MD Senior Olympics Underway

The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities announces that registration is underway for the 2011 Maryland Senior Olympics to be held Aug. 13 through Nov. 6 at 15 locations in the state.
 
The games have 21 sports with more than 100 events. They include volleyball, basketball, track and field events, ten-pin bowling, table tennis, archery, horseshoes, racquetball, badminton, billiards, lawn bowling, softball, tennis and swimming.
 
The Maryland Senior Olympics was created in early 1980 through joint efforts of the Baltimore County and Maryland State Commission on Physical Fitness. The first competition was held on Oct. 4, 1980, at Towson State University with about 300 athletes for a one-day event. The success of early state programs such as Maryland’s led to the creation of the biennial National Senior Games in 1985. The national games, a competition for winners of local and regional seniors games, has grown into more than 80 member events representing all 50 states, plus France, Germany and Canada, and approximately 250,000 participants.
 
The first Maryland competitions start Aug. 13. Cost to participate in one event is $20, and it is $5 per each additional one. Registration deadline is 30 days prior to your first event’s start date. No registration will be taken after Oct. 1. To register or more information, see www.mdseniorolympics.org; e-mail [email protected] call 240-777-8080.