Leduc sporting competition for older athletes promotes health and positivity

Hundreds of Albertans are getting ready to show you're never too old for sports at the 55+ Provincial Summer Games in Leduc. CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach rep

Alberta athletes are gathering in Leduc for a competition exclusively for participants over 55 years old.

The Alberta 55 Plus Provincial Games has more than 1,200 athletes competing in 31 different events scheduled at various venues in town this weekend.

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Cindy Carstairs, one of the organizers of the event, told CTV News Edmonton how the games accommodate older athletes by offering a plethora of activities including cornhole, pickleball, and cycling.

“Our events are competitive and they’re sports related, but there are also other (non-sports) events,” Carstairs said on Friday. “We have Bridge and we have photography and we have a swimming track, so it kind of gives (everyone a chance) to compete still.”

With the set age limit, Carstairs said it was inspiring to see the athletes excel in their activities.

“It’s amazing because it gives me hope that I can do it for, you know, the next 40 years as well … we have somebody that is 90-plus(years old) running the track,” she said.

As for the participants, they were also amazed at some of the competition.

“We actually had a lady – at 102 years old – that won the javelin. She complained to me because she had to play against 85-year-old kids,” said Douglas Campbell, a 78-year-old competitor.

Campbell, who has participated in the games for 17 years, said the event has many benefits to older generations.

“At our age, all the medical people say one of the big issues is isolation and lack of physical activity. So this gives you an opportunity to get people moving, get them off the couch, and do a lot of socialization,” Campbell said.

“They’re going to make new friendships. They’re going to rekindle friendships from past games and all of that is positive mentally, physically and spiritually.”

For more information on the games, you can visit the event’s website.

The competition concludes Sunday.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Marek Tkach