Major media platform, new way for states to compete announced
GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (May 10, 2021) – Organizers, athletes and supporters gathered at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort to hear “What’s New for 2022?” with the upcoming 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana, marking one year from opening day for the massive multisport event that will take place at venues throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale. They were not disappointed.
Two major NSGA announcements were made during a livestreamed program hosted by Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale (Broward County) and the National Senior Games Association (NSGA.) One development will bring major exposure to the Senior Games Movement, and the other is a novel new way for athletes to compete for their states.
Humana announces partnership with USA Today
Humana, the Presenting Sponsor of National Senior Games since 2007, announced they have partnered with USA Today to produce a special online destination that brings inspiring Senior Games content and compelling engagements into one place. The USA Today Senior Games Training Center will be promoted to millions of people, and will include stories, interactive articles, photography, a sweepstakes, even a trivia engagement. The content developed by Humana and NSGA will evolve over time to stay fresh and reward repeat visits.
“The 2022 National Senior Games will mark Humana’s 15-year legacy of commitment to the world’s best senior athletes,” said Humana’s South Florida Medicare President Betty Assapimonwait. “These amazing athletes and their dedication to physical and mental well-being, continue to inspire seniors and people of all ages and we’re excited to share their compelling stories on a new platform, The USA Today Senior Games Training Center.”
“NSG CUP” creates new way for athletes, states to compete
The second big announcement revealed there will be a new way for athletes and states to compete with the new NSG CUP presented by KOHLER Walk-in Bath. The concept is to level the playing field by measuring the percentage of medals won based on the number of athletes from each state.
“We always track and report the state medal counts at our Games, and it’s great to see which earned the most medals,” NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker said. “But the biggest states typically get the largest number of medals. With the NSG CUP, now any size state can potentially have bragging rights for packing the most punch. It will be another way to motivate our athletes even more to play for state pride.”
“As a proud supporter of excellence in sport and athletics, Kohler Co. is thrilled to be a part of the National Senior Games,” said Brian Childs, Kohler Co. Business Director – Service Businesses. “It is an honor to present an award that elevates the Games’ competition and celebrates every state and every athlete.”
Riker also noted that 22 sports will be contested between May 10-23, 2022 at venues all around Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Three are newly added sports – Beach Volleyball, Soccer and Corn Hole. “The good news is that these will all be open sports, meaning you don’t have to qualify to compete,” he explained. “We hope many local people will take advantage of the opportunity to participate in National Senior Games for the first time.”
Greater Fort Lauderdale touted as premier destination
The live streamed program, hosted by Visit Lauderdale President & CEO Stacy Ritter, was set against a beach backdrop to share all of the iconic natural wonders and attractions that Greater Fort Lauderdale has to offer.
“We look forward to welcoming National Senior Games athletes and spectators to enjoy our 24 miles of golden beaches, plenty of outdoor recreational experiences, culture-rich attractions, and extraordinary culinary scene,” said Ritter. “We’re excited to bring everyone together under the sun.”
With eight beaches, the Everglades, shopping, museums, casinos, walkable mural districts and more than 4,000 dining options, there is much to explore in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The diverse, cosmopolitan destination includes 31 cities, each with unique attractions. The “Yachting Capital of the World” also offers various ways to enjoy the water, whether it’s with a tour on the Water Taxi, watersports or a dock and dine experience. With 76 artificial reefs, Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to the largest collection of warm-water wrecks in the Western world. It is also the only place in the continental USA where you can snorkel and dive on a living coral reef straight off the beach.
National Senior Games competition is for athletes 50 and older and organized in five-year age divisions with medals awarded for each level. Due to the pandemic, the original 2021 dates were rescheduled to May 10-23, 2022 in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The biennial event normally requires athletes to qualify at one of 53 state games in the year before each Games. However, in response to the pandemic NSGA has adjusted the qualification process to provide qualified status for any participants who were not able to compete in a 2020 qualifying game.
Riker noted that in 2019, The National Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico set an all-time participation record with nearly 14,000 athletes competing in 20 sports over a two-week schedule, with an estimated $35 million local economic impact. “Those Games made us the largest qualified multisport championship competition in history, so Greater Fort Lauderdale may be surprised at the magnitude of the event and its impact on the community,” he told the gathering.
“We are seeing conditions improve, and our athletes around the country are beginning to get back into their fitness and competition training routines,” Riker said. “We feel positive about seeing good numbers of athletes wanting to compete and reconnect with their peers. It will feel like a reunion for the ages!”
The event is supported locally by Broward County, City of Fort Lauderdale and Visit Lauderdale. In addition to Presenting Sponsor Humana, 2022 National Partners include Ageility, KOHLER Walk-in Bath, Zibrio, and Growing Bolder.
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About NSGA:
The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) is a nonprofit Multisport Council member of the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee that promotes health and wellness for adults 50 and over through education, fitness and sport. Since 1987, NSGA has governed the biennial National Senior Games, the largest multi-sport championship event in the world for seniors. The Association is comprised of 53 independent Member Games that conduct qualifying competition events. For more information, please visit NSGA.com.
About Visit Lauderdale:
Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and serves as the tourism department for Broward County, Florida. Visit Lauderdale promotes the area’s 31 municipalities to a global audience of leisure and business travelers, and books conventions into the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and area hotels and resorts. For more information visit: sunny.org and follow @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About Humana:
Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.
To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission filings
- Most recent investor conference presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls
- Calendar of events
- Corporate Governance information
NSGA Media Contact:
Del Moon
678.549.4444
