There’s no torch making its way through Arlington, but excitement is igniting ahead of the 44th annual Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO).
More than 1,000 athletes are preparing to go for gold in roughly 80 sporting and recreational events at some 30 area locations. The friendly competition runs Sept. 11-Oct. 4, with the official opening ceremony taking place Sept. 19 at Arlington’s Thomas Jefferson Community Center.
“There is competition, but the emphasis is actually more on fellowship and socialization than it is on winning,” says Michael Coleman, chairman of the 2026 NVSO Executive Committee. “Our motto is living healthy longer. Exercise, mental acuity and socialization are the most important things for seniors to have active, healthy, enjoyable golden years.”
Coleman speaks from experience. The 75-year-old Falls Church resident competed in his first NVSO in 2014 as a rower and was hooked. He enjoyed it so much that he joined the organizing committee as a way of giving back to the community. “You can’t really put a price tag on how rewarding that can be,” he says.
The games’ storied history dates back to 1980, when the City of Falls Church and Fairfax County partnered to host an athletics event for seniors. Two years later, Loudoun County joined and NVSO was born. Today, it’s an all-volunteer nonprofit with eight sponsoring jurisdictions that fund and support the games: Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties, plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church.
Anyone 50 and older who lives in those places can participate. Coleman says most competitors are 65-85 years old, although plenty of nonagenarians compete, too.
Arlington resident Alease Brooks, 93, an aerobics instructor and longtime volunteer at VHC Health, has competed in the games for 21 years, earning more than 100 gold medals in events ranging from pickleball to rowing. “I love the people. I love the excitement,” Brooks says. “It’s not about winning medals, it’s about staying fit. Life is so beautiful as you age. I call it aging backwards, or turning back the clock.”
The games’ $20 registration fee buys athletes entry into unlimited events. Traditional sports include cycling, diving, track and field, but new contests are introduced annually. This year, darts and indoor rock climbing join the roster. There are mental acuity categories, too, such as mahjong, crossword puzzles and Sudoku. “These are just as—if not more—important for seniors as the sports,” Coleman says. “You have to keep up your mental sharpness.”
Top performers win bronze, silver and gold medals. Everyone gets a branded T-shirt, a baseball cap and a chance to make meaningful connections. “It may sound crazy,” Brooks says, “but I love getting old.”
