Deca great Daley Thompson promotes Dutch meet

Los Angeles Olympic deca champ Daley Thompson of Britain is 50 years old, but he hasn’t competed in masters track (that I know of). Still, he’s lending his name to the sport as a promoter of a Dutch Senior Olympics in September 2009. How cool would it be if Daley, the former world record holder from Britain, entered a couple events (or maybe 10)? (I vividly recall seeing him do his backflip on the pole vault pit in 1984.)

Here’s a Google translation of the Koops’ German posting on Daley:

Daley Thompson, one of the greatest athletes of all time, promotes the Senior Games in 2009, in the coming September in the Netherlands will take place. It now shared the organizers of the international sporting tournament for people over 50 with.

At the event in the Dutch province of Zeeland are 4,500 athletes aged 50 years and over from all over Europe participate. The multi-sport event includes at least 22 major sports. For Europe, it is a novelty; in the United States there is such an event has been a long time. The Senior Games in 2009, according to the organizers, an experience like the Olympics, and in the international sporting calendar will receive a permanent place. “I hope that after our launch in Europe every two years, such an event is organized,” says Ton Kienhuis, director of the Senior Games.

“To participate, you must not be champion,” said Daley Thompson. Indeed, each from 50 years in the 2009 Senior Games mitmachen. To participate in the main program are a few selection criteria, which, in cooperation with national and international Sportbünden have been established. There is also a recreational sports program, such as cycling and hiking, which simply can all be there.

Daley Thompson, the Dutch initiative “wholeheartedly”. Even just 50 has become, says the Olympic decathlon champion, it is important throughout life to remain active. After his career in competitive sports, he stayed long in his second sporting love, football, competitive. He still trains regularly – not only in order to stay physically fit, but also to make them mentally to benefit. With the Senior Games will be on the 50-year-olds for the sport will be thrilled. The slogan of the event ‘sports for life’ is linked to here. Participants and spectators can look forward to this website. (04.01.09)