Pandemic disruptions create unique opportunity for all to participate
Clearwater, FLA. (November 9, 2021) – The National Senior Games Association announces, for the first time ever, that they will allow athletes over 50 years old to enter to compete in the National Senior Games without requiring qualification. The 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana will be hosted in Greater Fort Lauderdale next May 10-23.
The National Senior Games, held every other odd-numbered year since 1987, has always required senior athletes to first qualify at one of its Member Games held around the country during the previous year. However, when the pandemic caused the cancellation or postponement of most of the 2020 qualifying games, the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) needed to make several adjustments to the qualification process, including a six-month postponement of the Games.
A one-time open registration period beginning December 14 was approved to accommodate athletes who could not qualify as usual in 2020 or 2021. It also opens a rare window for others to participate.
“Required qualification is a unique and distinctive hallmark of our Games, but as with all other events, our entire network of 52 state and affiliate member games was impacted by these circumstances,” said NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker. “Offering open registration ensures that none of our past participants will be left out, and it’s also a new opportunity for recreational athletes to compete who may not have heard about us.”
“Florida has a large population of active seniors who participate in sports,” Riker added. “With the Games coming to Broward County, this will allow new participants, especially from the Southeast, a convenient way to come experience our unique supportive atmosphere of fitness, fun and fellowship. Once they do, they will likely come back.”
A priority registration period for qualified athletes has already been underway to provide first access. The response has been strong. Under open registration, anyone age 50+ as of December 31, 2021, is eligible to enter any of the 22 sports being offered. The maximum number of registrants will be limited for certain sports and could reach capacity at any point during the process. All registrations close on March 1, 2022.
The National Senior Games established itself as the world’s largest qualified multisport competition in 2019 when nearly 14,000 competed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Athletes compete for medals and place ribbons in five-year age divisions from 50 to 100+.
Complete information about National Senior Games can be found at NSGA.com.
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Contact:
News@NSGA.com
ABOUT NSGA
The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) is a member of the U.S. Olympic Paralympic Committee Affiliate Organization Committee. NSGA is a nonprofit Florida corporation that promotes health and well-being for adults 50 and over through education, fitness and sport. NSGA governs the biennial National Senior Games, the largest multi-sport championship event in the world. The Association is comprised of 52 independent Member Games that conduct qualifying competition events, and the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana will be held May 10-23,2022 in Greater Fort Lauderdale. For more information, please visit NSGA.com.
