PORT ANGELES – Let the games begin.
The Port Angeles Senior Games, that is.
More than 230 participants from throughout the United States and Canada are expected to participate in events over three days during the third year of the games for people 50 years old and older.
Opening ceremonies will be at 7 p.m. tonight, preceded by a torch run from City Pier to the games headquarters at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.
Carrying the torch will be Neil Jervis, a 57-year-old Port Angeles man who recently finished an ironman competition while undergoing cancer treatment.
He will leave from the flagpole at City Pier at about 6:45 p.m., said D Bellamente, director of the Port Angeles Senior Center.
“We’ll make sure everything’s good, light the torch, and he’ll start running up Lincoln” Street, she said.
“I told him he could have some friends running with him.”
Jervis has said the run will take him about seven or eight minutes.
His route will be up Lincoln Street to Seventh Street, where he will turn east and run the last couple of blocks to the center.
“We’ll honor him and have opening ceremonies,” Bellamente said.
Events this year are billiards, bridge, bowling, cribbage, cycling, golf, handball, kayaking, pickleball, 5/10K run, racquetball, table tennis, tennis and several track and field events.
Information about the events, which will be at different venues throughout the area, will be available at the center.
Medals will be awarded as each event ends.
The only competition planned before the official opening of the games is golf.
Golf will begin at noon today, with medals to be awarded at 5 p.m.
A celebration banquet is planned on Saturday at the Red Lion Hotel at 221 N. Lincoln St., in Port Angeles.
The no-host social gathering will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m.
The games are Bellamente’s brainchild, conceived after she attended the Puget Sound Senior Games.
Bellamente will participate in two events this year, the 5K run and mixed bowling.
She said she loves the games “because it is the only thing that focuses on those 50 and older competing in these types of events.”
The point is more than competition, she said.
It’s also friendship.
“This is really all about the spirit of camaraderie,” Bellamente said.
“We are so lucky to have a location like this that we can host these sports and special events.”
About 250 tote bags have been stuffed with game information and coupons from local merchants – each bag stamped with a cheerful orange crab, the official mascot of the events.
T-shirts were made in the past, but the tote bag is a new addition to the games, Bellamente said.
“They are so cute,” she said.
“I’m sure that once we make sure we have enough for the participants, there will be some people willing to buy some.
“We’ll have them available for $10 each at the games.”
