Nevada Senior Games running for the 36th year

For those 50 or older, the Nevada Senior Games are set to run Sept. 16 to Oct. 19.

Jim Terry, 60, has been with the Nevada Senior Games for three years. He participates in swimming and pistol shooting.

”It gets the juices flowing and keeps the mind sharp and focused, and the physical aspect of it is kind of intense,” Terry said. “I like competing, but the fact that you’re meeting new people and socializing and getting out there and seeing seniors do incredible things is very motivating and inspiring.”

Terry wanted to be a part of the games because he’d been involved in Masters, which is age-group swimming, and had competed in a number of events with that group. A few years ago, he was cruising the internet, learned of the Nevada Senior Games and decided, “Why not?”

The games offer a variety of sports, including archery, badminton, basketball skills, bowling, cycling, dance, fitness/weightlifting, golf, pickleball and pistol shooting.

“A rock climbing center in Henderson contacted us and want to get (their sport) into the games this year, but they called us a little too late,” Terry said. “So next year, we’ll have them as one of the sports.”

Each state chooses which games to host. The events are not all your typical sports. There’s a walkathon, for example. A few years back, trap shooting was added. There’s bridge, the card game, but only at the national level.

“Some people have proposed that we have poker,” he said. “I mean, we’re Nevada, after all.”

This is the 36th year for the games. They began with a handful of individuals meeting at a park, doing primarily track and field events. It’s grown over the years and now has roughly 1,000 participants.

“The main thing is to keep people fit through competition and have fun doing it, to get them out there and out of their TV habit,” Terry said. “For sports, you have to stay in shape year-round, so it motivates you.”

The national games are held every other year. The last one, two years ago, saw about 70 Nevadans go to Minneapolis to compete. More than 10,000 people from across the country were involved.

Games director Nedra Paschal said a lot of people are repeat participants.

She’s involved in tennis and badminton, the latter for 20 years and the former for 15. Coming up will be her 10th time going to nationals. She’s won three or four silver medals in badminton, one in tennis and several bronze in badminton.

“But I’ve yet to get a gold,” she said and added her chance might be coming. “When you get to a certain age, there are fewer and fewer competitors.”

The games are divided by age groups in five-year increments, starting at age 50.

Venues are distributed far and wide. Softball, for example, takes place in Mesquite, 90 miles north of Las Vegas. Scheduling the various events is always a concern.

“We have to find facilities that can accommodate a lot of us,” Paschal said, “then we have them spread out so people can play one sport one weekend, another on another weekend.”

Snowbirds who do not claim Nevada residency are allowed to play here. There are even people from Canada who compete.

Some people behind the games are not mere weekend enthusiasts. The track and field coordinator for Nevada is four-time Olympian Martha Watson. She won eight U.S. long jump titles (five indoor, three outdoor) between 1964 and 1976.

Paschal said it’s great to have somebody with those credentials on board.

“Of course, it was so long ago, but once people find out, they’re all impressed,” Paschal said.

Visit nevada.fusesport.com.

To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.