Seniors shine in ‘Olympics’

SWAMPSCOTT – As athletes competed for the gold at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Bejing, flags waved and the crowd cheered Wednesday at the Jewish Rehabilitation Center for Living’s Shapiro-Rudolph Adult Day Center while 24 participants competed in the Senior Olympics.The morning began with the opening ceremonies, complete with Olympic torch and banner, and was followed by some warm-ups to get the athletes ready for the activities ahead. There was also a brief synopsis of the history of the Olympics and some trivia about the current games. In the background, a screen was playing the opening ceremonies that took place in Beijing on Aug. 8.Judged by five employees of the Center, four teams of six participated in a beanbag relay, a basketball toss and a beanbag toss. Participants cheered on their teammates as they completed each event. Employees of the Center who organized the games shook their pompoms and the spectators waved American flags as they encouraged and applauded the contestants.Bernadette Capezza of Winthrop, an important member of Team Revere, was enjoying herself as she shouted for her teammates.”Oh, I’m having a great time. I always have fun here. I live with my daughter, but come here every chance I get,” she said.After all the events were finished, the judges determined there was a tie for the bronze medal.An impromptu beanbag relay served as the tiebreaker, and Team Revere was given the gold, followed by Team Lynn with the silver and Team Swampscott with the bronze medal. Team Salem was a close fourth, and was awarded the copper medal.Margarita Kuskin, the activities director for the JRC was very pleased with the day’s events.”All month, we’ve looked like Olympians, training every day. Yesterday was pre-Olympics, like qualifying. We voted on who should be on each team. The world has Olympics, so we have Olympics,” she said.The seniors had decorated hats to wear for the day, and made signs with their team names. They all had matching maroon t-shirts from the JRC and one team was even sporting American flag bandanas around their necks to get in the spirit.Everyone was clearly excited about the day, and the staff was happy with how it turned out.”The most important thing is fun and support, community support. And that is exactly what we have here,” said Maggie Anderson-Sheehan, one of the organizers of the Senior Olympics.After the games, everyone sang a rousing rendition of “God Bless America” to commemorate America’s participation in the Olympics.Participants ranged in age from early 70s to one athlete who is about to celebrate his 98th birthday.”Look at their faces,” said Kuskin. “They’re all smiling, they’re happy. They’re all proud. They just want people to see all the hard work they do.”