NSGA Names Host Cities for 2027 and 2029 National Senior Games
NSGA Names Host Cities for 2027 and 2029 National Senior Games
The multi-sport championship for athletes ages 50+ heads to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Birmingham, Alabama
CLEARWATER, FL – The National Senior Games Association, Inc. announced Tuesday Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Birmingham, Alabama, as host cities for the 2027 and 2029 National Senior Games, respectively. This will be the first time the National Senior Games is held in Tulsa and marks a return to Birmingham after The Games were hosted there in 2017.
The massive biennial competition attracts over 11,500 athletes ages 50-100+ to compete in 25+ sports over two weeks and generated an estimated $32 million in economic impact when last contested in 2023. The event also creates invaluable social impact by showcasing active aging.
Skyline of Tulsa, Oklahoma, (top) and Birmingham, Alabama.
“We’re excited to partner with leaders in Tulsa and Birmingham to bring the National Senior Games to these thriving sports destinations. Our athletes will enjoy the excellent venues, unique attractions, flourishing cultures and easy-to-navigate geography in these cities,” said Susan Hlavacek, NSGA President & CEO. “Interest in senior athletics events is growing in cities across the country, and we saw this reflected in a strong host bid cycle.”
Both communities were named in Sports Business Journal’s “2024 Top Cities for Sports Events” for cities without a Big Five sports team.
Conveniently located in the central United States, Tulsa fuses Southern comfort and cosmopolitan style. Tulsa’s sports resume includes hosting events with IRONMAN, NCAA, PGA, USA Gymnastics, USA Volleyball and more.
“It’s an incredible honor to be chosen to host the 2027 National Senior Games in Tulsa. A
year ahead of Olympic events taking place in Oklahoma City, Tulsa will host one of the
largest sporting events in the city’s history, putting Oklahoma on center stage in the sports
world for two consecutive years. Thanks to our incredible community partners for helping
bring this inspiring, thrilling sporting event to Tulsa,” shared Joel Koester, Tulsa Sports Commission Director of Sport Sales.
“The National Senior Games are an incredible sporting event, and we’re thrilled to have
them in Tulsa,” said Renee McKenney, Senior VP of Tourism, Tulsa Regional Chamber, and President of Tulsa Regional Tourism. “This is a wonderful example of how Tulsa is a true destination for all. We can’t wait to welcome these amazing athletes and let our local attractions, restaurateurs, hoteliers and business owners shine, showing Tulsa really is the most welcoming city.”
The Birmingham region welcomes over 3.9 million visitors each year and regularly hosts sporting events of all shapes and sizes. Recent multi-sport events in the Magic City include The World Games 2022 and 2024 Transplant Games of America, with the 2025 World Police and Fire Games on the horizon.
“We could not be more excited to welcome the National Senior Games back to Birmingham in 2029,” said John Oros, President & CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It is such a special event with an important mission, and it left an incredible legacy when we hosted in 2017 – welcoming more than 10,500 participants and generating $38 million in economic impact for Jefferson County. The Greater Birmingham CVB, in partnership with the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County, can’t wait to provide another exceptional experience that leaves an even bigger impact in 2029, and further establishes Birmingham as a premier destination for sports events.”
“Birmingham is thrilled to welcome the National Senior Games back to the Magic City after a successful event here in 2017,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “Birmingham is quickly establishing itself as the premier sports destination in our region, and it’s only right to keep the spirit of competition and camaraderie alive in 2029. We can’t wait to see what those incredible athletes have in store for us – we’ll be there to cheer them all the way.”
To participate in most sports at the National Senior Games, athletes must qualify at a State Senior Games in the previous year. Dates for the 2027 and 2029 National Senior Games will be announced at a later time.
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About the National Senior Games Association (NSGA)
The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) is a nonprofit corporation that promotes the benefits of competitive sports, physical fitness and active aging to individuals aged 50+. NSGA is an Affiliate Organization Council Member of the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee and hosts the biennial National Senior Games, the largest qualified multi-sport event in the world for seniors. The Association is comprised of over 50 independent Member Organizations that conduct qualifying competitions. The 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana will be held in Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, visit NSGA.com.
About the Tulsa Sports Commission
In 1993, the Tulsa Sports Commission (TSC) was created to attract and develop sporting events and conventions for economic impact on the Tulsa community. Since its inception, the TSC has accounted for more than $500 million in economic impact to the Tulsa region by helping attract, market and host championships and sports-related events and conventions to the region. The TSC is a founding member of the National Association of Sports Commissions and lives within the Tulsa Regional Tourism umbrella organization. Learn more at visittulsa.com/sports.
About Tulsa Regional Tourism
Tulsa Regional Tourism is northeast Oklahoma’s premier accredited destination marketing organization. Housed at the Tulsa Regional Chamber, it includes Visit Tulsa for leisure travel, Tulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau for meetings & conventions, Tulsa Sports Commission for amateur & pro sports and the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture (FMAC) for creative industries and accredited film commission. Tulsa Regional Tourism leads the community’s bidding for and hosting of signature events like the PGA Championship, NCAA and BIG 12 Wrestling Championships, USA BMX Grand Nationals, the Arabian Horse Association’s U.S. Nationals and more. For more information, visit visittulsa.com.
About the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) is the official tourism and marketing organization for Birmingham and Jefferson County. Established in 1969, the non-profit agency generates positive economic impact by positioning the Greater Birmingham Region as a premier destination for conventions, sporting events, and domestic and international leisure travel. Birmingham and its neighboring municipalities welcome more than 3.96 million visitors each year, generating $2.52 billion in economic impact. Learn more at birminghamal.org.
- Published in News and Events, Press Releases
Self-Care and Resiliency Resources for Better Mental Well-Being
By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being
Mental health resources, support and treatment are more accessible today due to the growth in how society sees mental well-being. The world of sports often reflects these cultural shifts, contributing positively to the broader discussion of mental health and helping to reduce the stigma around seeking support. Older adults, including Senior Games athletes, who have lived longer under the stigma of getting help for mental health can benefit from this shift in attitudes and increase in resources.
Pandemics, economic stressors, school violence, natural disasters and other challenges have taxed our collective mental well-being. Sectors like health care were seeking relief from worker burnout before COVID-19. The Institute on Healthcare Improvement (IHI) responded by offering training on joy in work, patient safety and more. Corporate America offered programs addressing concerns of worker productivity and resilience.
Additionally, institutions like the military have made significant strides in addressing mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide prevention. The Warrior Games and the National Veterans Golden Age Games offer a safe space for veterans to use sports to uplift their mental well-being and health. These programs also help destigmatize mental health struggles for all, but there is still significant work to be done.
Like many other diseases, mental illness results from multiple factors, including genetics, environmental influences and learned behaviors. Despite understanding that many factors are outside of our control, mental illness can feel shameful.
Mental Health & Resiliency Resources
Resilience – the ability to navigate significant change and stress – is easier for some than others.
Many older adults suffered from isolation during COVID-19. The pandemic also raised our awareness of health inequities and their impact on subgroups within the population. Because older adults are more likely to be influenced by the stigma around mental health care, it is important to provide support and access to resources. We need to know it’s normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed in challenging times, and resources are available.
Resiliency, reducing stigmatization and access to mental health services are necessary for mental well-being. Therapist and Wellness Compass creator Scott Jorner, PhD, notes that a key to destigmatizing mental illness is to normalize life’s ups downs. This allows us to talk about mental health challenges more freely, opening paths to seeking care.
It is helpful to self-assess, checking in with yourself on how things are going. Dr. Stoner suggests we learn to listen to the little whispers, practice checking in to see how we are doing and embrace challenges as opportunities to grow in our well-being.
Two resources to build better mental health and resiliency are the Wellness Compass and My Mental Health: Do I Need Help.
- Wellness Compass: This tool helps you assess the eight dimensions of wellness. For our purposes, pay special attention to your mental well-being by focusing on the mind and heart sections of the assessment.
- My Mental Health: Do I Need Help helps you assess mild and more significant symptoms while guiding you to the correct support.
The intersection of sports and society has brought much-needed attention to mental well-being, allowing older adult athletes an opportunity to overcome ingrained levels of stigmatization. Please embrace the opportunity to seek support if needed.
Disaster Resources for Older Adults
The National Senior Games Association recognizes our community members affected by recent historic hurricanes, and we stand in solidarity with you as you recover. Our partners at the National Council on Aging (NCOA) offer trusted resources explaining the programs available to people affected by a disaster and tips for addressing the unique needs of older adults during an emergency. Visit the NCOA Disaster Assistance webpage here.
- Published in Health & Well-Being
Veteran Ends 55-Year Drought with Senior Swimming Career
November 2024 Athlete of the Month
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller
Joel Lockwood, 90
Lake City, Michigan
Photo courtesy Joel Lockwood.
Joel Lockwood is having the time of his life by returning to competitive swimming after a 55-year hiatus caused by career and family duties. Despite current challenges, the 90-year-old says he’ll never get out of his lane again.
Since re-entering the pool in 2012, Joel has amassed an impressive 143 medals and more than 100 ribbons from masters and Senior Games competitions, including a gold medal in the Aquatics Masters Championships. He also holds records in the 80-84 and 85-89 age groups and has only finished in second place once in eight trips to the Michigan Senior Olympics.
Joel demonstrated his athleticism as captain of his swim team at Dearborn High School and was a three-time All-American swimmer at Henry Ford Community College. He had to stop swimming to go to work for Ford Motor Company until he was drafted into the Army in 1957. Unexpectedly, he found himself competing again at Fort Carson, Colorado.
“When you’re in the infantry basic training, you don’t go anyplace. You’re stuck on base, so I would go down and swim at the Fort Carson swimming pool on the weekends,” he recalls. “I was slated to be a medic in Texas, but when they cut my orders, they said I was coming back to Fort Carson for advanced infantry training. I told them, ‘No, you can’t do that because you know I wear glasses,’ and they replied, ‘Yes, but you can swim.’”
Joel was recruited to swim for his regiment in the annual Fifth Army meet and spent half his time training in the pool. “I broke the 400- and 1500-meter record for the meet, so they set me up to swim in the All-Army competition that included other guys with college and even Olympic experience,” he says. “I placed third in All-Army’s in 1957.” Joel humorously recalls finishing his Army career as a lifeguard instructor wearing a Speedo with the Fifth Army patch on it.
Ending a Half Century of Drought
He returned to Michigan after his discharge and began a long and lucrative career as an engineer for General Motors. The long work hours and time devoted to his wife and family ended his swimming career – or so he thought until he met veteran masters swimmer Reggie Ray after he retired. “She was in her 80s and lived across the lake from us, and she heard that I used to swim,” he explains. “Reggie insisted I had to get back into it, so that’s when it started all over.”
Joel and Dixie Lee celebrating their anniversary. Photo courtesy Joel Lockwood.
Joel’s comeback road has been challenging due to a situation many other older athletes can relate to. “I’ve been a caregiver for my wife Dixie Lee for the last six years,” he says softly. “The last two years have been, they’ve been the roughest. I have not been able to work out and swim as much as I really need to be at a competitive level.”
But Joel is not complaining and says he’s glad to be there to help care for his wife of 71 years, and he is finding resources that will give him more time. “I got help from the Council on Aging in Milwaukee County and another aging service out of northern Michigan. I’m now able to get out five days a week and swim anywhere from three to six hours. The Cadillac YMCA has a beautiful pool only 12 miles away.
“I’ve got to keep up my health,” Joel continues. “And so far, most people don’t think I’m as old as I am and do as much as I do. They think I’m in my mid 70s. I take no medicine. When I do my annual physical and all the doctor tells me is, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, but don’t change.”
Joel looks forward to masters meets in Michigan in early 2025 and a return to the National Senior Games in Des Moines next July. He loves his competition but has a balanced outlook. “The main thing now is to take care of my wife and keep myself healthy,” he says. “Dixie did a great job taking care of me and the family for many years. Now it’s my turn to take care of her, and I’m happy to do it.”
- Published in Athlete of the Month