PORT ANGELES — It’s one of the most popular events on the North Olympic Peninsula and the deadline to register is approaching fast.
The Olympic Peninsula Senior Games, which attracted 525 participants last year, could be hitting the 600 threshold when the Games get underway on Friday, Aug. 26.
The event goes through Sunday, Aug. 28.
“We’re aiming for 600 because that is a reasonable growth pattern,” D Bellamente, director of the Port Angeles Senior Center and executive director of the Senior Games, said.
Organizing the 19 events for more than 500 participants is keeping Bellamente plenty busy.
“It’s a good busy,” she said.
And all that busy work coordinating so many events with so many participants is the top reason why the deadline to register is Monday, a little less than two weeks when the action begins.
That said, it is very unlikely that anybody will be turned away from participating.
It’s up to the commissioners of each event when they will stop accepting registrations, Bellamente said.
“For instance, commissioners will take registration right up to the start of the event for the 5- and 10K runs and the bike ride,” she said.
Very rarely, though, does anyone end up on the sidelines who wants to participate.
“We try not to turn anyone away,” Bellamente said.
Leaving someone out usually is not much of a problem because most people register early.
“We have over 400 registered right now,” she said Wednesday afternoon.
The Senior Games are for anybody who will be at least 50 years old on Dec. 31.
There are activities that range from Olympic sports such as track and field and swimming to outdoor activities such as kayaking, cycling, tennis and golf, team sports like basketball and volleyball and lesser-known activities such as Pickleball, horseshoes and Bocce.
The events are held all over Port Angeles, including William Shore Memorial Pool for swimming, the Port Angeles High School track for track and field, Laurel Lanes for bowling, the Clallam County Family YMCA for basketball and racquetball, Peninsula Golf Club for golf, Lincoln Park for horseshoes, Roosevelt Elementary School for Pickleball, Stevens Middle School for volleyball, Shane Park for slowpitch softball, the Senior Center for indoor rowing, the Park View Villas for Bocce and cribbage, and Erickson Park courts for tennis, to name just a few of the venues.
Participation fee is $20 but there are also separate fees for each event. Participants receive a T-shirt.
Most events cost an extra $5 each per event but some cost more such as a $225 team fee for softball and $8 fees for bowling, cribbage and bridge.
Pinochle costs $10 for all three days.
Opening ceremonies are set for 7 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Senior Center, 328 E. 7th St.
The highlight of the opening ceremonies is Lance Von Vogt — the head coach of the NWAACC-winning Peninsula College men’s basketball team — is taking the Senior Games torch from the Port Angeles historical district to the Senior Center for the opening ceremony.
In addition, a Senior Games celebration banquet starts at 6 p.m. on Aug. 27 at Park View Villas, 1430 Park View Lane.
Tickets cost $22 for the banquet, which features Amanda Bacon and her supporting band.
But the most important thing to remember right now is that registration officially ends Monday.
Call the Senior Center at 360-457-7004 for more information or to register.