Boone County Senior Olympics returns Aug. 29

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Carol Zuccaro displays medals won in the 2015 Senior Olympics. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
Carol Zuccaro displays medals won in the 2015 Senior Olympics. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)

By Ann Marie Shambaugh

The eyes of the world may be on Rio, but Boone County residents will soon be collecting medals of their own at the second annual Senior Olympics.

All 10 competitions from the inaugural games are returning, as well as two new events – pickleball and a fitness walk. The events are organized by Boone County Senior Services, Inc. and will take place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

The games are open to anyone age 60 and older, although only Boone County residents are eligible for medals. Participants do not need to have previous athletic experience.

“We’ve tried to incorporate different activity levels,” BCSSI Executive Director Anita Bowen said. “When someone comes in to sign up, we try to encourage them to think about something new they might want to try.”

For John Quinn of Lebanon, that meant signing up to participate in horseshoes. Last year the 83-year-old military veteran competed in golf, basketball, bocce ball and bowling, events he plans to do again this year.

“They tried to get me into line dancing, but I can’t remember which foot goes where, so I had to bow out of that one,” he said.

Quinn won the Senior Olympics Spirit Award in 2015 and was selected to light the torch at this year’s opening ceremony, set for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 29. The opening ceremony will also include breakfast and a keynote address from Mel Kenyon, a Boone County resident and former midget car champion.

Registration costs $10, and each participant will receive a T-shirt. Participants are encouraged to sign-up by Aug. 19, but late registrations will be accepted. Learn more by calling BCSSI at 765-482-5220 or 317-873-8939 or visiting booneseniors.org.

The top finishers in each event will take home a medal, but Quinn said everyone wins by making new friends or finding a new hobby.

“It’s a very low-key competition. No one is trying to outdo anybody else,” he said. “Some of the folks have had a lot of athletics in their background, but they haven’t played in years. It makes you feel a lot younger. You get out there and feel like you’re a kid again almost.”

Schedule of Events

Aug. 29

  • 8:30 a.m. – Opening ceremony, 515 Crown Pointe Drive, Lebanon (RSVP, seating is limited)
  • 10 a.m. – Euchre, BCSSI, 515 Crown Pointe Drive, Lebanon
  • 10 a.m. – Bocce ball, Witham Hospital northwest lawn area, 2605 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon

Aug. 30

  • 9 a.m. – Track and Field, Zionsville Community High School, 1000 Mulberry St., Zionsville
  • 11 a.m. – Horseshoes, Abner Longley/Southside Park, 130 E. Ulen Drive, Lebanon
  • 1 p.m. – Water aerobics, Witham YMCA, 2791 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon
  • 3 p.m. – Basketball shoot, Witham Family YMCA, 2791 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon
  • 5:30 p.m. – Bowling, Lebanon Bowling Center, 1901 Indianapolis Ave., Lebanon

Aug. 31

  • 8 a.m. – Golf, Fairway Golf Course, 750 E. 375 N., Lebanon
  • 9 a.m. – Nature walk with fitness walk option, Thorntown Rail Trail, meet at the Lion’s Shelter on Pearl Street
  • 1 p.m. – Pickleball doubles, Witham YMCA, 2791 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon
  • 1 p.m. – Line dancing, BCSSI, 515 Crown Pointe Drive, Lebanon

Sept. 1

  • 9 a.m. – Closing celebration with “A Tribute to Elvis,” BCCSI, 515 Crown Pointe Drive, Lebanon (RSVP, seating is limited)

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