The National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG), an annual event co-sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Help Hospitalized Veterans, and the Veterans Canteen Service, will be held this August, from the 20th through the 24th, in the heart of racing, Indianapolis. The special event is for veterans aged 55 and over and is intended to create a fun activity for those who have served their country proudly, as well as promote a healthy active lifestyle for both veterans and all others who are wondering how to stay fit despite the passage of time. Each year, the event is hosted by a different VA Medical Center, allowing for each experience to be unique for the competitors, not to mention the added bonus of getting to see the county!

This year�s Games are being hosted by the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC in Indianapolis, and they promise to bring a great time for all. This is the largest NVGAG in the event�s 22 year history, with more than 700 �golden age� participants hailing from 42 states, as well as from the US Virgin Islands. With over a dozen separate events, including swimming, cycling, discus, bowling, and golf, there�s room for anyone that wants to have a little fun and get some exercise, no matter what area their skills happen to be in. Don�t take the competition lightly, however; the Golden Age Games are an official qualifier for the Senior Olympics that are scheduled to be held in San Francisco in 2009.

As for the competitors themselves, they are a diverse group. Coming from all over the US, each brings a different set of experiences to enrich the overall Games atmosphere. While there may be an age minimum, there certainly is no maximum- one participant is 97 and still ready to bring home some medals! There are competitors at every age between, too, with veterans who have participated in World War II, the Korean War, and an ever-increasing number from the Vietnam era. Disabilities are no problem here, either, as all events have a set up ready to accommodate with almost any assistance the veterans might need in order to participate, including wheelchair and visually impaired-specific categories.

The 22nd National Veterans Golden Age Games will start on the night of August 20th with an opening ceremony at the Indianapolis Convention Center. The competitions proper are set to begin the next morning, with golf being the first event on the schedule.