Reflections on 2013 Bay Area Senior Games
2014 Bay Area Senior Games Registration opens February 1, 2014
2014 Volunteer Registration Opens
February 15, 2014
Athletes Oath
In the spirit of the Olympic Ideal, I pledge:
To Abide by the Rules of these Games,
To Respect the Officials that apply them,
To be Humble in Victory and Gracious in Defeat,
I am proud to be a Senior Games Athlete.
Dear Athletes and Friends:
I'm so pleased to report that the 2013 Bay Area Senior Games are completed. Reflecting on the past month, we are delighted at the turnout, the athletes, the performances and the friendships. Admission to the Games was FREE to all spectators, families and friends. The results are posted at www.bayareaseniorgames.org (either on the left side of the home page, under results or by going to the sports page, clicking on the icon for each sport and viewing the results.)
2013 BAY AREA SENIOR GAMES BY THE NUMBERS
ATHLETES: 1356, men and women over 50 – 20 Sports Total, plus the Solar Torch Relay, the Pasta Dinner Celebration and the Sports Basement Closing Reception. The first event, Badminton was Saturday, April 27 and the final events, Soccer and Water Polo finished Sunday, May 19.
Individual Sports - Archery, Badminton, Bocce, Cycling, Feats of Strength, Fencing, Golf, Lawn Bowling, Racewalk, Racquetball, Road Race, Swimming, Table Tennis, Track & Field and Triathlon.
Team Sports - Basketball, Rugby, Soccer, Volleyball and Water Polo
Teams
Soccer: 38 teams (465 players)
Water Polo: 14 teams (over 130)
Rugby: 4 teams (men) (60)
Basketball: 10 teams (50)
Volleyball: 10 teams ( 74)
Individuals
Track & Field: 165
Swimmers: 88
Table Tennis: 14
Cyclists: 30
Feats of Strength: 12
Golf: 28
VOLUNTEERS: 150 great folks all wearing orange shirts, including high school students performing community service, headed up by BASG esteemed volunteer coordinator, Bob Weder. Let's salute these extraordinary volunteers who keep the Games running!
SPORTS COMMISSIONERS: Please join me in thanking the 2013 Bay Area Senior Games Sports Commissioners – all of whom use their knowledge and love of their sport to ensure the Games provide the best competitive conditions possible!
Archery: Bill Robinson, Dawnell Scott
Badminton: Jeff Fishback
Basketball: Dave Newman
Bocce: Ben Musolf, Margaret Shindelus
Cycling: Frank Scioscia, Tom Simpson
Feats of Strength: Dale Harder, Bill Weinstock
Fencing: Barbra Higgins
Golf: Bill Robinson, Robbie Gray
Lawn Bowling: Terry Hogan
Race Walk: Art Klein, Alex Price
Racquetball: Merijean Kelley
Road Race: Tom Service
Rugby: Frank Merrill, Bob Benson
Soccer: Mike Rohde
Swimming; Michael Moore
Table Tennis: Dennis Davis
Track & Field: Leroy Milam
Triathlon: Stanford Treeathlon
Volleyball: Alexis Bryce
Water Polo: Andy Burke
SPONSORS: Humana, Blue Shield of California, Whole Foods, The Sports Basement, City of Palo Alto, Stanford Athletics. Please note that the 2013 Bay Area Senior Games could not go on without sponsors – we appreciate all their support.
2013 SENIOR GAMES STAFF: Helen Mendel, Operations; Anne Warner Cribbs, CEO; Intern (and 2012 Olympian), Mariya Koroleva
REASON: Demonstrating that "the competition never ends" and that exercise and physical activity are the keys to a long, happy and healthy life.
Mission: To promote healthy lifestyles for senior through education, fitness and the spirited competition of sports, while inspiring everyone to embrace health and appreciate and enjoy the value of sports related exercise.
More about the Solar Torch Run: In 2009 for the Summer National Senior Games, we said, "The Senior Games competitors, like the torch that was specially designed for them, are trailblazers and shining examples of how ingenuity, effort, perseverance and vision create a vital new paradigm that promotes health and sustainability for people and the planet." This comment is true in 2013 as well.
Runners from this year's Solar Torch Run are listed below. There is a Solar Torch Relay photo slide show posted at www.bayareaseniorgames.org
Runners for the 2013 Solar Torch Relay
Runner 1: Barbra Higgins '84 Olympian, Fencer, Panama
Runner 2: Dave Palaca, Representing Humana
Runner 3: Robbie Gray & Margaret Howe, Golf
Runner 4: Jose Valencia, Hobees Restaurants
Runner 5: Barbara Jones and Jennie White, Water Polo
Runner 6: Marianne Hamilton, Racewalk
Runner 7: Mary Kearns, Sports Basement
Runner 8: David Hale, Lawn Bowling
Runner 9: Penny Bayless, Lawn Bowling
Runner 10: Lynn Vidali, Olympian '68 & '72, Swimmer, USA
Runner 11: John Guislin, CSGA Board Member & Lee Strauss, Table Tennis
As we put the finishing touches on the 2013 Games - photos, thank you notes, invoices to pay, plans for next year, results, responses to questions and comments, we want to thank you all for your dedication to your sport, to competition and friendship.
I want to share this thought with all of you. "The Senior Games are at the heart of the meaning of the Olympic Movement. Though they inspire us all, It's still true that many people watch the Olympic Games, see mostly younger athletes at the prime of their performance and say "those athletes are amazing, but that's not me..." With the Senior Games, people of all ages, even those who did not think they could swim, run or jump anymore, are inspired to a more active, healthy and fulfilling life...that's the TRUE Olympic spirit and the real meaning of the Olympic Movement, a challenge to all of us to be the best we can be."
For those of you who journey to Cleveland to compete in the 2013 Summer National Senior Games – we wish you the best and we will be cheering for our California contingent – over 500 athletes.
And for all, our best wishes for a happy, healthy future – remember that the California State Senior Games will be held in September in San Diego (registration now open).
We look forward to seeing you in 2014 at the Bay Area Senior Games.
Chair, California Senior Games Association
2013 Bay Area Senior Games Chair