Valley Community Center to be site of 2018 Masters Games

Published 6:35 pm Wednesday, September 5, 2018

VALLEY — Valley Community Center will be the host site for the 2018 Alabama State Masters Games.

At least 400 people in the 50 and older age group will be in town competing in a wide range of events while enjoying the company of people from all across Alabama. The big event begins with a 4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET opening ceremony on Monday, Oct. 15 and continues through Thursday, Oct. 18.

It will offer an ideal opportunity to showcase the new senior center and the newly repainted gym floor inside the Community Room.

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Valley seniors are looking forward to being the host team. They have won a total of 76 medals in District competition and should field a very strong team.

“It will be nice to be home,” said Valley Senior Center Manager Ron Fancher. “We don’t have to plan a bus trip and to have a place to stay for several days. It will be nice to spend the night at home in our own beds.”

Masters Games of Alabama is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles for active adults ages 50 and older through social, mental and physical activities. The games were developed in Oxford, Ala. in 1989 to provide adults ages 50 and older an opportunity to maintain an active lifestyle by participating in a variety of events. While the games provide an Olympic-type atmosphere, the focus is not on competition but fun and fellowship. Each year there are between 600 and 800 participants across the state.

All but two events of this year’s State Games will be taking place at the Community Center. Two golf events – singles competition and a two-man scramble – will be taking place at the Point University Golf Club and bowling will be held at the AMF lanes in Auburn.

Events hosted at the Community Center will include dominoes, table tennis, billiards, shuffleboard, a 5k run, swimming, softball throw, basketball free throw, nerf frisbee throw, rook, horseshoes and checkers.

The 2018 State Games will conclude with an awards banquet and dinner at 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 18.