A team of 11 from the Gold Coast and Tweed in their 50s to 80s will be entering the sporting field on the Sunshine Coast on September 5 and 6 for the GemLife Games.
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.
Residents from the Tweed and Gold Coast are competing for the first time, including the Tweed Waters’ Bruce and Julie Berry who 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.
‘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,’ said Bruce.
‘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.’
More than 500 athletes, volunteers and spectators will enjoy the sporting events with competitor numbers almost doubling for the games’ second year.
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