The Opelika SportsPlex is hosting the Alabama Senior Olympics State Pickleball Tournament this weekend. Because Alabama is an open qualifier for the 2022 National Senior Games, the Alabama Senior Olympics Games draw athletes from across state lines who are vying to compete at a national level.
This is Opelika’s first time hosting this tournament. Of the 147 players, 112 are from Alabama. The remaining 35 players are traveling from Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, and Virginia.
This year’s tournament schedule is as follows:
Friday, Sept. 17 Women’s Singles and Men’s Doubles
Saturday, Sept. 18 Mixed Doubles
Sunday, Sept. 19 Men’s Singles and Women’s Doubles
The 2022 National Senior Games will be held in Ft Lauderdale, FL May 10-23, 2022.
The Alabama Senior Olympics was established in 1987 to provide an opportunity for adults 50 years old and older to participate in social, competitive, recreational and athletic events. According to the Alabama Senior Olympics website, these events were created in hope to create awareness of the abilities and capabilities of older adults; to maintain and improve health and wellness; and to promote an interest in lifetime sports, recreation and physical activity.