50+ Lifestyles

Olympics – Not Just for the Young! Part 1 of 2

By Karen McCoy
Marketing Consultant at Ridgecrest Village

We watch the Olympics on TV every four years. It looks exciting for all those competitors and I know I have thought if only I had the talent that those people have. Well, we just might! We have Olympic events right here in the Quad Cities for people 50 and older. They are the Senior Olympics. These Olympics are not just to stretch your muscles and run a mile, they have so many other opportunities to show your Olympic abilities. Everything from Literary and Visual Arts to Bowling and Table Tennis, Performing Arts to Golf not to mention the expected Running, Distance Walking, Cycling, Swimming and Pickle Ball just to mention a few. So, if you thought you were excluded from the competition, guess what, you just might have a talent that would get you into the Senior Olympics.

Here at Ridgecrest Village we are privileged to have one of the original founders of the Quad Cities Senior Olympics reside here, Mrs. Ruth Johnson. She is celebrating her 30th year as a participant and has much history to tell about the story of its beginnings right here in our own Quad Cities.

I had the opportunity to visit with Ruth. When asked about her experiences with her involvement, she shared a few words; Comradery, lifelong friendships but for the most part FUN! She shared that the purpose is to show people that as they get older they still have an opportunity to not only compete, but to compete in so much more than just athletic events. Over the 30 years that Senior Olympics has been happening they have enjoyed participation in numbers as high as 658. Ridgecrest Village is hosting the Performing Arts again this year and invite you to participate or come watch the competition. Next month we will share more of Ruth’s story and more details about how you can join the fun. For more information on Senior Olympics go to www.qcsogo.org.

Karen McCoy is Marketing Consultant for Ridgecrest Village in Davenport, Iowa. For more information about Ridgecrest Village, contact Karen at (563) 388-3563.