Seniors take part in games – The BVI Beacon

Seniors from across the territory marched around the AO Shirley Recreation Grounds to the beat of a drum on Friday during the 2022 Senior Games.

Then they kicked off a morning of physical activity wearing their colors: red for the East End/Long Look Rising Sun team, and yellow and green for the Carrot Bay Senior Engagement Program team.

In total, approximately 40 seniors participated in events such as a brisk walk, brisk run, file and spoon race, wheelchair race, cane race, carry-out race and church race race.

“I think it went well. It was fun,” said organizer Junelle Victor from the Department of Social Development. “Carrot Bay seniors, they came out on top.

Students from the Althea Scatliffe Strikers Band helped with the march, leading the seniors along the track at the start of the games. Other students led the territorial song.

New Health and Social Development Minister Marlon Penn, whose mother-in-law attended the games, spoke a few words at the event.

“You have my pledge… that there are enough funds to support you seniors,” he said. “I just want to tell you, have fun and keep doing your activities.”

Ralstan Henry, chairman of the BVI Athletics Association, also spoke at the event.

“What we are looking for is sport for life,” he said. “You are the pillar of where we are today. If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be where we are in the sport.

He promised to expand the games in future years and fill the stands with people cheering on the seniors.

The games capped off a month of activities for seniors, which also included a church service and tea party.

“[The games are] sort of our annual event that we usually organize for Senior Citizens Month. Last year it was held in Carrot Bay in the backyard of one of the seniors. They also organized a cultural fair,” Ms. Victor said. “This year we decided to make it a bit more competitive and fun.”

She added that in 2020 and 2021, the department was unable to hold its regular events for the annual celebration.

“We were very happy to have been able to organize a few activities this year given the circumstances of the past,” said Ms. Victor. “And the seniors themselves enjoyed the events.”

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