ST. GEORGE – The 29th annual Huntsman World Senior Games officially opened Tuesday evening in a ceremony full of the pageantry and inspiration befitting the nearly 10,700 senior athletes who have come to Southern Utah pursuing greatness in sport and sportsmanship.
The nearly three-decades-long sporting event brings in athletes from all over the globe and is rich in tradition, competition and camaraderie.
“It’s just inspiring to see these athletes come into town and do what they love to do,” Senior Games CEO, Kyle Case, said.
Tuesday’s opening ceremonies, held at the Dixie State University Hansen Stadium, welcomed local and state dignitaries including St. George Mayor Jon Pike, Gov. Gary Herbert and official Huntsman family representative Paul Huntsman.
Guiding the crowd through the night’s events was Master of Ceremonies and Utah broadcasting legend Dick Nourse who has been a part of the Senior Games opening ceremonies for 27 of 29 years, he said.
The traditions of the Senior Games continued with an appearance by John Morgan, the original founder of the Games. At 92, he continues to participate as an athlete.
Morgan gave the invocation and also helped to light the cauldron.
Two-time Olympic medalist – silver in 1956 and gold in 1960 – in the decathlon, Rafer Johnson was the evening’s keynote speaker bringing stories of his Olympic triumphs as well as advice on what he considered one of the most important parts of worldwide sports: friendship.
In his speech, Johnson recounted the story of a new occurrence which took place during the closing ceremonies of the 1956 Olympic Games. Rather than walk in with your team or country, he said, for the first time ever, athletes were allowed to march in with whomever they had become friends with over the course of competition.
“I found that just to be an unbelievably great addition to the Olympic ideal,” Johnson said, “the fact that you come to the Games, you compete as hard as you can, you be the best you can be, hopefully you won a medal, but what you did for sure was that you made a friend.”
The mission of the Senior Games, Case said, is to foster worldwide peace, health and friendship; and much tribute was paid to the athletes for the example they set for younger generations of continuing on a path of active living and demonstrating good sportsmanship.
The ceremony was filled with joyful entertainment which included singing, dancing, tumbling and a lively fireworks display to cap off the night.
Competition began Monday and will continue through Oct. 17 with sports as varied as track and field, cycling, bowling, pickleball, tennis, archery, horseshoes, mountain biking, square dancing and more.
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Flags of the 72 countries that have been represented at the Huntsman Senior Games in the last 29 years are displayed during the opening ceremonies at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Entertainers for the opening ceremonies of the 29th annual Huntsman Senior Games line up on the field at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Spectators and athletes take their seats for the opening ceremonies of the Huntsman Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Entertainers for the opening ceremonies of the 29th annual Huntsman Senior Games show off their skills at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A Senior Games athlete takes a selfie during the opening ceremonies of the games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Athletes participate in the parade of athletes during the opening ceremonies of the 29th Huntsman World Senior Games held at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Entertainers for the opening ceremonies of the 29th annual Huntsman Senior Games show off their skills at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Alice Ericksen sings the national anthem as part of the opening ceremonies for the Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Entertainers for the opening ceremonies of the 29th annual Huntsman Senior Games show off their skills at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Entertainers for the opening ceremonies of the 29th annual Huntsman Senior Games show off their skills at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Entertainers for the opening ceremonies of the 29th annual Huntsman Senior Games show off their skills at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Entertainers for the opening ceremonies of the 29th annual Huntsman Senior Games show off their skills at Hansen Stadium, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
St. George Mayor Jon Pike speaks to the crowd during the opening ceremonies of the Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Huntsman World Senior Games opening ceremonies, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Gov. Gary Herbert speaks to the crowd during the opening ceremonies of the Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Keynote speaker, 1960 Olympic Games gold medalist, Rafer Johnson speaks to the crowd during the opening ceremonies of the Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Flags of the countries that have been represented throughout the Senior Games 29-year history are presented during the opening ceremonies of the Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
The torch of the 29th Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Rafer Johnson helps carry the torch of the 29th Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Lighting the cauldron of the 29th Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Fireworks cap off the events of the opening ceremonies of the 29th Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, Utah, Oct. 6, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News