Local Olympic thrives on community cooperation

Champaign County businesses, community agencies and senior groups have designed a successful program for older adults.

By Nancy Durham

Cooperation is the key to the success of the Champaign County Senior Olympic. Thirteen diverse community agencies, ranging from park districts to banks and hospitals, and area senior citizens have fostered the growth of this most effective program for older adults.

The Champaign County Senior Olympic games encourage individuals age 55 and older to develop a year-round fitness and exercise program. In addition, the event provides an opportunity for older adults to meet and develop new friendships, helps eliminate the prejudices and myths surrounding older citizens, and introduces area seniors to services in Champaign County.

Special features

The Champaign County Senior Olympic games are unique in several respects. First, they benefit from countywide cooperation. Secondly, they blend events designed for nursing home residents with the traditional sports activities. Lastly, they emphasize social rather than competitive aspects.

Getting started

Plans for the 1986 Senior Olympic games began in January. A task force comprised of senior citizens and area agency representatives planned the event. It secured financial support and sponsorship from the Urbana Police Association to underwrite the programming costs, and organized staff from area agencies to coordinate the program.

A $5 participation fee and an additional $3 banquet fee helped offset related costs. In addition, costs were contained through the sale of Olympic T-shirts and charges assessed for golf, putt-putt and bowling sites.

Approximately 200 older adults participated during the five-day competition in June. Twenty-four events (including bowling, a wheelchair obstacle course, and track and field)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 37 September/October 1986

were held at various sites in Champaign, Rantoul and Urbana. The events were scheduled for minimal time conflicts so participants could compete in more than one activity. The cooperation from the managers of the private recreational facilities involved made this possible.

Task force members determined which events were offered, and established the rules and age requirements for each category. They also arranged facility usage and worked to ensure the safety of participants.

Safety precautions

Trained medical personnel, provided by a local hospital, were at every Olympic site. In addition, the task force encouraged each participant to receive his or her physician's approval prior to competition. However, this exam was not required for participation.

Participants were also given training tips written by Thomas K. Cureton, Jr., an area senior citizen who previously served as a consultant to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and to the Illinois Governor's Council on Health and Physical Fitness. Training was further encouraged by providing a list of countywide recreational sites in each informational packet.

Role of volunteers

Volunteers were very important to the success of the Olympic program, as they helped plan, publicize and run the events. Local volunteer programs helped spur the interest of residents and coordinated their involvement.

Nursing home events

Through the cooperative effort of the task force and the Professional Activity Coordinators Association (PACA), the Nursing Home Senior Olympic events were combined with the county competition. This gave nursing home residents an opportunity to interact with other senior citizens and learn about available programs and services.

To ensure the social aspect of all Olympic competition, a hospitality table was featured at many event locations. Juice, coffee, doughnuts and gifts (pencils, rain bonnets and magnifiers) were distributed courtesy of area banks.

Recognition

To end the Olympic events with style, an awards banquet was held for all participants. Local groups provided entertainment for free or at a reduced rate. The dinner underscored the social aspects of the Olympic competition.

Cooperation worked for us, and it can work for you, too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR : Nancy Durham is the supervisor of senior citizens' programs at the Urbana Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 38 September/October 1986