The 2016 Virginia Senior Games will be held in Newport News on May 18 – 21, 2016. 680 Athletes age 50 and older from throughout Virginia, and some from additional states, will be competing in eighteen sports in 2,141 competition events. Events will be held at Newport News Park (Archery, Road Race, Golf, Disc Golf, Horseshoes), Stoney Run Athletic Complex (Softball), Denbigh Community Center (Basketball, Volleyball), City Center (Cycling, Athlete’s Party), OneLife Fitness (Racquetball), Brittingham Midtown Community Center (Table Tennis, Swimming), Warwick High School (Badminton), Peninsula Billiards (Billiards), Sparetimes (Bowling), Huntington Park Tennis Center (Tennis, Pickleball), and Pomoco Stadium at Christopher Newport University (Track and Field).
The oldest athlete is Ms. Ruth Mosley Thompson, 96, of Church Road, Virginia. A returning athlete to the Virginia Senior Games, Ruth was born on April 26, 1920 and will be competing in the 50, 100, and 200 yard backstroke at Brittingham Midtown Community Center on Thursday and Friday, May 19 and 20. Mr. Roy Englert, 94, of Springfield, Virginia is the oldest male athlete. Roy will be competing in the 5K Road Race on Thursday, May 19 at Newport News Park, as well as the 400 and 800 meter runs on Saturday, May 21 at CNU’s Pomoco Stadium. The busiest athlete is Mr. Ralph Swiger, 60, of Leesburg, Virginia who will be competing in 16 swimming events on Thursday and Friday, May 19 and 20, at Brittingham Midtown Community Center.
Approximately 348 participants are local (Peninsula or Southside residents). Other regions are represented as such: Central Virginia (277), Northern Virginia (213), Western Virginia (29), Southwestern Virginia (27), and Out-of-State (136). Highest participation is in Track and Field (170 athletes), with Pickleball as a close second (145) and Swimming third (100).
The public is encouraged to attend these free events. In addition to the competitive events, there will be an Athletes’ Party at City Center at Oyster Point on Friday, May 20, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public, this event is to congratulate and celebrate the athletes and their accomplishments. Live music, refreshments, and a variety of theme-related games and activities are planned for the event.
This will be the fourth consecutive year that Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism has hosted the Virginia Senior Games. The Virginia Senior Games is an open competition with no qualifying scores/times required for entry. Medalists (except for Billiards, Disc Golf, Basketball Free Throw, and Softball Hit and Throw) will qualify to compete at the National Senior Games which will be held in Birmingham, Alabama in the summer of 2017.
For additional information, call 757-926-1400.