National Veterans 20th Golden Age Games

Now in its 20th year, the National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG) is a renown sports and recreation competition event for veterans 55 years of age and older that continues to serve as a showcase for the medical value that wellness and fitness provide in the lives of all older Americans.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are an outgrowth of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ historic involvement in geriatric programs. Many of the events began as recreational activities at VA hospitals and nursing home care units across the country. Inspired by the health and fitness movement for America’s senior citizens, the National Veterans Golden Age Games extends that concept to our nation’s aging veterans. In 1985, the first NVGAG took place in Albany, Georgia, with 115 competitors representing VA medical facilities across the United States.

A "fountain of youth" for the rapidly aging veteran population, the Games provide a multi-event sports and therapeutic recreation program for veterans 55 years of age and older, who receive care through a VA medical facility. It is the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States, and the only national seniors’ program designed to improve the quality of life for all older veterans, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This event truly reflects VA's mission – to provide quality programs and health care for America's aging veteran population. It is one of the most progressive and adaptive rehabilitative senior sports programs in the United States and the world.

Over the years, competitive events at the NVGAG have been adapted to meet the more specific needs faced by aging participants. As with the Senior Olympics program, the Games provide separate age groups and gender divisions. Additionally, because many veterans also face varying types of medical challenges, events have been added for competitors with low motor skills, as well as those who use wheelchairs or have visual impairments. To accommodate the various degrees of physical conditioning, motor and cognitive skills of these participants, basic competition rules have been adapted. The modification of rules and use of adaptive equipment in many events allow non-ambulatory and visually impaired veterans to participate, in separate divisions where needed and with ambulatory and sighted veterans when possible. This has made the National Veterans Golden Age Games a truly adaptive therapeutic sports competition that is a model for other local, state, and national senior sports events.

In 2004 for the first time, the National Veterans Golden Age Games were recognized as a qualifier for the National Senior Games, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Gold and silver medalists in certain events now have the opportunity for further competition in a wider field of America’s senior athletes.

The program has grown from 115 participants its first year, to more than 500 veterans expected to compete this year. For the past several years, the aging Vietnam veteran population has entered the Golden Age Games in greater numbers each year. The largest number of participants by age group is now in the over 70 categories.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Ladies Auxiliary, and the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) are co-sponsors of the Games. This partnership provides for an exceptional quality event that promises lasting memories for our nation’s older veterans.

Since the Games began, veterans have competed in cities across the United States. Host cities and VA medical centers are as follows:

National Veterans Golden Age Games — 1985-2006

Year	Location	Host VAMC
1985	Albany, Georgia	Atlanta and Dublin VA Medical Centers
1986	Ft. Lyon, Colorado	Ft. Lyon VA Medical Center
1988	Marion, Indiana	Marion VA Medical Center
1990	Sherman, Texas	Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center, Bonham
1991	Bay Pines, Florida	Bay Pines VA Medical Center
1992	Ypsilanti, Michigan	Ann Arbor VA Medical Center
1993	Mountain Home, Tennessee	Mountain Home VA Medical Center
1994	Lisle, Illinois	Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Hospital
1995	Dallas, Texas	Dallas VA Medical Center
1996	Riverside, California	Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center, Loma Linda
1997	Leavenworth, Kansas	Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center
1998	Leesburg, Virginia	VA Capitol Network
1999	Geneva, New York	VA Healthcare Network, Upstate New York
2000	Topeka, Kansas	VA Heartland Network
2001	Duncanville, Texas	VA North Texas Health Care System
2002	Los Angeles, California	VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network
2003	Orono, Maine	Togus VA Medical Center and Regional Office
2003	Fresno, California	VA Central California Health Care System
2005	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Oklahoma City VA Medical Center
2006	Hampton , Virginia	Hampton VA Medical Center

Since 1990, one participant has been chosen each year at the conclusion of the Games, for being the “Most Inspirational” person to compete. That veteran exhibits the qualities of fitness, sportsmanship, and competitive skill. In 1995, the name of this award was changed to the “George Gangi Inspiration Award,” in honor of the late George Gangi, a participant in the Games in Dallas that year. Winners of the award, to date, are as follows:

	1990 – Ivan Kornutik		1998 – Donald Mullett
	1991 – Theodore “Ted” Trent		1999 – Houston Brumit
	1992 – Gus Schaefer		2000 – Beverly Smith
	1993 – Landon "Chili" Chilcutt		2001 – Clifford Junkins
	1994 – William “Howard” Kennett		2002 - Adrien Mohammed
	1995 – William “Sad Sam” Franks		2003 – Kenneth A. Peterson
	1996 – Alice Barszcz		2004 – Roy Gantt
	1997 – Ed Viola		2005 – Chester Golembiewski

“Life begins at 55 ”— at least it does for the veterans competing in the National Veterans Golden Age Games. This event clearly demonstrates that sports and fitness are important for all Americans, at any age. It is a national showcase for the preventive and therapeutic value of sports, fitness, and recreation—all vital ingredients in VA’s extensive rehabilitation programs. Since it began in 1985, the event has encouraged thousands of older veterans to remain active, both physically and mentally. Each year, those who participate return home to encourage others to do the same.