For 30 years, athletes from around the world have traveled to St. George to compete in various sports. But these athletes are not D1 or world-famous. They are your grandparents.
The Huntsman World Senior Games are held in St. George every year for two weeks in October. Athletes older than 50 are eligible to compete in 30 sports, and the Games bring athletes to southern Utah from all over the world. The Huntsman World Senior Games prides itself on promoting worldwide peace, health and friendship.
The Games program given to all players said, “Come enjoy life, the beauty of southern Utah and friendship that can only be obtained at the Games; for you are the ‘best of the best.’”
The Games host players from 87 different nations and hopes to reach more. The Huntsman World Senior Games website said they are the largest multi-sport event for athletes 50 and over in the world. Athletes can sign up for one event or compete in multiple events across multiple sports.
The World Senior Games were founded by Daisy and John H. Morgan, Jr. in 1987. The couple believed the golden years were the better years of life when physical activity and good health became a way of life.
Two years later, Jon M. Huntsman, the chairman of the Huntsman Corporation, became the main sponsor for the Games. According to the Huntsman World Senior Games website, he “recognized the Games not only fostered lifetime fitness, but also expanded Utah’s economic vitality.”
This year the event is larger than ever with almost 12,000 athletes. The Huntsman World Senior Games said more athletes are in this event than in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Utah Tech University is listed as the home of the Huntsman World Senior Games. The opening ceremony, concert celebration and track and field are held on campus.
Westley Petty, executive director of event services on campus, said: “The college loves to have this partnership with [the Huntsman World Senior Games]. It’s a long-standing tradition… It brings a lot of family here and gets some good exposure with the community. It’s a really good community event; it brings a lot of economic development to the city.”
The Games bring consistent profits to the county, but Utah Tech doesn’t depend on the money.
Bryant Flake, executive director of planning and budget, said: “Utah Tech doesn’t rely on revenue from the Huntsman Games to fund any institutional-level functions. There may be some small amounts billed to the Games by event services to cover specific services provided by the campus.”
The venues are donated to the Games and volunteers sign up to help with all the separate events.
Petty said: “There are a select number of events every year that we are partnered with… that are kind of our ‘flagship community’ events that we have no intent to not continue with. The way our schedule and policies are set up, we always want to take care of our campus community first. Students are the university’s top priority, so as long as the campus can fit large community events like the Huntsman World Senior Games, Utah Tech will continue to support and embrace them.”
The concert & celebration is open to everyone and is free admission. Join the athletes and Band Abba: The Ultimate Tribute to Abba in the Burns Arena Oct. 15.
