September 10, 2002

THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS HONORS STATE COMPETITORS AND KICKS OFF PLANNING
FOR SENIOR GAMES 2003 

CHARLOTTE, NC -- A breakfast meeting to celebrate those Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Games competitors who'll participate at the state level, and to encourage more seniors to get involved for the 2003 games, is set for Saturday. 

The Breakfast of Champions is from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sept. 14, at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Center, 2225 Tyvola Road. The event also serves as the annual open board meeting for the private, nonprofit Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Games & Silver Arts. Admission to the breakfast is free. 

North Carolina Senior Games is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing year- round health promotion and education for adults 55 years of age and better. Mecklenburg County is home to 112,000 seniors age 55 and over. 

Of the 194 local seniors who qualified to compete at the state level, 147 plan to participate in athletics, visual and performing arts events, said Terri L. Stowers, a recreation coordinator with the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, and a Senior Games organizer. The North Carolina State Finals in Raleigh are scheduled for Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, 2002. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Games is open to all residents of Gaston, Lincoln and Mecklenburg Counties who are 55 and older. The 2003 games are set for April 19 through May 7, 2003. Organizers want to increase the number of participants over the 422 involved last year. 

Events include track and field, horseshoes, billiards, bowling, shuffleboard, swimming, golf, racquetball, croquet, 3-on-3 basketball, walking, tennis, visual arts, heritage arts, literary arts, performing arts and cheerleading. The Senior Games Hot Line is (704) 332-4020. 

"There's something for every senior," Stowers said.