Hundreds of athletes from all over the province will be in Morden-Winkler-Stanley next week for the Manitoba 55+ Games.
Active Aging in Manitoba executive director Linda Brown encourages sports fans to come cheer on the 55+ Games athletes next week
“We’ve got over 800 athletes registered, but many of them are doing multiple events,” shares Linda Brown, executive director of Active Aging in Manitoba, which organizes the Games. “So it equates to about 1,300 entries, which is exciting to see.
“Every year we’re growing,” she says, reflecting on how the first Games held back in 1983 had just 300 entries. Since then, the event has become a huge draw for older athletes of all abilities.
It is, first and foremost, a friendly competition, Brown says.
“It’s a chance for people to compete in their age group,” she says. “A lot of times people will say, ‘Well, I’m 80, I’m not going to be able to compete against a 55-year-old.’ But you’re not … and you’re never too old to enter—we have 75+ categories, 80+, 85+.
“The whole idea is to promote active living at any age,” Brown stresses. “So that’s why we always say it’s a friendly competition, though it is amazing how it brings out the competitive spirit as well.”
Events are taking place at venues across the region and beyond Tuesday, June 9, through to Thursday, June 11.
Snooker and eight-ball takes place at the Morden Legion, nine and 18-hole golf are at the Winkler Centennial Golf Course, bocce ball is indoors on the turf at the Meridian Exhibition Centre, the various card events (bridge, cribbage) are at the Morden Active Living Centre and the Legion, floor shuffleboard takes over the Winkler Senior Centre, horseshoes will be tossed in Stanley Park, pickle ball is at both the MEC and the Access Event Centre, slo-pitch is at the Winkler ball diamonds, swimming is at the RCU Aquatic Centre, arts and crafts are at the Winkler Arts and Culture Centre, and the predicted run/walk and track and field events are all at the Discovery Trails School in Morden.
Outside the immediate area, the Carman 5 Pin Bowl is hosting the bowling events and the equestrian competitions are at Birds Hill Park near Winnipeg.
The detailed daily schedules are available online at activeagingmb.ca.
“We certainly encourage people to come and watch,” Brown says. “There’s no charge—just show up and enjoy.”
Slo-pitch is always a big favourite for athletes and fans alike, though pickleball has surpassed it in sheer athlete numbers—there are 300 pickleball entries this year.
“We have the women’s playing on Tuesday, mixed on Wednesday, and men’s on Thursday,” Brown says.
Helping to pull off this massive sporting event are 135 local volunteers, who all got together for an appreciation supper in Winkler last week.
“We’ve always struggled with finding volunteers for things, so I think this is great … it really speaks to the commitment and excitement,” says Brown, noting the three communities of Morden, Winkler, and Stanley have embraced supporting these Games financially as well.
“The sponsorship has been amazing. We have great support from Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries every year and Manitoba Credit Unions, Blue Cross, but locally the businesses have really stepped up. It’s been amazing what they’ve all done, so that’s really great to see.”
