In sunshine and with live music by the Big Ben Dix Band Halle, the participants of the 14th State Senior Sports Games (LSSS) were welcomed in the morning on the campus of the Sports Science Faculty of the University of Leipzig and then at the central opening by LSB Vice President Angela Geyer welcomed.
“The state senior sports games are one of the highlights in the Saxon sports calendar and each time a unique event,” says Geyer. And further: “It’s not just about the sporting competition, but above all doing sports together into old age. Enjoying exercise, learning new things, maintaining contacts and being active – all of this is the focus today.”
Thanks to all helpers
Accordingly, in addition to competitions in almost 30 sports, which stretched across the entire city area, the participants were also offered almost 50 workshops to try out – an offer that even participants aged 87 did not miss out on. Especially after the cancellation of the LSSS 2020 due to the pandemic, Andrea Geyer emphasized: “We would like to offer all older people interested in sports a shared experience again.
A big thank you goes to those who made sure that we can hold this event at a high level again in 2022, especially our state professional associations and the many volunteer sports fans”.
Minister of State Armin Schuster with pleasure
Minister of State Armin Schuster was also enthusiastic about the LSSS. After a spontaneous question-and-answer game with moderator Martin Lobst, he not only reported on his own sporting past, but also emphasized in his welcoming speech that the active, older generation was a role model for young people as well. They not only set an example of how important it is to do sports for healthy fitness into old age, but also to volunteer.
He also said sport is “probably the biggest civic organization for health.” Schuster then took part in the joint warm-up with great pleasure and showed great interest during the tour of the campus – both in the possibilities of doing sports and in the rooms and sports facilities available for this purpose. Heiko Rosenthal, Sports Mayor of the City of Leipzig, was one of the guests of honor with a further greeting.
“You stay young and fit if you are regularly active and do sports”
Parallel to the diverse workshop program on campus – the offer ranged from aqua fitness to Pilates, back fitness and Zumba to self-defence – the sporting competitions in the respective age groups from 50 years began in the entire city of Leipzig and in the surrounding area at the same time .
One of the oldest participants was found in judo: Dr. Ernst Singer (85, Judo Club Leipzig) has been practicing his sport since he was 18 and says: “Judo is versatile, true to life and helps preventively – two years ago, for example, I fell uninjured while rolling after a bicycle fall.” To this day he trains three times a week. “I would like to stay fit and postpone the effects of old age,” he reveals about his motivation.
One of the oldest wrestlers was Jürgen Hähnel (76, KFC Leipzig). The former professional sports teacher wrestling at the sports high school has been practicing this sport since he was ten years old and is still enthusiastic about its “versatility and the fight man against man”. The mat bouncing ball tournament of the LSSS is a “highlight” for him! I was there all the time, except for once,” he says proudly. And reveals: “You stay young and fit if you are regularly active and do sports.” For the former European champion in classic wrestling from 1972, this currently means training three times a week.
Playing sports in a club creates a sense of community
The oldest participant in Ju-Jutsu is similarly ambitious. Adelbert Woelki (71, SV Groitzsch 1861) started martial arts (Judo) in 1967 and in the 1990s switched to Ju-Jutsu, a sport that was still very young at the time and in which self-defense is the main focus.
“I practice the sport as a popular sport and train for two hours once a week. It’s a good balance and I love the company,” he says. An aspect that other LSSS participants also rave about. Because with regular training times in the club, it is not only easy to stay active, but there is also a nice sense of community and a sociable change in everyday life.
In the meantime, 222,944 club members aged 50+ are organized in the approximately 4,400 sports clubs of the State Sports Association of Saxony. This corresponds to a total membership share of 34.1 percent, i.e. around one third.
