Macon   Telegraph

Posted on Thu, Sep. 29, 2005

23rd Annual Georgia Golden Olympics returns to Houston

By Jenny Gordon TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER

In the mood for tennis, horseshoes or bowling? Or how about billiards, shuffleboard or checkers?

The 23rd Annual Georgia Golden Olympics, hosted by the Warner Robins Recreation Department, takes place this week with events being held all over Houston County. The games are open to men and women 50 years and older from across the state.

There are 370 people registered for this year's events, according to Vicki C. Pilgrim of the Georgia Department of Human Resources. More than 50 games are scheduled.

This year's National Senior Games were held in June in Pittsburgh. Pilgrim said 350 people qualified from Georgia, with about 125 or so attending the games in Pennsylvania.

Not only are there competitive games, but also recreational ones like checkers, and football, frisbee, softball and basketball throws.

Today's events include tennis singles and mixed doubles at Perkins Park, shuffleboard at the recreation department, bowling at Gold Cup Bowling Center, and discus throws at McConnell Talbert Stadium, to name a few. There will also be a welcome and a parade of athletes at 7 p.m. at the Wellston Center.

Anyone living in Georgia is welcome to participate in the Golden Olympics, held each year in Warner Robins. To qualify for the National Senior Games, you must qualify from your state. 2006 will be the next qualifying year. The 2007 senior games will be June 29-July 14 in Louisville, Ky.

Coordinating agencies for the Georgia Golden Olympics include the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, Georgia Health Care Association, Georgia Recreation and Park Association Senior Citizens Section, Robins Air Force Base Services Division, UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership and Community Development and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

For a complete list of events and times, visit www.georgiagoldenolympics.org.