About Us
The Iowa Senior Olympics is an Olympic-style sports festival for men and women who are at least 50 years of age.
The Iowa Senior Olympics offers opportunities to compete for medals in 24 sports and skill contests with over 71 events. Please join us for athletic/recreational games focusing on fellowship in a fun and exciting environment.
Age groups are broken into 5 year brackets (50-54 / 55-59 / etc) with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded for each age group.
Physical activity can improve quality of life in many ways for people of all ages. Active lifestyles provide boomers and seniors with regular occasions to make new friendships, maintain social networks, and interact with other people of all ages. Improved flexibility, balance, and muscle tone can help prevent falls – a major cause of disability and it has been found that the prevalence of mental illness is lower among people who are physically active.
The benefits of physical activity can be enjoyed even if regular practice starts later in life. While being active from an early age can help prevent many diseases, regular movement and activity can also help relieve the disability and pain associated with common diseases including arthritis, osteoporosis, and hypertension.
Iowa Senior Olympics Mission Statement:
For the past 24 years the Iowa Senior Olympics has worked to promote wellness and healthy living for adults 50 and above by hosting athletic, recreational and socially interactive competitions. We strive to encourage eligible participants to undertake and/or continue participating in a healthy and fitness-oriented lifestyle by providing a forum in which to compete with themselves and their peers in an atmosphere of friendship and support and receive recognition for their efforts and achievements.
Objectives:
- To encourage adults, fifty and above, to undertake and/or continue participating in a healthy and fitness-oriented lifestyle.
- To provide adults a statewide Olympic style championship where they may compete with themselves and their peers in an atmosphere of friendship and support. Participants will receive recognition; including Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, for their efforts and achievements.
- To focus public attention on the importance of regular exercise, competition and social interaction as ways to achieve and maintain better physical and mental health, and to serve as role models for people of all ages.
- Expand the awareness and opportunities for Wellness and Healthy Living by providing the Senior Olympic Games as a target or goal for all seniors.
- To provide the opportunity to advance to the U.S. Championships in the Senior Olympics and from there to World Competition.
2010 - 2011 Board of Directors
President – Jed Fisk; Principal Financial Group
5 Years of Service
Vice President - Ron Peterson; Iowa Senior Olympics participant
9 Years of Service
Treasurer – Brian Hurley
14 Years of Service
Secretary – Curt McCormick; Neiman, Stone and McCormick P.C.
17 Years of Service
Past President – Dick Fidler; Miller and Fidler Insurance Agency, Inc.
25 Years of Service
Past President – Tony Denkinger; Optimum Technology
13 Years of Service
Director – John Hartung; Iowa Assoc of Independent Colleges & Universities
4 Years of Service
Director – Shahna Janssen; West Des Moines Community Education
3 Year of Service
Director – Katie Kiesau; SilverSneakers Fitness Programs
4 Year of Service
Director - George Long; Iowa Senior Olympics participant
2 Years of Service
Director – Daniel Teran; Iowa Senior Olympics participant
9 Years of Service
Ex Officio - Ed Failor, Sr.; Citizens for Tax Relief
13 Years of Service
Ex Officio – Ted Ohmart; West Des Moines City Council
11 Years of Service
Executive Director – Steve Lynn
2 Years of Service