National Senior Games coming to Minnesota in 2015

The Twin Cities will host an Olympic-style event in 2015 for athletes 50 years and over.

The Summer National Senior Games will take place in sporting venues and parks in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington. The 16-day event features 18 sports ranging from track and field to bowling and golf.

Susan Adams Loyd is helping organize the games and plans to participate in track and field events as well.

"It's a chance to meet other people ... that have interesting backgrounds, and yet the thing that all athletes have in common is that healthy lifestyle and setting goals for themselves," Loyd said.

Phil Godfrey is president of the National Senior Games association, and he said the games are a huge undertaking.

"We're going to bring approximately 15,000 athletes, maybe as many as 40,000 guests to this beautiful location for about a two-week period in time and they're going to contest in 18 different sports and perhaps a few additional demonstration sports," Godfrey said.

Godfrey estimates the Senior Games could bring as much as $40 million in economic activity to the Twin Cities during the 16 days of games. The National Senior Games take place every two years and are open to athletes over 50 years of age who qualify at state events.

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