Hayesville The 2024 Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. with their opening ceremony at the Clay County Recreation Center.
The first set of games will begin at 10:45 a.m. Saturday following the conclusion of the opening ceremony. The first full day of games is Monday, with table tennis at the Andrews Senior Center and a 10-kilometer road race at the Chatuge Dam Trail in Hayesville.
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The Senior Games began at the state level in 1987, but started in Cherokee and Clay counties in 2008. Terence Faries, organizer of the Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games, said the local group is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, while games in other counties are run by local parks and recreation departments or departments of aging.
“It’s a lot of fun is what it all boils down to. Opening Day is our big kickoff. We’d love to have more people show up,” he said.
“We do five easy games. Basketball shooting, football target, see if you can just get through the big hole kind of thing. And it’s just a fun Saturday out. Just like our closing ceremony is a fun date night.
“Anybody can show up with their $15 and we have a fun night when we give out awards. Of course, all the performing arts perform that night for their medals. And we just have a fun time with it.”
This year, 181 participants have signed up, but they would like to get it to 220 by the time the games are over. Faries said there has been a steady increase each years in the number of participants at the Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games.
Faries mentioned a few participants who stand out to him, including a 98-year-old woman who unfortunately will likely not compete this year.
“She’s is 98 years old. Last year, she participated in three events. She actually has some competition in her age group,” Faries said. “With most of the people, it’s like, I’m just gonna have fun.”
Faries is looking forward to competing in the games, but due to injury is unsure if he will be able to play the games himself.
“I’m kind of a floater. I run the games, but if somebody shows up and they don’t have a partner, it’s like, ‘OK, I got a partner for you.’ It’s that kind of a thing,” he said.
Faries said everyone at the games has fun and cheers each other on. Emphasizing the community aspect is a big part of the Senior Games, like cheering on their fellow competitors and making new friends.
Competitors who place in the top three in each event qualify for the state championship in that event. If they do well at state, then they will qualify for the national championship next year.
Registration for the games is still open for most games. The deadline to register for bowling, bocce ball and air rifle target shooting is Friday. The deadline to register for pickleball is Sunday, May 5.
Registration is $15. It’s an extra $5 for participants wanting to attend the closing ceremony and $15 for guests.
Details: Visit cherokeecountyseniorgames.org or call coordinator Terence Faries at 727-470-7947.