Next year’s National Senior Games should be bigger and better with a community-oriented approach being added to the proceedings.
That is the promise from Minister of Social Care, Christopher Sinckler, who was speaking last weekend at the opening of the Games, held at the National Stadium, Waterford. He said his Ministry had plans to take such a perspective to further encourage the participation of more seniors.
He revealed that the community-oriented process would be facilitated through the newly created Department of Constituency Empowerment and the 30 Constituency Councils, which would be established across Barbados.
Minister Sinckler explained that since the Councils were grouped into five zones, consideration would be given to inter-zonal competitions in the various sporting disciplines and winners in the various zones could then compete at the national level.
“This would not only take the Senior Games to a higher level, but would undoubtedly assist in reviving the community spirit; encourage active ageing; and increase friendly rivalry among participants and spectators from the respective zones,” he remarked.
Mr. Sinckler also said that it was the goal of his Ministry to reach out to as many seniors as possible to encourage them to take part in some form of physical activity. This, he stated, was shown this year, with the inclusion of the disciplines of basketball, netball, table tennis and cycling.
The National Senior Games were introduced in 2002, with the aim to promote active ageing and provide older persons with an opportunity to showcase their athletic skills and fitness.