VALLEY — The 29th Masters Games of Alabama will be taking place at the Valley Community Center this coming week.

The opening ceremonies will be taking place at 4 p.m. EDT on Sunday. Teams from nine districts throughout the state will be marching inside the Community Room to loud ovations from a massive crowd.

A total of 439 seniors in the age 50 and older group will be participating in this year’s games.

“We have a lot of people coming who are in their 90s,” Valley Parks and Recreation Director Laurie Blount said.

Sunday afternoon’s events include remarks from Valley Mayor Leonard Riley, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, Alabama Commissioner of Senior Services Jean Brown and Michael Morrison, aging director of the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission.

Valley Councilman Henry Cooper will deliver the invocation, Boy Scout Troop No. 9, Valley, will present the flags and Charles Story will sing the National Anthem.

Belva Durham will lead the Oath of Athletes, and Roger McDonald will take on the role of an Olympic-style runner and light the Flame of Hope.

The first games will take place late Sunday afternoon.

Softball throws by the men and women will be taking place on the practice fields behind the Community Center. Basketball free throws for both the men and women will be taking place inside the big gym and along with Nerf and Frisbee throws.

Monday’s events will include a fun walk, rook, horseshoes, shuffleboard, checkers and billiards. An awards banquet and dinner will be taking place in the Community Room at 7 p.m. EDT.

Most of the competition will be taking place on Tuesday. Events begin with a fun walk on the upstairs track, Competition will include a 5k run, domino singles, pickleball, billiards, table tennis and shuffleboard. Lunch will be served at noon and dinner will take place at 6 p.m.

The events will wrap up on Wednesday with bowling at Auburn Lanes, swimming in the Community Center indoor pool and domino doubles in the Hood/Gray Room.

The golf events will take place next Monday and Tuesday at the Point University Golf Club. There will be singles competition and a two-man scramble.

Gov. Kay Ivey has declared the week of October 6-10 as Masters Games Week in the state.

The Community Center is an ideal place to host the State Games because most of the events can happen in one location.

“It’s the only place I know of in the state where everything but bowling and golf can take place at the same location,” said Valley Parks and Recreation Director Laurie Blount.