Perryville will have once again host its own version of the Olympic games, but this one has an older crowd.
The Perryville Park Center will host the 21st annual First State Community Bank Southeast Missouri Senior Games. It is one of the biggest events the Park Center hosts each year. The games will be held August 12-14 in various locations around the community, which is a change in the format of the event.
In past years, the Senior Games started on a Wednesday and ran through Saturday, ending with the track and field events. However, this year’s games will be held primarily on the weekend from Friday-Sunday. League and Fitness Supervisor Kaelin Casasola felt like the change was needed.
“When I was thinking about the people who attend the games, it is normally the older population like 70-plus that is the bulk of our registration,” Casasola said. “We are trying to pull some of the younger age ranges like 50s and most of the time they are working in the middle of the week. We hope the change entices them to come out and participate.”
This year’s games have about 90 participants
The participants in the games range in age from 50 to mid-90s that compete in nearly 60 events over the three days.
Competitions range from softball accuracy throws, to numerous swimming and track events. Of all the age groups that participant, the age group with the most participants falls within the 75-80 age range.
The event that seems to be the most popular is pickleball. The event has the most participants of any event for this year’s games yet again. Pickleball will be the only event scheduled for Sunday.