With the 21st anniversary of the National Senior Games being commemorated this year, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, is urging more support from Barbadians for this event.
He made this appeal yesterday while addressing a press conference at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St, Michael, to launch the Games.
While he praised the efforts of the seniors, he lamented that the Games had not been sufficiently supported, saying: “I think we have some of the most elite athletes, the best athletes, and senior athletes in the region, surely. I think that we haven’t been able to get the crowds to support them the way that they should be supported.
“My view is that the senior athletes put a lot of time and effort into training and preparing themselves for the Games and it is very difficult, even when you are very, very young, to get into the kind of shape that these athletes are in, as they get older.”
Minister Humphrey also stated that government had “to make it easier for people to be healthy/active” and he expressed the view that “Healthy and Active Ageing”, which has been the theme of the Ministry for a long time, now needed to be manifested.
Noting that people should come out and watch the competitive games because they are “extremely exciting”, he stressed the event would draw more attention and interest from young people if they came out and competed as well.
“I dare the average Barbadian who is not training the way these athletes train to come out and try to compete with some of these athletes because it is really intense,” he challenged.
The 2025 Games will comprise both highly competitive and recreational games, which will be held in different months. Whit Monday, June 9, will see the culmination of the track and field activities. These will be held on just one day as opposed to two.
Explaining that, that discussion with athletes was responsible for this decision, Mr. Humphrey added that it would allow persons to have more time with their families and more participation by the public. In September, during the Month of the Elderly, there will be other activities such as archery and dominoes.
Meanwhile, it was disclosed that the Ministry has requested that the Senior Games teams/committees spend some time in the communities, over the next few months, in the lead up to the Games on Whit Monday, June 9.
This year, the public can also look forward to a major health fair at the Wildey Gymnasium that will seek to attract persons to the Games and its various activities.
Additionally, the Ministry will be working with all the parish ambassadors and organising committees as they undertake their We Gatherin’ events, to have the Games associated with parishes to draw more attention to them. (PR/GIS)