- October 28, 2024
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Angelika Grubel carries the torch during the opening ceremony. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington and Senior Games Board Chair Patty Fennell. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
The Ormond Beach Senior Games Board: Secretary David Carter, Vice Chair Lani Faulkner, Chair Patty Fennell, Ormond Beach Leisure Services staff member Taylor Daller, Ormond Beach Community Events Coordinator Sonja Johnson, Treasurer Kelly Wiggins and Board member David Lagerman. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
The Ormond Beach Senior Games swimming participants. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
Participants of the Ormond Beach Senior Games basketball game. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
The Ormond Beach Senior Games included pickleball. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
People play shuffleboard as part of the Ormond Beach Senior Games. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
Bob Flinton, 96, was one of the golfers that took part in the Ormond Beach Senior Games. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
Ormond Beach Senior Games powerlifting participants. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
Bob Medley, 90, entered into 10 track and field events. Photo courtesy of Ed Fennell
Almost 300 people took part in the 40th annual Ormond Beach Senior Games, held Oct. 18-26.
Tennis, swimming, basketball, pickleball, bowling and golf were among the sport events held throughout the week in various locations around town for the games, which are organized every year by a volunteer board. To pay tribute to its 40th anniversary, board members and participants each received a ruby red shirt. Board Chair Patty Fennell said the games encourage local seniors to stay active, which is one of her passions and what motivated her to become the board's chair three years ago.
"It's more about staying healthy and having fun, and that's what we want with all of our games," Fennell said.
The games' opening ceremony, featuring Ormond Beach marathon runner Angelika Grubel as the torch bearer, was held on Friday, Oct. 18, at the Ormond Beach Senior Center. Every year, all who attend receive a free lunch and the mayor issues a proclamation, and this year was no exception.
Open to everyone 50 years of age and older, with no residency requirements, the Ormond Beach Senior Games is sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation as a qualifier for the Florida Senior Games.
The Senior Games are its own entity, but the city of Ormond Beach supports the games by helping the board and providing facilities. Ormond Beach Community Events Coordinator Sonja Johnson said it's always a joy to see seniors take part in the games.
"They pat each other on the back," Johnson said. "They encourage each other. The ages are so varied, but it doesn't matter, because everybody encourages everybody. ... The spirit and the teamwork, even though it's individual, is very uplifting."
In 2019, Fennell was the opening ceremony's torchbearer. A swimmer, she qualified for the state senior games and moved on to Nationals, bringing medals back home.
"We try to bring somebody back who's been participating in the senior games to be our torch bearer that actually opens up our games during our opening ceremony," Fennell said.
Over the week, she got the chance to watch a few of the events. Being a sanctioned event, participants registered from all over the state, she said. One of the highlights is seeing how grateful everyone was for the events, as they loved the opportunity to participate.
"We're very, very excited to put Ormond Beach Senior Games out there and open it up to anybody," Fennell said. "... Just the smiles that you see and the 'thank yous' that you continually hear from all of them, it's very inspirational."
Some of her highlights also include seeing some of the older participants perform well: an 80-year-old woman in swimming and a 96-year-old man in golf.
"I don't think you're ever too old," Fennell said. "Again, it's about getting out and moving and participating, and that's what's truly helpful for our population — to stay out there, to be socialized, not to have social isolation, but to come out and have a good time in these games, and that's what it's about."
The board that puts the games together used to be composed of mainly retired individuals. But now, the six-person board is made up of people who all work full-time — Johnson said a lot of people may not realize that.
"This is pretty incredible," she said.
Fennell said the board is very passionate.
"We put lots of time and effort in it to make it a phenomenal event," Fennell said. "We want to make it better and better every year."
The partnerships with the venues for the events, which include The Trails Racquet Club, Ormond Beach YMCA, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Pictona at Holly Hill, Aberdeen, Revive Fitness, Daytona Beach Golf Club and city of Ormond Beach facilities, are a key to the games' success too, Fennell said.
"All the venues have already said yes to next year," she said. "Some of our sponsors have already said yes for next year. They want to be back."
