The 35th-annual Down East Senior Games (DESG) are scheduled for April 30-May 22, 2018. Anyone 50 years of age or older and living in Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson counties, are invited to participate in the DESG.
Events take place in Rocky Mount, Tarboro and Wilson, North Carolina.
The event categories in which seniors may choose to compete are sports, literary arts, performing arts, visual arts, and heritage arts.
The Sports category includes: badminton, basketball, basketball shooting, billiards, bocce, cornhole, croquet, cycling, discus throw, football throw, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, racewalking, running long jump, shot put, shuffleboard, softball, softball throw, standing long jump, swimming, table tennis, tennis and track events.
In the Literary Arts category, participants may compete in essays, short stories, life experiences and poetry.
Performing Arts include cheerleading, comedy/drama, dance, instrumental, vocal and line dance.
Visual Arts categories are acrylics, oil, drawing, mixed media, photography, sculpture and watercolor.
Heritage Arts consist of basket weaving, china painting, crocheting/knitting, jewelry, needlework, quilting, stained glass, tole/decorative painting, pottery, weaving, woodcarving and woodworking.
Individuals will compete for awards in their own sex and age category within five-year increments: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95-99 and 100+. Registrants should expect to provide proof of age to ensure their appropriate category.
Said Brian Harrell, Senior Center supervisor:
“This is my first time working with the Down East Senior games, but I am really fortunate we can offer such an event to our active, adult community. The Down East Senior Games is a two-week event that is the culmination of months of training. It is an opportunity for active adults to showcase their physical and mental skills.”
Applications are available now at local senior centers, or by calling 252.972.1564 or 252.972.1561. The entry deadline is April 2, 2018.
The Down East Senior Games (DESG) is sanctioned by the North Carolina Senior Games, Inc., an organization that was established in 1983 to create a year-round health promotion and education program for adults 50 years of age and better. Each spring, thousands of people enjoy participating in the Down East Senior Games. Qualifiers are invited to participate in the Fall Senior Games State Finals, which are held in Raleigh. Every two years, the State Finals winners qualify to represent the state of North Carolina at the National Senior Games.
Source: Tameka Kenan-Norman, City of Rocky Mount
