Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been awarded the bid to host the 2021 National Senior Games Presented by Humana, the largest multi-sport championship event in the world for adults 50 and over.
More than 10,000 qualified athletes, accompanied by an estimated 15,000 visitors, are expected to compete in 20 medal sports that will be contested at the convention center and multiple venues in Broward County. The National Senior Games has been held every other year since 1987 and has 54 affiliated qualifying Member Games in North America.
The 2019 Games will be hosted in Albuquerque, New Mexico from June 14-25. Recent host cities in this decade include Birmingham (2017), Minneapolis-St. Paul (2015), Cleveland (2013), and Houston (2011). City officials in Birmingham reported the event generated $37 million for its economy, and local organizers believe the impact on Broward County could top that amount.
A local organizing committee has been formed to work with NSGA to stage the event, led by General Director Jose Humberto Rodriguez with International Sports & Health Associates – USA. Rodriguez was Director of Sports for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta and a former Director of Florida Sunshine State Games and the Florida Senior Games. “In the state where athletes of all levels and ages come to train and to shine, 2021 will be the center stage for well over 10,000 athletes to prove that sports is the best calendar to determine age, determination, and health,” he said. “Greater Fort Lauderdale will play host to an event like no other previously seen in South Florida. We will see to it that this will be one of the best promoted, organized and administered National Senior Games in their 32-year history.”
“We are so proud to host the National Senior Games in Greater Fort Lauderdale,” said Stacy Ritter, CEO and President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We look forward to welcoming all the athletes, their families and fans to Greater Fort Lauderdale and know they will enjoy our beautiful 23 miles of golden coastline, culinary scene, water activities, cultural attractions and of course, great sports action.”
The convention center will be the hub of activity, with multiple sports contested in its halls over two weeks and a Village Health and Wellness Expo will be open to both athletes and the public with activities and exhibits. Sport action will take place at multiple venues around Broward County.
“Fort Lauderdale impressed our selection committee on every level of the bid evaluation,” said NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker. “Beyond showing great sport venues, hotels, transportation, the experience of hosting a variety of major events, volunteer base and entertainment options, the Fort Lauderdale team gave us a compelling portrayal of the sunny disposition and inclusive community spirit that will embrace our participants.”
Related to the National Senior Games hosting, it was also announced that The Florida Senior Games state qualifying event will be held in Broward County for 2019 and 2020. “With the National Senior Games coming to Broward County in 2021, Floridians and other competitors throughout the United States will have the opportunity to compete at the facilities and venues that will be utilized around the Greater Fort Lauderdale area in the National Games during our 2019 & 2020 Games,” said Marvin E. Green, Jr., Vice President of Amateur Sports & Events with the Florida Sports Foundation. “This partnership opens many doors and opportunities to athletes and communities, and it enhances the overall impact on the city, county, and state as a whole.”
Humana has been Presenting Sponsor of the National Senior Games since 2007 and is also Presenting Sponsor of the Florida Senior Games, underscoring its corporate focus to promote wellness and active, healthy lifestyles for older adults. “Humana is honored to stand alongside the National Senior Games Association and the Florida Sports Foundation to champion senior athletes and redefine aging,” said Dr. John Montgomery, Humana’s Florida Vice President and Market Medical Officer. “The state of Florida has played an essential role in promoting active aging, so it is the perfect location to host the National Senior Games. We’re looking forward to continuing our support of the amazing athletes who will be in Fort Lauderdale in 2021—they are an inspiration to us all and truly personify whole-person health.”
The first National Senior Games was held in St. Louis in 1987 and hosted 3,400 senior athletes who competed in 15 different sports. Since its inception, ten foreign countries and all 50 United States including the District of Columbia have been represented. For additional information about the National Senior Games, please visit NSGA.com.
