The countdown is officially on.
The Richmond 2020 55+ BC Games will be held Sept. 15-19. The Richmond Host Society is hard at work building on the success of the 2019 55+ BC Games, where more than 4,000 participants attended.
Registration for participants opens March 1, and the organizing committee says athletes will be impressed by the diversity of sport choices offered.
Richmond has announced the following 28 sports will be included in the 2020 55+ BC Games:
• 8-Ball
• Archery
• Badminton
• Bocce
• Bridge
• Carpet Bowling
• Cribbage
• Darts
• Dragon Boat Racing
• Five-Pin Bowling
• Floor Curling
• Golf
• Hockey
• Horseshoes
• Ice Curling
• Karate
• Lawn Bowling
• Pickleball
• Slo-Pitch
• Snooker
• Soccer
• Sturling (also known as Stick Curling)
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Trapshooting
• Whist
Quesnel, Barkerville, Wells, Hixon and McLeese Lake athletes will be representing Zone 9, the North Central Zone, at the Games. This zone includes 70 Mile House, 100 Mile House, Barkerville, Bridge Lake, Canim Lake, Forest Grove, Green Lake, Horsefly, Interlake, Lac la Hache, Likely, Mackenzie, McBride, McLeese Lake, Prince George, Quesnel, Wells and Williams Lake.
A list of individual sport co-ordinators and executive members for Zone 9 is available online at 55plusbcgames.org/zones/zone9/.
“A century ago, ‘The Roaring Twenties’ was the dawn of a new age,” Jim Lamond, president of the Richmond 55+ Games Society, said in a press release. “Now, 100 years later, we invite all to come to Richmond to celebrate the dawn of the ‘Roaring 2020.’ Welcome in a new era of innovation, opportunity and excitement. Feel the sheer joy of living life to the full.”
Lamond invites all those in B.C. who are older than 55 to “come play in Richmond’s superb sports facilities in a supportive, diverse community.”
“We welcome all of B.C. to come and enjoy the roaring Twenties,” he said.
The 55+ BC Games are presented on an annual basis in different host cities by the B.C. Seniors Games Society (BCSGS). The 55+ BC Games were previously held in Richmond in 2009, when the city hosted more than 3,800 participants.
The 55+ BC Games are an important part of the B.C. sport system and the largest annual multi-sport gathering event in the province. The Games offer the opportunity to celebrate sport and active living with other participants from across the province and experience the hospitality of the Host City.
“The 55+ BC Games is a fantastic event that gives older adults the chance to get together and compete against people in their age class,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
“I’m proud our government supports these Games, which inspire people to pursue life-long physical activity. With thousands of participants and spectators, the Games will also bring great tourism and economic benefits to the City of Richmond.”
Each year, the Games attract approximately 3,600 participants and require approximately 1,200 volunteers to stage and deliver the Games in the Host Community.
Participant registration for the Richmond 2020 55+ BC Games will open March 1.
For more information about the 55+ BC Games, visit 55plusbcgames.org.
If you are interested in helping to bring the Games to Richmond as a volunteer, visit the Volunteer Information page at 55plusbcgames.org/richmond2020/richmond-volunteer. Volunteers are needed in a wide variety of areas, including security, transportation, ceremonies and promotions.
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