When you think of competitive games images of track and field events may come to mind. But what about ballroom dancing, dominoes and horseshoes? They are all part of the Senior Games and they are coming to Austin this spring.
Most of the events are scheduled from April 29 to May 7. They will take place at various locations including Austin, Round Rock and Georgetown. The Senior Games are for anyone over 50.
News 8 Austin's Eric Allen spoke with Hector Ward, director of development for the games and Sara Sievert, a gold-medalist of the games.
Q: What are some of the various sports in the Senior Games?
Ward: There are 18 sanctioned, traditional, Olympic-type of events at nationals. In addition to that there's bridge, dominoes, ballroom dancing for the less athletic crowd to get them – as a matter of fact we're having a Texas Hold 'em poker tournament in our games this year.
Q: What are the events you have and will compete in?
Sievert: Basically, I play three-on-three basketball with 75-plus ladies and I've done three events in swimming and I do horseshoes and I've done filed events -- discus and javelin. I used to run, but I gave that up.
I was captain of the Texas Challengers – 75-plus ladies [who] won the gold medal in Baton Rouge at Nationals in 2001. And I was the youngest at the time. Some of my ladies are now up in their 80s and one still plays.
Q: Are the games for only the most serious senior athletes?
Sievert: I think anybody can do it that does anything at all. As John mentioned there are some things that aren't as physical, you know like horseshoes or washers is not a competitive game, but it's still something we do. And I think creative writing is another one they do. And I think bridge, bowling, there's a lot to be done. You don't need to be a super athlete.
Q: How significant is it for Austin to land these games?
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Senior games
The games will come to Austin, Round Rock and Georgetown.
 
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Ward: I think it's gonna be a tremendous event for the community age 50 and up. We're actually trying to target the boomer aged 50-65 here in Austin. We feel like the more mature seniors [who] are active are pretty much familiar with the games, but the younger ones either don't know about it or don't want to know about it.
Q: How does someone get involved?
Ward: There's a registration, either hard copy that can be mailed out to you or trying to get most people registered online. It's real simple and helps our record-keeping. People can go to our Web site… and register right online. It's $15 registration fee and most of the events are $3 to participate like horseshoes or bowling, but golf is a little more expensive, but it's just a facility charge.
