The BC Summer Games recently held in Cowichan saw close to 2,500 of the province’s young athletes competing with the average age of participants being 14 years old.
It was great to see the athletes excel in different sports disciplines. The young atheletes are the future and some of them may eventually become elite athletes and represent Canada in world and Olympic events. They competed for medals, but the true value of their involvement was establishing a culture of being active.
There are studies that have concluded that children and young adults who are in sports or exercise regularly are likely to seek physical activity and fitness all through their lives.
The chances of them staying physically active and healthy are greater even when they reach their senior years.
One only needs to look at the seniors in Parksville Qualicum Beach as a clear example of this. The region has been called the seniors’ capital of Canada, but it can easily brag about having the most physically active seniors in the country thanks to groups such as the Parksville Golden Oldies Sports Association, which has more than a thousand senior members, whose average age is 75.
PGOSA just celebrated its 25th anniversary, a milestone lauded by Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell, and Parksville Mayor Marc Lefebvre who declared July 20 as PGOSA Day in Parksville.
Most of the organizations members love sports and have played one or more types of sports during their youth. PGOSA has provided them a means to continue to be active by organizing a myriad of sports, recreation and social activities.
The group has become a shining example for seniors to continue being physically active, regardless of age and abilities.
— Parksville Qualicum Beach News