Everyone can join in: This sport gets seniors out of their armchairs
Table tennis clubs across the country are inviting people over 60 to try table tennis—including Viby BTK Table Tennis Club. This sport offers many benefits for older adults.
On Monday morning, many seniors over the age of 60 gathered for a game of table tennis at the Viby BTK Table Tennis Club.
Everyone knows that sports are good for young and old alike. But not all older adults continue to be active athletes once they join the “silver generation.” The Viby BTK Table Tennis Club is now trying to change that.
On Monday morning, there was plenty of sweat on the foreheads at the table tennis club.
“Table tennis is, after all, a sport that isn’t very physically demanding. That’s why injuries are kept to a minimum.”
Quote from Leif Nielsen, participant and co-organizer, Viby BTK Table Tennis Club
The club held an Open House where all seniors could come and try their hand at the sport, regardless of skill level or previous experience with the little ball.
Table tennis is, in fact, a particularly well-suited activity for those over 60.
Table tennis is, after all, a sport that isn’t very physically demanding. That’s why injuries are kept to a minimum, and at the same time, you can still play the sport even if, for example, you’ve had knee problems in the past, says Leif Nielsen, who is both a participant and co-organizer of the event, to TV2 ØSTJYLLAND.
More seniors should pick up a paddle
The initiative is called BAT 60+ and is a joint project between DGI Table Tennis and the Danish Table Tennis Union.
The goal is to get more seniors to pick up a paddle at local clubs across the country. This fast-paced sport is, among other things, good for seniors’ reaction time, coordination, and fitness.
I'm retired, so I think it's great to get out and get some exercise and meet other people instead of sitting at home reading an old newspaper,Leif Aas Clausen told TV2 ØSTJYLLAND on Monday, after showing up for a game of table tennis at the Viby BTK Table Tennis Club.
The club hopes to attract more members
The number of table tennis players over 60 in Denmark has increased by 40 percent from 2015 to 2017. And the organizers hope that BAT 60+ will attract even more players.
“We’re obviously hoping we can fill the room more or less to capacity—if not over these two days, then a little later, because hopefully we’ll now have some ambassadors who can speak highly of us.”
Leif Nielsen, participant and co-organizer, Viby BTK Table Tennis Club
We’re holding an Open House for two days this week, and then we’ll see how much support we get. We’re hoping, of course, that we can fill the room more or less—if not during these two days, then a little later, because hopefully we’ll now have some ambassadors who can speak highly of us, says Leif Nielsen.
Link to the article:
https://www.tv2ostjylland.dk/aarhus/alle-kan-vaere-med-sportsgren-far-aeldre-op-af-laenestolen