Since April, the Pasadena Senior Center has invited thousands of people from across the country to the Pasadena Senior Games, an Olympic-style multi-sport competition.
With the matches coming to an end, there are still a few events left for those interested in watching the matches.
“We just made it our mission to engage, enrich and empower older adults, and this annual event is really one of the cornerstones of that mission,” Charmaine Nelson, senior center director of marketing and communications at Pasadena, told the Pasadena Weekly earlier this year.
The annual Pasadena Senior Games cycling races will be held on Wednesday, June 17, at El Dorado Park in Long Beach. In road cycling racing, a rare event for older adults, safety is paramount. The race takes place on a closed course, away from street traffic.
Timing and direction for Senior Games Cycling is provided by SoCal Cyclocross, led by Dorothy Wong. The registration fee is €45 plus €20 per event. Online registration is available through June 13 and race day registration is available.
The Pasadena Senior Games will award gold, silver and bronze medals in five-year age categories for each event, with recreational and elite athletes welcome.
What started as a local initiative quickly gained traction and the matches are played at various locations in Los Angeles.
“It’s very special because we are the only senior center in the country to host an event like this,” Nelson said. “Being the organization that brought it to Southern California more than 30 years ago also makes us feel like we have a very special legacy, with 80-year-old pole vaulters and blind swimmers, people who are so dedicated to their sport, knowing that they will be supported and recognized with the official results and times that we publish every year.”
The 2026 Pasadena Senior Games are a qualifier for the National Senior Games, which will take place in 2027 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The qualifiers are split between the Pasadena Senior Games and the San Diego Senior Games. The six sports at this year’s Pasadena Senior Games that are California state qualifying events for the National Senior Games are 5K/10K road race, swimming, archery, cycling, table tennis and track and field.
Remaining Senior Games Sports Schedule
Softball (CoEd)
Event date: June 12-13
Location: Arcadia Park, 405 S. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia
Disc golf
Event date: June 13
Location: Hahamongna Watershed Park, 4550 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena,
Powerlifting
Event date: June 14
Location: Sneider’s Family Fitness, 115 Loralyn Drive, Arcadia
Misuse
Event date: June 17
Location: El Dorado East Regional Park, 7550 E. Spring Street, Long Beach
Fitness challenge
Event date: June 20
Location: Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly Street, Pasadena
Table tennis
Event date: June 27
Location: Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly Street, Pasadena
