Gold Coast and Tweed over-50s athletes prove age no barrier in GemLife Games
Join us at GemLife Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast on Sept. 5 & 6, celebrating the spirit of active living for athletes aged 50 and over!
More than 500 athletes, volunteers and spectators in their 50s to 80s — including a team of 11 from the Gold Coast and Tweed — will line up to prove age is no barrier to competing on the sporting field at the GemLife Games on the Sunshine Coast on September 5 and 6.
Competitor numbers have almost doubled for the game’s second year, with participants from South-East Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria to battle it out in eight sports – tennis, pickleball, table tennis, ten-pin bowling, eight-ball pool, golf simulator, lawn bowls and swimming.
While some have played for decades, others describe themselves as ‘rank amateurs’ having taken up their sport mere weeks ago, but all have one thing in common — a desire to give it a go, have fun and meet new people.
An initiative of over-50s developer GemLife, the inter-resort event will be held at its GemLife Palmwoods community on the Sunshine Coast.
Residents from the Gold Coast and Tweed are competing for the first time. Bruce and Julie Berry from GemLife Tweed Waters have entered the freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke swimming events, with Bruce also playing virtual golf.
The couple, aged 70 and 58, are no stranger to competing on the international, national and state stage, having participated in the World Police and Fire Games, Queensland Police Games and others – albeit about three decades ago.
Bruce joked he’s still ‘got a T-shirt from 1990’, a decade in which he competed in golf across many Police Games, while Julie played netball.
“We’ve always been interested in playing our sport in games,” said Bruce.
“Honestly, these games are great because they’re making me start to take it more seriously again and to get more exercise. I'm 70 now and my son who is a fitness fanatic has been trying to talk me into exercise and, at last, he might have a win.”
While the facilities at GemLife Tweed Waters are still under development, the pair have joined a local public pool, where they’re practicing as much as possible ahead of the games.
“Years ago, I used to swim regularly and be a good swimmer, though neither of us have done so for years. We figure we’re only competing in 25-metre events, so what could go wrong?” laughed Julie.
“We thought the games would be an interesting thing to take part in and we’re looking forward to meeting new people.”
Kang Lee, from GemLife Gold Coast, said while he’d played many sports over his lifetime, he saw the games as an opportunity to try competition ‘one more time’.
The 72-year-old will participate in virtual golf, as well as being a substitute in table tennis. While he plays golf weekly, he’s never tried the virtual version and said he hadn’t picked up a table tennis racket for close to three decades.
“I’m sure many people when they were young played and now there is a competition, they think ‘ok, I don’t mind if I’m excellent or horrible, I’ll go and enjoy’ – that's what I’m thinking,” said Kang.
“It will be all over 50s, so good to be playing with the same type of retired person to share friendship and extend knowledge, of my background and theirs.”
GemLife Director and CEO Adrian Puljich said the popularity of the GemLife Games was evident in the explosion of participants in this year’s event.
“We had 160 over 50s competing in our inaugural games last year. This year, we have more than 280 taking part, supported by a contingent of about 200 volunteers and spectators,” he said.
“Our GemLife Gold Coast and Tweed Waters communities welcomed their first residents over the past 8 to 12 months, so it is fantastic to have them entering the competition this year and we hope this team inspires more to do the same next year as the resorts continue to grow.
“We’ve expanded the games to a two-day event, so more people can participate and have introduced a new sport — swimming.
“The spirit of the games is truly inspiring, with so many of our over 50s willing to jump in and give it a go, no matter how much experience they have – and that’s what it’s all about. Trying new things, staying active, making community connections and having a laugh.
“Some of our competitors are driving up to 20 hours to be here from our southern communities like Woodend, Victoria, and Rainbow Beach, New South Wales, with many local residents billeting them for the games, which adds to the fantastic community spirit and sense of camaraderie.”