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Senior Games Begin
Kallee Nielsen, The Spectrum
October 4, 2004
Jud Burkett/Daily News
The Huntsman World Senior Games -- which draws athletes 50 and older from around the globe -- has finally reached adulthood.
Now in its 18th year, the two-week sporting event begins today with a record 7,700 athletes expected to participate.
The 22 sports, ranging from softball to cycling to pickleball, will take place at more than 95 venues throughout Washington County.
Besides athletes ages 50 to 75, dubbed "youngsters," there are several competitors older than 90, HWSG spokeswoman Laura Bingham said.
104-year-old Dr. Russell B. Clark will run the torch during the first week's opening ceremonies Tuesday at Dixie State College's Hansen Stadium.
Clark, of Orem, will compete in the 400 meter and 800 meter track and field events later this week.
This is Clark's first try at the Senior Games, though he participated in the Corpus Christi Beach-to-Bay Relay Marathon at ages 98, 99 and 101, said his son, Dr. John Clark of St. George.
John Clark said his father did not begin running until after he was 90, but he has always been in good shape.
Also in Tuesday's opening ceremonies, Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner and former BYU football coach LaVell Edwards will be featured speakers.
Bingham said notable athletes at this year's Senior Games include returning 96-year-old LeGrand Nielsen and national standing long jump champion Bill Oberding.
Among about 50 nations represented at the games, athletes from three new countries are joining in this year: Uzbekistan, Armenia and Barbados, Bingham said.
Nearly 64 percent of athletes are men and 70 percent of competitors this year have come to the Senior Games before, she said.
Softball is the Games' largest sport by a landslide, with 3,000 participants.
Games staff had to turn away 1,500 athletes because of a shortage of softball diamonds, she said.
The second-largest sport, volleyball, involves 100 teams this year.
Besides sporting events, the Games will offer a series of screenings and seminars on health and wellness, discussing topics such as diabetes, arthritis, nutrition and exercise.
The Games would not be possible without 2,800 dedicated volunteers, Bingham said.
"We have the most fabulous group of volunteers, working day and night and around-the-clock," she said.
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