History of NSGA

In 1985 in St. Louis, MO, a group of seven men and women formed the original leadership for what was initially known as the National Senior Olympics Organization (NSOO). In the fall of 1985 they hosted a meeting of individuals who were currently conducting games for seniors in their 33 states. That group planned the first National Senior Olympic Games, held in 1987 in St. Louis. The games were a great success with 2,500 competitors. The NSOO was formalized during the games with a Board of Directors elected, articles of incorporation filed in the State of Missouri and by-laws adopted. Over 100,000 spectators viewed the first Games ceremonies featuring Bob Hope at the St. Louis Riverfront Arch.

The second National Games also took place in St. Louis in 1989, hosting 3,500 seniors and were covered by the New York Times, ESPN and Good Morning America.

In 1990 an agreement was reached with the United States Olympic Committee based on their objection to the use of the term Olympic in the organization’s corporate name and the name was changed to the U.S. National Senior Sports Organization. Today, the organization does business as the National Senior Games Association. The organiztion continued to name its signature event the National Senior Games - The Senior Olympics and, through a grandfather clause, States that were using the name Senior Olympcs at the time of the USOC agreement were allowed to continue that privilege.

The National Senior Games Association moved its corporate office to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1998 where it exists today as a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating acitve adults to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement. Its signature event, the Summer Games, has grown to one of the largest multi-sport events in the world as shown in the chart below.

* anticipated attendance
 

• The National Senior Games Championships & Euflexxa Hockey Classic
  This event expanded the annual Hockey tournament into a multi-sport event in the fall. It is held annually and does not require qualification. Sports currently offered are Ice Hockey, Pickleball, Team Bowling, Team Golf and Team Curling.

• The Winter National Senior Games
  The Winter National Senior Games provided an opportunity for a new and different population of senior athletes to compete in a national sports event. The Games also provided state senior games athletes an opportunity to compete in both summer and winter sports on a national level.

  The first-ever Winter National Senior Games were held February 28th through Marh 3rd, 2000, in Lake Placid, NY. 239 athletes from 22 states competed in 5 winter sports. The tragedy of September 11th forced the cancellation of the 2002 Winter Games, and the NSGA has been working hard to re-establish the event.

• Hockey Championships
  The first-ever Hockey Championships were held at Lake Placid, N.Y. in January 2002. Twenty-three teams from nine states participated in the event held at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, site of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games and the United States' "Miracle on Ice."

  The second Hockey Championships were held January 17-21, 2003 at the Amherst Pepsi Center in Buffalo, New York. In 2004 tournament, was moved to the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota.