 |
| A participant is pushed by an assistant as they take part in the 4×25 metres relay |
Brussels hosted its first Olympics for Seniors on Tuesday, giving the chance for locals aged between 75 and 96 the chance to compete in a range of adapted sports at the national stadium.
More than 130 residents of private rest homes took part in activities ranging from throwing a wool ball, tossing a pancake, a music quiz and a wheelchair relay of four times 25 metres.
In line with Olympic founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s principle, the important thing was not winning, but taking part.
Brussels and A Travers les Arts, an organisation working with rest home residents, decided to launch the first edition to promote outdoor activities for elderly people in care and as part of a push to make the Belgian capital more age-friendly.
‘Happiness has every age’ was one of the key messages of the event.
