Andorra la Vella, March 30, 2016 – The Olympic Committee of Andorra will this summer host the first edition of Sports Games for the Elderly, in collaboration with the government, municipalities and the Senior Andorrans Federation.
A presentation of the event took place at the Escaldes Engordany retirement home, the other municipality of the small Principality nestled in the Pyrenees in Catalan country, in the presence of NOC President Jaume Martí, Ms Ester Fennel, the Secretary of State for social Affairs and Employment, and many NOC leaders including Manuel Fernandez Hermoso, the Secretary General, as well as many Andorran personalities.
The results of a wide social study on the elderly, carried out by the Andorran Centre of Studies and funded by the NOC, was first presented to the audience.
Then NOC President Martí, Senior Vice President Jacint Risco, and various other speakers illustrated the new initiative, which will run throughout the first six months of 2016 and the highlight of which will be June 15. Elderly people from the Principality will be invited not only to participate in the games, and therefore prepare for competitions, but will also also invited to actively participate in the organization of the event, together with school children and experts.
The seven municipalities (parishes) of the Principality, which are governed by the two co-princes the Bishop of Urgell and the French Head of State, will participate with a team each.
The sports programme includes billiard, gymnastics, golf, swimming, orienteering, archery and bocce competitions the morning of 15 June, and quieter games such as dominoes, card games and dancing in the afternoon. The day’s programme will end with a moment of conviviality inspired to Olympic values and an award gala in the evening.
A fine initiative of intergenerational solidarity involving the entire Andorran Principality!
