June marks the start of the Annual Senior Games in Delaware, Bucks, and Philadelphia counties
Philadelphia, PA – Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is the leading sponsor once again of the Senior Games in southeastern Pennsylvania. Each year, the Senior Games bring more than 2,000 area adults, 50 and older, together in organized games and sporting events to show their commitment to staying physically and mentally fit. The Philadelphia Games run from June 8 through June 14.
Robert Smith, IBC’s vice president of Sales and Marketing for Government Markets, will kick off the Philadelphia Games at the opening ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 8 at Abraham Lincoln High School, 3201 Ryan Avenue in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County.
“Independence Blue Cross is 75 years strong and still changing the game,” said Smith. “For nearly 30 years, we’ve proudly supported the annual Senior Games. Achieving a healthy lifestyle is a life-long commitment and the Senior Games is one way to help people to reach their personal best. It’s not about achieving a peak time or distance in sports, but rather overcoming obstacles, surviving challenges, and staying motivated and active while having fun in the process and maintaining a high quality of life.”
The Philadelphia Games feature a wide variety of activities including swimming, running, golf, bowling, tennis, track and field, horseshoes, dance, shuffleboard, chess, Scrabble, and more. In addition, there will be a triathlon for the Philadelphia Games on July 20 at 7 a.m. at Kelly Pool, 4231 N. Concourse Drive in Philadelphia. This event and the annual Senior Games are sponsored by the Departments of Parks and Recreation and Area Agencies on Aging in each county. IBC has co-sponsored the Senior Games since its inception in 1985.
“We are grateful that Independence Blue Cross is once again supporting this highly regarded event,” said Lynn Spiro, director of Adult Services for the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation. “We are thankful for their decades-long partnership with the City to sponsor these games and continue a tradition of promoting a healthy, social, and active lifestyle among older adults.”
The Bucks County games begin June 10 and run through June 14 while the Delaware County games start on June 10 and run through June 21. Earlier this spring, IBC sponsored Senior Games in Chester and Montgomery Counties.
For more information about the games, seniors can contact their county’s Department of Parks and Recreation or Department of Aging Services. Registration fees, number of participants, and other details vary from county to county. More information can also be found at Senior Games.
About the Senior Games
The Senior Games were created in 1985 by the National Senior Games Association to promote a healthy, social, and active lifestyle among older adults. The first national games were held in 1987 in St. Louis, MO, with 2,500 participants. Games have been held every two years since throughout the U.S.