It's fair to say some of the participants in Missouri Health Care Association's Golden Age Games were anxious Tuesday.
The anxiety wasn't about how they were going to perform; it was about getting started.
These seniors really wanted to compete.
About 130 people attended the annual District 7 competition, which has occurred for more than 25 years, said Michelle Walters, director of meetings and events for the nonprofit organization.
The organization is the state's largest association of licensed, long-term health care and assisted-living facilities, according to its website. District 7 encompasses 16 counties, including Cole, Miller, Morgan, Boone, Osage and Callaway.
Nine facilities from the region brought clients Tuesday morning to Jefferson City to participate in the competitions.
"It's just a way to get residents from long-term care facilities in the area out," Walters said. "It is outside of everyday, normal care."
The residents started the event by sharing a cheer or song from each of the nine facilities represented at the competition.
Then they fanned out and participated in sailboat races (in which they pushed sailboats along a trough of water with a squirt bottle), ladder golf (tossing two balls tied together with a string over ladder rungs), indoor horseshoe toss, a rubber chicken toss and bingo.
Following lunch, they competed in dance, trivia, hog-calling and pie-eating contests.
"It's a fun day for them," Walters said. "As they play games, they win prizes."
The seniors won sweets, snacks and beverages at stations where they played each game.