Pretoria - Celebrating active ageing, almost 1 000 older persons will forget about their illnesses associated with old age as they will be showing off their sports skills in the National Golden Games.
The National Golden Games is part of a programme run in residential care centres for older persons, with the aim of keeping the elderly physically.
The games will take place from 26 - 27 October at Umhlathuze Sports Complex in Richards Bay.
Persons older than 60 years, with some being 80, will participate in a number of sport activities designed specifically for older persons.
Coordinated and funded by Sport and Recreation South Africa, in partnership with the national Departments of Social Development and Health, as well as the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, the event will see participants from eight provinces fighting it out for top honours.
Participants will not only be competing in a number of athletics track events, including the 100m, 400m and 800m, but also in specialised sports and fun games such as Duck Walk, Pass the Ball, Dress Up and Goal Shooting.
Several provinces will also participate in Jukskei events, while the football competitions will be the highlight of the two-day tournament.
Sport and Recreation said that past editions of the Golden Games, including last year's - which were held in Port Elizabeth - have proven to be visual spectacles with loads of excitement and entertainment.
"The level of competition is surprisingly high, with many older people clearly wanting to prove that age has done nothing to diminish their prowess in sport," the department said.
Various high ranking national and provincial government officials are expected to attend the event.
