55 Plus games experienced influx of participants

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

With less than a week to go before Strathmore hosts the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games, the zone results reveal an influx in participation among local seniors has spiked to more than 600 per cent of the norm – partially the result of the event being held locally this year.
Twenty-five seniors, aged 55 and up, that are competing in a variety of activities are residents of Strathmore, Carseland and Lyalta. Among the athletes is 66-year-old competitive swimmer Susan Lust, who is the only female from the area to participate in the category. Despite having swum for Medicine Hat from 1962 to 1965, the former Alberta Marlin Aquatic Club member hasn’t swam competitively in over 40 years. The announcement of the games heading to Strathmore provided the motivation needed for Lust to get back into the pool.
“I’m determined to do this for me,” said Lust. “It’s been a really good opportunity to get back into it again and I’m still competitive. I’ll be 70 in two-and-a-half years and I get into the water and I want to win. I really want to make Strathmore proud, that’s probably the biggest thing.”
Lust began training in March and will take on other zone qualifiers in the 50 meter back, 50 meter breast, 50 meter free, and the 100 meter freestyle. She added training for the event has brought back many valuable memories. To fuel those memories, two teammates from the AMAC team of ’64 will be cheering her on from the sidelines.
As part of an initiative to increase participation, the game’s Board Chair Donalda Ladene’s goal was to have the games in Strathmore and encourage participation in zone playoffs.
“It’s really exciting, because Zone 2 participation, particularly our area has generally been quite low, so it’s really nice to see the increase,” said Colleen Huber, games manager for the Strathmore 2015 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games. “We visited all of the homes around Strathmore … and posted a lot of information at different areas across town.”
Such advertising attracted 58-year-old Strathmore resident Theo Owel, who qualified for running and biking at zones. With limitations of one category per participant, Owel decided on running – an astute decision for the athlete who just completed the Stampede Road Race half marathon. Owel, who will run 3,000 meters, 1,500 meters, and 800 meters, is planning on getting in some practice runs around the track before the events are launched. However, it was the proximity of the games that played an active motivator for Owel to participate.
“I have been running and cycling for decades,” said Owel. “I think it’ll be really interesting in terms of how many participants are there and whether or not the Town of Strathmore and the community have done enough to drum up some interest. I’m looking forward to it. I think it’ll be a good event for the town.”
The games provide seniors with an opportunity to show off their skills through 17 different categories. Such options include the traditional competitive events of athletics, slo-pitch, tennis, and golf, but also feature arts and crafts, creative writing, cribbage, military whist and pickleball to name a few.
Every two years a community within Alberta has the chance to be awarded the bid to host the winter or summer games. Strathmore won the bid two years ago. As Strathmore gears up to host the 35th Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games, the public can expect much entertainment next week, with opening ceremonies including a torch relay and various musical talents.
However, for Lust, the games are about more than just promoting health to the 1,200 expected participants.
“I think, these seniors, the one thing they have in common is they want to feel alive,” she said. “They want to have fun and go forward and live long and be healthy and happy. Whether they play cards or whether they swim, or play bocce, that shows spirit and that’s what people need.”
The Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games will take place from July 16-19.