SOURCE: Visit Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (May 10, 2021) – Visit Lauderdale, the destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, and the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) reached tens of thousands of age 50+ athletes during a One Year Out livestream broadcast to preview what’s to come leading up to the opening day of the May 10-23, 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana at venues throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale.
During the announcement, livestreamed from Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, event organizers shared what athletes and spectators can expect at the largest multi-sport championship event in the world for adults 50 and over, and Visit Lauderdale provided a preview of all the things they’ll enjoy from the beaches to the Everglades while in Greater Fort Lauderdale during next year’s competition.
“We are thrilled to welcome National Senior Games organizers, athletes and their families, and fans here to Greater Fort Lauderdale in 2022,” said Stacy Ritter, CEO and President of Visit Lauderdale. “As a cosmopolitan destination with 31 diverse and beautiful cities all offering their own unique, culture-rich attractions, award-winning restaurants, and plethora of outdoor recreational activities, we are ready and excited to bring everyone together under the sun.”
With more than 13,000 qualified athletes from every state expected to compete in 23 different medal sports and as many as 20,000 spectators, the National Senior Games will have a significant economic impact for Greater Fort Lauderdale. As of One Year Out day, more than 50 hotels have signed contracts for what is anticipated to be more than 37,000 hotel room nights booked for the games. Now, with new developments that will bring major exposure to the Senior Games movement and a novel new way for athletes to compete for their states, the estimated economic impact from the 2022 massive Olympic-style event is $23.5 million.
“This is the first time Greater Fort Lauderdale hosts our National Senior Games and we have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to bring our athletes here,” said Marc T. Riker, CEO of National Senior Games Association. “Beyond their great sporting venues, hotels, modes of transportation, the destination’s experience hosting a variety of major events, large volunteer base, and endless entertainment options, Greater Fort Lauderdale embodies the inclusive community spirit that we all embrace.”
The two major game-changers announced for 2022 include:
Humana, the Presenting Sponsor for the National Senior Games since 2007, will be partnering with USA Today to produce a special online destination that will bring inspiring Senior Games content and compelling engagements into one place. The USA Today Senior Games Training Center will be promoted to millions and include stories, interactive articles, photography, a sweepstakes, trivia engagement and more that will evolve over time to stay fresh and reward repeat visits.
In addition, the 2022 Games brings with it a new way for athletes and states to compete with the new NSG CUP presented by KOHLER Walk-in Bath. The concept is to level the playing field by measuring the percentage of medals won based on the number of athletes from each state.
Due to the pandemic, the original 2021 dates were rescheduled to May 10-23, 2022 in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The biennial event normally requires athletes to qualify at one of 53 state games in the year before each Games, however, in response to the pandemic, NSGA has adjusted the qualification process to provide qualified status for any participants who were not able to compete in any of the 2020 qualifying games.
With eight beaches, the Everglades, shopping, museums, casinos, walkable mural districts and more than 4,000 dining options, there is much to explore in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Known as the “Yachting Capital of the World”, the destination offers various ways to enjoy the water, whether it’s with a tour on the Water Taxi, watersports, or a dock and dine experience. With 76 artificial reefs, Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to the largest collection of warm-water wrecks in the Western world and it is also the only place in the continental USA where you can snorkel and dive on a living coral reef straight off the beach.
ABOUT VISIT LAUDERDALE
Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and serves as the tourism department for Broward County, Florida. Visit Lauderdale promotes the area’s 31 municipalities to a global audience of leisure and business travelers, and books conventions into the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and area hotels and resorts. For more information visit: sunny.org and follow @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
ABOUT NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES ASSOCIATION
The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) is a nonprofit Multisport Council member of the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee that promotes health and wellness for adults 50 and over through education, fitness and sport. Since 1987, NSGA has governed the biennial National Senior Games, the largest multi-sport championship event in the world for seniors. The Association is comprised of 53 independent Member Games that conduct qualifying competition events. For more information, please visit NSGA.com.
