Salt Lake City to host Golden Age Games
Mar 13, 2024, 7:00 PM
ST LOUIS, MO - JUNE 04: A senior military veteran competes in the 9-Ball pool competition at the National Golden Age Games on June 4, 2012 in St Louis, Missouri. (John Moore/Getty Images)
(John Moore/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City will host the National Veterans Golden Age Games where vets from across the country will gather, train, compete and connect with each other.
It’s the first time the Games will be hosted in Utah. Since Utah is hosting, local veterans have to sign up Wednesday before registration opens officially on Thursday.
Shannon O’Rawe, a recreation therapist with Veterans Affairs, shared what the experience can do for her patients.
“A lot of them are in disbelief, right,” she said. “They come in, especially the ones that I work with, they just have no clue that they could do anything, just in general, [and] compete.”
O’Rawe said veterans will have the chance to compete in many different categories.
“Air rifles or pistols, boccia ball, horseshoes, cycling, track and field, swimming. A whole plethora,” O’Rawe said.
Local Army veteran Carlos Aguilar served in the Korean War. He’s a first-timer in the Golden Age Games.
“I’m pretty excited about this, you know, I like staying active,” Aguilar said. “Being an old guy, it’s important to stay active.”
Aside from the physical benefits, Aguilar said that getting together with other veterans can really help them mentally.
“Exchanging experiences and seeing the young guys and the old guys. How there are some commonalit[ies] in there,” he said.
The games take place on the week of August 24 and are free to the public.
Related: Hughes: Volunteering in the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics created lifelong memories
