The Wellington Senior Regional Games took place on Tuesday morning, offering a range of activities for everyone. From pickleball and chair yoga to rock’n’roll dancing, the event provided a chance for seniors to try new sports and engage in their favorite activities. One participant, a 77-year-old woman, attended to learn line dancing, while another, named Andrew, participated to play bowls, a game he loves.
The event also featured a modified version of netball, called walking netball, which allowed three women to relive their youth. One participant said the event was so enjoyable that it made her forget about her arthritis pain.
This was the fifth year the games were held, starting in 2019. The event was initially organized by the Wellington City, Hutt, Upper Hutt, and Kāpiti Coast councils, but Nuku Ora, formerly known as Sport Wellington, took over in 2021.
Carolyn Patchell, the older adult community lead, said the games aimed to show that age is not a barrier to staying active. The event has grown every year, according to William Dewhirst, the programmes team leader. Starting with less than 100 people, the games have now attracted more than 300 seniors. This year, two new sports, walking basketball and walking football, were introduced to make the games more accessible.
Despite having to close registrations at 250 people, the organizers managed to accommodate an additional 80 participants on the day. Nuku Ora will also host the Wairarapa games in Masterton on 24 April.
