ATHENS, Ala. — Athens Recreation Center held Olympic-style events for Masters Games of Alabama. Masters Games of Alabama is a non-profit dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles for adults ages 50 and older. This is the District Two competition for the organization, and more than 100 older adults who live in the Tennessee Valley are competing for spots to qualify for the state Masters Games, which will occur later this fall.
NARCOG Aging Services Director Justin Graves said a day like this is not only beneficial for the senior's physical health, but their mental health also. "As we age, one of the worst things that can happen is for you to become isolated and not be around people. This creates, you know, social opportunities. Also, some physical competition is keeping them active. I mean, it's just great for your mental health overall."
TARCOG Community Service Coordinator Emmitt Davis agrees. "We just like to see our seniors to exercise because exercise is really the key of life right now. Socialization is very important for our seniors. A lot of our seniors go to our senior centers and we we support our seniors centers in terms of encouraging our seniors and to go out to the seniors centers and participate in those centers and not so much stay in your home and get out in the community and really be active."
Graves continued that a day like this creates a platform for older adults to compete in different contests, such as a free throw shooting, cornhole tournament. "We have card games, dominoes, softball, throw in different types of competition."
James Earnest Lee is senior participating in the events and this is not his first rodeo. "I play in a lot of senior Olympics and this year I'm going to go play in the national senior Olympics, which is a big thing because there's people all every state all over the united states."
Furthermore, Lee is also not planning on quitting anytime soon. "I've seen so many people settle down and die. I'm going to live to be 100. I feel like I'm getting younger instead of older."