More than a thousand participate in 55 Plus Summer Games

By C.P. Hillman

Edmonton Zone 6 finished second behind a surging Calgary Zone 3 in the medal count at the 2009 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games.

Held July 23 to 26 in Airdrie, the games saw 1,100 participants from across Alberta competed in 15 different activities and two cultural components.

Zone 3 competitors came away with 173 medals versus 148 for Zone 6, to end an Edmonton streak of highest medal totals at the games in recent years.

Edmonton participants achieved 57 gold medals, 47 silver and 44 bronze.

Calgary also took home Lieutenant Governor’s Cup, which is awarded to the zone showing the greatest improvement from one Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games to the next.

Three other awards were handed out at the closing ceremonies.

Florence Storch, 96, of Hanna was presented with the Alberta 55 Plus Wild Rose Award, which goes to the eldest participant at the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games. She participated in Athletics (Javelin) for Zone 2.

The President’s Spirit of Participation Award, for true spirit of participation in the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games, went to Zone 5 (Grande Cache, Whitecourt, Leduc, St. Albert, and surrounding areas).

Zone 5 also received the Alberta 55 Plus Zone Championship Trophy, awarded to the zone achieving the most medal points for the activities in the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games.

In Airdrie more than 800 volunteers helped feed, transport and host the participants and their spouses.

Two years of preparation and planning by local organizers were required in order to host the event, which also relied on the support of various community partners.

Future games include the Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games taking place in St. Albert February 24-27, 2011 and the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games in Fairview in July 2011.

Results of the 2009 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games are available at www.albertagames.com.