Fifth Annual Senior Games Scheduled April 22-24 at SU

SALISBURY, MD---Seniors are the largest growing population segment in the United States and Salisbury University welcomes some 400 of the most athletic among them locally during the fifth annual Eastern Shore Senior Games Thursday-Saturday, April 22-24. Participants compete in a variety of activities, both individual and team. Events include aquatics, archery, badminton, billiards, bowling, cycling, floor and foul basketball shooting, golf, handball, horseshoes, racquetball, softball throw, table tennis, tennis, and track and field. Team events are line dancing, softball and volleyball. This year’s participants include a 91-year-old mixed doubles bowler from Prince George’s County, MD, who warms up by participating in the discus, racewalk, javelin and shotput events. Joining him is an 85 year-old mixed doubles bowler from Wicomico County and a senior raquetballer from Rehoboth, DE, among others. “The fun is in taking part,” said the games’ founder, Dr. K. Nelson Butler. A shotgun start kicks off the golf tournament at noon on Thursday, April 22, at Deer Run Golf Course and an opening reception for all participants is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, April 23, in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center. While the emphasis is on promoting physical fitness and a healthy, active lifestyle among people 50 and over, each competition features gold, silver and bronze medals awarded to the top three male and female contestants in each age category (50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, and 95 and over). If participant numbers are insufficient, age groups may be combined for competition purposes. The Eastern Shore Senior Games, a satellite event for the Maryland Senior Games held annually at Towson University in the fall, are affiliated with the Maryland Senior Olympics Commission. Some 10,000 athletes are involved in the national Senior Olympics annually. The games are made possible through the support of the Salisbury University Department of Health, Physical Education and Human Performance; the Salisbury University Foundation; Sea Gull Century; Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates, PA; Mid-Atlantic Pain Medicine; Conectiv Power Delivery; Azar Eye Institute; Rendine Financial Group; and Wicomico County Tourism. Spectators are admitted free and the public is cordially invited. For more information call Sydney Geesamen at 410-543-6340 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.