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The Heart of Illinois Senior
Olympic games not only recognizes excellence in fitness but also acknowledges
the creativity and spirit of those 50 and older. Participation in the
games is an excellent way to maintain or improve your physical and mental
condition and coordination, while enjoying friendly competition.
All seniors experience the fun of competition regardless of the level of
skill. You don't have to be an
expert to participate in any event. Just come out and enjoy
spending time “playing” with friends and meeting new people.
Show us your creative side in the Fine Art Festival or learn how to play Pickle
Ball! Kick a soccer ball or try the Clay Shoot. Come and try
a variety of events! Try an event
you have never participated in before. Bring
your friends and your family!
Our
Mission
- To
encourage & promote an active lifestyle for individuals age 50 &
older
- To provide a showcase to recognize individual and group
excellence in creativity and fitness through opportunities in a wide variety
of
- Athletic
Competitions
- Fun
Challenges
- Visual,
Literary, and Performing Arts
- To have games that are
Accessible and Affordable to all older individuals
- To
Nurture a Spirit of Camaraderie among participants
- To Provide Technical
Assistance to athletes which Promotes Safe and Appropriate Training and
performance practices
- To
Strengthen Public Image and Heighten Interest for the Senior Olympic
programs at the Local, State and National Levels.
History of the Heart of Illinois
Senior Olympics
In January of 1999, Peoria area
resident Frank Hubbell contacted the Illinois State Senior Olympic Board and
expressed an interest in starting games in the Peoria Area. The State
organization put him in contact with Vic Durchholz, also of Peoria, who in turn contacted Jim and Kay Allen of Morton, all participants in the
Illinois State Senior Olympics Games since the early 1990’s.
Three months later, a Steering
Committee made up of Frank Hubbell, Vic and Janice Durchholz, and Jim and Kay
Allen, began meeting to assess the feasibility of having Peoria
Olympic games. For
several years during the early 1980’s, senior games under the name of
Greater Peoria Senior Olympics were held in
Peoria
and East Peoria. The steering committee made the decision that
there should be a local event and they
decided to call the games the Heart Of
Illinois Senior Olympics.
The committee started to plan the
events, find facilities, and seek funds and publicity.
The Peoria Park District and the Peoria YMCA were the first to become
partners, and other park districts soon followed.
In November 1999, the Heart of Illinois Senior Olympics was officially
organized and a board was established. The
first HISO event was held in May 2000 with 283 participants, 75 events and 120
volunteers. Today there are 63 individual, team and tournament events,
plus 3 fun challenge events and a fine arts festival.
Contact Information
Telephone:
309-681-2859
Address:
HISO
C/O Peoria Park District
2218 N. Prospect Road
Peoria
,
IL
61603
Email:
Divina
Barata, Senior Program Coordinator
Peoria Park District
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