By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
A week jam-packed with fun and friendly competition returns this month with the annual Yukon Senior Games.
Twelve primary events are offered during a week-long program that starts Friday, Sept. 18 and ends Friday, Sept. 25. Several Yukon Parks & Recreation venues and local businesses will host activities.
“The Yukon Senior Games is really enjoyable; it’s a lot of fun,” Yukon Parks & Recreation Director Jan Scott said. “Ours is small enough and we stretch it out over a week so most of our staff is involved as coordinators of the venues.”
The Yukon Senior Games are open to competitors age 50 years and above.
The main events are: Billiards, archery, golf, weightlifting, pickleball, bowling, horseshoes, cornhole, basketball, and table tennis. A visual arts contest will kick things off Sept. 18 and a social will be Sept. 22.
“We will have the Yukon Senior Games this year, but it will be smaller due to COVID,” Scott explained. “It was in April, but we postponed it until September.
“I would rather have something (than nothing) and have those who want to enjoy it come out. I want to provide that recreation for them.”
The Yukon Senior Games is typically in the spring but was postponed this year due to shutdowns prompted by the pandemic.
The only athletic competition that won’t be offered this time is a track meet due to logistics.
Organizers expect more than 100 participants, a decline from previous years because the largest event was canceled. In the past, as many as 250 people have participated.
Both the competitors and YPR staff members greatly anticipated the Yukon Senior Games.
“You get to know the people year after year,” Scott said. “That makes it fun. And it’s a social group.
“Some of them might go to five local games around the state. And some of them come here from neighboring states to compete.”
HOW IT STARTED
The Yukon Senior Games started about 20 years ago, and Scott credited former YPR employee Tim Rhodes with bringing the idea here.
“That was Tim’s internship, working on the senior games,” Scott said. “He really got it off the ground. Tim had a passion for it. We started out small but then it grew.
“At one time, we were the only local games in Oklahoma. And some of the other parks and recreation departments picked up and started having local games.”
Registration fee for the 2020 Yukon Senior Games has been discounted to $15 per person.
“We’re trying to get more people to come out so it’s $15 now regardless of whether you sign up for two events or five events,” Yukon Senior Games coordinator Tyler Kilmer said.
“It’s open to anyone 50 and older. Our oldest competitor signed up right now is 88.”
Besides the flat $15 registration fee, there are additional costs for the golf and bowling events.
For more information, call Kilmer at (405) 350-8920.
The Oklahoma State Senior Games will feature events between Sept. 5 and Nov. 7 at venues across the state. Yukon and El Reno are among host sites.
Anyone may participate in the state games. Competitors who qualify will advance to national finals.
YUKON SENIOR GAMES SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 18
5 pm – Creative Arts Contest at Dale Robertson Center, 1200 Lakeshore
Monday, Sept. 21
1 pm – Billiards at Yukon Community Center, 2200 S Holly
3 pm – Archery at Archery Traditions, 328 Elm
6 pm – Horseshoes/Cornhole at Yukon City Park, 2200 S Holly
Tuesday, Sept. 22
8 am – Pickleball at Jackie Cooper Gym, 1024 E Main
11 am – Golf at Lake Hefner Golf Club, 4491 S Lake Hefner Dr OKC
1 pm – Weightlifting at Miller Fit, 1175 S Ranchwood
5 pm – Social at Dale Robertson Center, 1200 Lakeshore
Wednesday, Sept. 23
8 am – Pickleball at Jackie Cooper Gym, 1024 E Main
3 pm – Bowling at Heritage Lanes, 11917 N Penn OKC
Thursday, Sept. 24
8 am – Pickleball at Jackie Cooper Gym, 1024 E Main
1 pm – Bowling at Heritage Lanes, 11917 N Penn OKC
Friday, Sept. 25
8 am – Basketball at Jackie Cooper Gym, 1024 E Main
1 pm – Table Tennis at Jackie Cooper Gym, 1024 E Main
