Ugu senior citizens tackle Golden Games

After a two-year break due the Covid-19 pandemic, senior citizens from the Ugu District Municipality participated at the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Golden Games at Chatsworth Stadium, Durban over two days.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Amanda Bani-Mapena who welcomed the return of the games, said the Golden Games are the only major games in the province dedicated to people who are 60 years old and above.

Bani-Mapena said the games form part of a wider government special programme focusing on active ageing, adding that they are run by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in partnership with the Department of Social Development both nationally and provincially, the Office of the Premier and the Department of Health.

“Senior citizens are represented by the Provincial Senior Citizens Forum. The games that form part of the programme are of a fun nature, but promote body and limb movement. These are duck walk, passing the ball, ball pass and kick, rugby ball throw, juskei, umlabalaba, ring the stick, ball relay, goal shooting, dress up, athletics as well as female and male football,” said Bani-Mapena, adding that some games were played at Curries Fountain Stadium, Hoy Park and Siripat Road Sport Grounds.

The MEC said the programme confirmed that there is no end to living an active lifestyle, adding that these activities are to ensure that they derive that maximum value and benefit from older people who are living encyclopedias.

“The games are a living testimony that older people are actually eager to prolong their lives. The return of the games is a bittersweet

moment because we know that the same participants beat Covid-19 to be here again as some of their peers succumbed to the virus. We are here also taking stock of those past moments because more than ever it’s become crucial that we take care for older people’s health and well-being. It’s our responsibility,” she said.

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