By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
With the dawning of a new year, Mesquite Senior Games (MSG) has reached an exciting benchmark.
This year will mark the 20th anniversary for the organization which has been providing sporting events and promoting active and healthy lifestyles to adults over the age of 50 in both the Mesquite community and across the country.
But the celebration of that anniversary is not going to go entirely as planned, according to MSG Executive Director Amy Bradshaw.
“Over the last couple of years we have been working on expanding the games,” Bradshaw said.
For many years, the MSG has offered sporting events mainly in the springtime. But since 2018, when Bradshaw took the helm of the organization, the MSG has been adding events, one-by-one in the fall as well.
“We had hoped by now, to be offering two full seasons of games: one in the spring and one in the fall,” Bradshaw said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t foresee COVID hitting us. And that has kind of set back our plans for expansion just a bit.”
Usually, at this time of year, MSG officials are hard at work planning for the spring season of nearly 20 sporting competitions. These events bring senior athletes from all across the region to the City of Mesquite to compete.
But the lingering effects of COVID-19 have put a halt on a big spring season this year, Bradshaw said.
“Normally, by now, we have already distributed our 30-page brochure outlining all of our spring events,” Bradshaw said. “But this year, our regular spring season lineup just seems out of the question.”
So the group has begun to plan a series of smaller, single-sport activities which can be done during the spring, in keeping with COVID health restrictions.
“These will be primarily targeted at outdoor activities which maximize the opportunity for social distancing while providing healthful sport and social events,” Bradshaw said.
One of the events being planned is a two-day golf tournament. This would include competitions in long drive, closest to the pin, putting and a nine-hole tournament. MSG orchestrated its first ever fall two-day golf event in early November last year; despite the pandemic; and it had a great turnout.
“I think it just showed how much people want to get outdoors and be active; all while being safe as well,” Bradshaw said. “We want to continue to provide that as much as possible.”
Other individual sport ideas for the spring season include tournaments in pickleball, bowling, and target shooting sports for both pistols and shotguns.
In addition, Bradshaw said that the MSG is hoping to offer some all new games which have never been done before. These include a horseshoes tournament and a cornhole event.
“We are also looking at planning some simple things like fitness hikes in the area, or scavenger hunt activities,” Bradshaw added. “These would not cost anything to participate, but they would still fill our mission of getting people active. And they would be better than nothing.”
The MSG board of directors is also casting its eye beyond the spring. The group is planning for a full sleight of events in the fall of 2021 when they hope that COVID will be more under control.
“We are planning a huge relaunch and celebration of our 20th anniversary this fall,” Bradshaw said. “We hope that this will be complete with all the events you normally would see in our spring lineup.”
Then moving forward after that, MSG would be holding two full sporting seasons each year including activities of all types.
“So our athletes will have the chance to show us what they’ve got in the spring and the fall both,” Bradshaw said. “We will be sending out periodic updates as these plans are finalized, so please be on the lookout for these communications from us.”
“We are excited to be sharing our 20th anniversary celebration throughout the year,” Bradshaw concluded. “And we wish all of our athletes a happy, healthy and safe new year in 2021.”
More information about MSG programs and activities is available at www.mesquiteseniorgames.org. Once there, you can click on the “Want to Join Our Mailing List?” tab and provide contact information.
