The Quad Cities Summer Games are back for their 34th year of athletics and arts. Beginning Saturday, May 17, the Games will host over fifty events through the end of the month.
Formerly the Quad Cities Senior Olympics, the event is rebranding to allow broader participation. This year, the minimum registration age will lower from 50 to 40.
Rhonda Elsbury, a board member of the QC Senior Olympics, says the group will sponsor the event under its new title.
“The idea of the Games is to promote health and fitness and quality of life and community involvement,” Elsbury said. “Broadening that age band and upgrading the name just lets us continue in that same spirit.”
While the event is seeing a title change, she said the mission is still to nurture community and showcase local talents, while maintaining past traditions. Over the three decades that the event has been hosted, Elsbury said many of the categories have remained the same.
“Anytime there is someone that is actively using some of those old heritage type arts or old school type of sports…we want to applaud that,” Elsbury said. “But what a neat idea to have our next generation and the next generation maybe come and participate with their grandparent or their aunt or uncle or that neighbor. It’s causing a linkage in these generations, that’s something beautiful as well.”
The Games will kick off with pickleball tournaments at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Moline Riverside Park. The Opening Ceremonies will follow on Tuesday, May 27, at 5 p.m. at the Center for Active Seniors in Davenport.
Other events include bocce ball, a spelling bee, traditional arts and crafts competitions, swimming and a 15-mile cycling road race.
On Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31, the QC Summer Games will conclude with track and field events open to all ages. The final awardees will be recognized at a closing ceremony picnic on May 31 at 4:30 p.m. on Augustana College’s Ken Anderson Center Patio.
Participants can register online, or sign up to participate at the time of some events. All scheduled activities are open to the public for viewing.
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