By Marlisa Harding
mharding@americanpress.com
The Southwest Louisiana District Senior Games kicks off today at McNeese State University’s Recreational Complex and runs through April 23.
Some of more than 50 featured events include track and field, archery, bean bag baseball, bowling, dominoes, horseshoes, spelling, swimming, table tennis and washer pitches.
Designed for seniors 50 and older, the event offers “a little bit for everybody,” said Angela Jouett, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Senior Games director. She said competitors from across the state and country attend the senior games in Lake Charles. More than 300 have registered to compete, Jouett said.
“They like our games and the way we run them,” she said.
Jouett said many “longtime participants have passed away.” But this year is particularly special because “about 100 first-timers” have registered, she said. Jouett attributes the increase in registration to the competitors actively spreading the word to their friends and personal recruitment from McNeese Health and Human Performance students.
Many state and national Senior Olympic champions are from Calcasieu Parish, including Dr. Michael Turner, who has qualified for nationals over the last eight years. He has been one of the top eight sprinters in the national competition and said he hopes to continually improve as he ages.
The event is organized in part by the McNeese Health and Human Performance department. HHP students take a semester-long course on the planning and execution of the senior games and then help facilitate the event.
During the opening ceremony, a $5,000 endowment will be presented to the university.
“After 28 years, we are excited to be able to give a scholarship to a deserving HHP student,” Jouett said.
Also during the opening ceremony, two competitors will be honored for their outstanding lifetime achievements and overall positive contribution to the organization.