk, a dress-up race and “ring the stick”. The best athletes from this event will represent the Western Cape at the National Golden Games in Boksburg in October 2013.

Active senior citizens and DCAS are together showing that older people can continue to express their zest for life by participating in the sports they love.