Setting the Bar at the Provincial Golden Games

Senior athletes aged 60 and over took part in the Western Cape Golden Games on 30 August 2014. The best of them will be representing the province at the National Golden Games in Nelspruit in October. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) hosted the event, in partnership with the Cape Winelands District Municipality, the Western Cape Older Persons’ Forum, Age in Action and Badisa.

Blessed with sunny weather, participants took part in activities such as ball pass and kick, goal shooting and relays. Jacobus Koopman, affectionately known as “Oom Kosie”, beat his last 800 m record for 60 -69 Years, finishing with a new time of 3:05 and winning a gold medal on the day.

David Richardson, who won a silver medal second in the 500 m brisk walk, said that in the three months since he started training, he has learned a lot about the different techniques used in brisk walking. Richardson even managed to shave almost a minute off his fastest time, finishing the race in a time of 3:45.

Launched in 2005, the Golden Games encourage active ageing among older persons of the Western Cape. Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport Dr Nomafrench Mbombo said that the men and women who took part in the Golden Games were “setting the bar high for younger sportspeople”. Dr Mbombo also said that she was proud of and inspired by participants for embracing sports and challenging themselves.