Arlington’s “seasoned citizens” will have more opportunities than ever to participate in the 2025 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics.
The organization aims for an expansive, inclusive, record-setting 2025 when competition begins later in the year.
“We certainly have the opportunity to expose more local seniors to the challenges and pleasures of competing in the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics program,” said Rod Hupp, the new chair of the local Senior Olympics organization.
Hupp, a resident of the Falls Church area of Fairfax County, succeeded Riley Geary as chair.
A total of 1,040 people competed locally in events held in 2024. This year, even more are expected.
“Participants in the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics events find it to be both competitive and supportive,” Hupp told ARLnow. “While trying to excel at each of the events, the participants cheer for each competitor.”
Hull is happy to proselytize all the good that comes to Senior Olympians, and can draw from his own experience.
“I have participated in the last three Northern Virginia Senior Olympics,” he told ARLnow. “I first heard about the event in 2022 when a female softball teammate asked me to teach her how to throw a football and Frisbee for the Senior Olympics. I eventually checked out their website, then signed up for 12 events that year — winning five gold, two silver and a bronze.”
At 72, Hupp is in the middle of the pack, age-wise, of local Senior Olympians. Individuals can start competing at 50, and some who participated in recent years have been more than 100 years old.
Planning already is underway for the 2025 Northern Virginia competition, which is slated to start on Sept. 13 and run through at least Sept. 30.
The end date could be extended to accommodate additional participants and new events.
As with everything in Northern Virginia, growth never comes without the occasional difficulty, Hupp acknowledged, pointing to one example:
“The popularity of some events, most notably pickleball, creates a major logistics challenge, especially if there are any rainouts. With over 225 participants spread across numerous age brackets — with singles, doubles and mixed doubles — there are hundreds of matches that have to be scheduled and monitored. At some point you can max out the availability of courts.”
But more people and more events also bring more opportunities to experience the camaraderie that the competition provides, Hupp said.
“It is quite rewarding when a senior competes in events against their peers and earns a medal for their accomplishments,” he said.
Registration opens July 7 and will run through Aug. 29. One registration fee of $20 includes as many events as a competitor wishes to participate in. A few specialized events have slight surcharges.
Participating jurisdictions are Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church.
Senior Olympics can trace its roots to a competition held in 1970 in Los Angeles. Northern Virginia held its first regional competition in 1982.
