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PALO ALTO, Dec. 7—The San Francisco Bay Area will host
the 2009 Summer National Senior Games - The Senior Olympics,
one of the largest recurring multi-sports events in the United
States and the largest multi-sport event in the world for
seniors.
Nearly 15,000 top male and female senior athletes, ages 50
and older, from across the United States are projected to
compete in 18 different sports within separate age divisions
at venues located throughout the San Francisco Bay Area during
the 15-day event, set for August 1 - 15, 2009.
The National Senior Games Association's (NSGA) Board of Directors
selected the San Francisco Bay Area as the host city from
among 10 communities that responded to the NSGA's Request
For Proposal. Last May, the NSGA chose the San Francisco Bay
Area as one of two finalists and then conducted a three-day
site evaluation visit in August.
"The NSGA could not be more pleased to be bringing our premier
event to the San Francisco Bay Area. We are particularly grateful
to BASOC and Stanford University for taking the lead on this
large and complex event. Our California State Senior Games
Championships have been thriving and now we look forward to
showing the entire West Coast what the Senior Games is all
about," said Bill Bankhead, CEO of the NSGA.
"The San Francisco Bay Area and California's affinity for
active healthy lifestyles makes this partnership uniquely
suited to bring NSGA's mission and programs to the hundreds
of thousands of seniors that reside in the state. We hope
to be a motivating influence so that many more seniors might
realize the benefits of fitness and thereby improve the quality
of their lives as they age", said Bankhead.
"This is the largest Olympic-affiliated event ever to come
to the Bay Area...it will bring more athletes than even the
Olympic Games themselves and span a greater range of ages
than any other sporting event. The Senior Games are at the
heart of the meaning of the Olympic Movement. Though they
inspire us all, its still true that many people watch the
Olympic Games, see mostly younger athletes at the prime of
their performance and say, "those athletes are amazing, but
that's not me..." With the Senior Games, people of all ages,
even those who didn't think they could swim, run or jump anymore,
are inspired to a more active, healthy and fulfilling life...that's
the TRUE Olympic spirit and the real meaning of the Olympic
Movement; a challenge to all of us to be the best we can be,"
says Anne Cribbs, President and CEO of BASOC.
Ted Leland, Athletic Director, Stanford University, who was
part of the bid team explains, " At Stanford, we love athletic
events. We are excited to be the main hub for the 2009 Senior
Games…we have a long history of hosting events at Stanford
and we look forward to making certain all the athletes have
the best competitive experience possible. We know the Bay
Area's beautiful weather, world-class facilities, active sports
participant and fan base will provide an exciting atmosphere
for all the competitors."
"The athletes' experience will be second to none", said Greg
Moore, Director of National Games for NSGA. "The Stanford
University athletic venues and residential facilities when
coupled with the climate and the regional venues proposed
for the Games make an unbeatable combination", said Moore.
The San Francisco Bay Area's involvement with NSGA began
in 2003, when the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau
received an invitation to bid on the 2009 Senior Games. The
invitation was passed to BASOC in their role as the San Francisco
Bay Area's regional sports organization. BASOC's Executive
Committee reviewed the bid documents, and voted to submit
the bid. After review, the NSGA chose the San Francisco Bay
Area as one of two finalist cities and visited the Bay Area
in August.
The Senor Olympics is expected to draw more than 35,000 people
to the San Francisco Bay Area during the two-week period in
2009, using more than 17,000 hotel and dormitory room nights.
" The 2005 Senior Olympics which will be held in Pittsburg
are estimating an economic impact of $35 million, and we are
convinced that the 2009 Senior Games will surpass that figure."
according to John Marks, President and CEO of the San Francisco
Convention and Visitors Bureau. "San Francisco is well accustomed
to hosting national and international visitors and our entire
hospitality community will welcome all the participants in
the 2009 Senior Games. Like others in our corporate community,
we stand ready to support the 2009 Senior Games in whatever
way we can to help the local organizing committee create a
superb and memorable event."
The hub for the 15-day event will be the Stanford University
Campus. While most of the competition venue locations will
be on the Stanford Campus, three sports - golf, softball and
racquetball will take place at venues outside the campus.
Competitive events will include: archery, badminton, basketball,
bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, race walking, racquetball,
road racing, shuffleboard, softball, swimming, table tennis,
tennis, track and field, triathlon and volley ball. In addition,
soccer, rowing and sailing are being discussed as demonstration
sports in 2009.
To compete in the Summer National Senior Games, athletes
must be age 50 or older and must qualify at NSGA-member state
senior games. The Summer Games have been held in odd-numbered
years since 1987, along with the Winter Games held in even-numbered
years. The 2003 Summer Games was held in Hampton Roads, VA.
The 2005 Senior Games will be held in Pittsburg and the 2007
Summer Games are planned for Louisville, Kentucky.
For more information on the 2009 Summer National Senior Games,
to find out how to volunteer for the event, or serve on a
sport planning committee, please call 650.856.3200 or visit
www.basoc.org.
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