The stage is set and all is ready for the hosting for this year’s Senior Games.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, Paradise Park, UWI Cave Hill Campus, St. Michael, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, underscored the importance of the Games.

He noted that the Ministry is seeking to boost both participation and attendance, and also hopes to see an increase in community-based activities that will help generate greater interest in the event.

We had determined that we needed to restructure and to review the Games [with] the view to do a number of things. One, we want to attract more spectators; two we want to attract more competitors; three,…we wanted regular Barbadians to feel that they could come out and enjoy the games; and four, because this is our major programme in relation to activation and healthy ageing, [we wanted to] have more activities in the communities and to bring more people to the idea that as we age, we must take care of our physical bodies, our mental bodies and our emotional bodies too,” he said.

He further adedd, “The Games started off as an event where regular people were running; it wasn’t taken overly serious . Over time, it became extremely serious,” he said. “The Games became extremely competitive and we respect that. We also feel that there also has to be an element of fun. There also has to be an element where regular people feel that they can come and enjoy and participate in the games.”

Coordinator Ytannia Wiggins, noted that more than 200 participants had already registered.

This year’s National Senior Games will begin with a motorcade on May 24, starting at the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs. The motorcade will make its way to Pelican Village to pick up representatives from various sporting federations before proceeding through the streets of Bridgetown. The celebration will wrap up at Freedom Park, Golden Square, with a mini wellness fair, movement sessions, and a vibrant cultural carnival showcasing performances from some of the island’s top calypsonians and artistes.