Ryman Healthcare is bringing together 12,500 residents across 41 villages in Australia and New Zealand and Australia to compete in the world’s first international retirement village Olympic Games.
To get into the spirit of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ryman’s residents will be competing in Olympics@Ryman: cycling, swimming, bowls, a 21.6 km team walking relay and Quiznastics (gymnastics for the brain).
Ryman’s technology partner Aware Group has developed technology solutions to connect all the villages and sports, and the events will include bowls using artificial intelligence and cycle races using augmented reality technology. Residents will compete in a 21.6 km relay walk wearing Fitbit technology, and special timing sensor pads will be used to time the swimming events.
Ryman Healthcare CEO Gordon MacLeod said the aim was to prove it is never too late to compete and to show what technology could do.
“We’ve been working with our residents to come up with a games format that will allow them to compete and we’re expecting hundreds will take part. We’ve discovered we’ve got some incredible sporting talent on board already, including games competitors from the Melbourne and Rome games.
“We’re also expecting some fierce trans-Tasman rivalry as everyone competes for gold.”
A fierce competitor will be 77-year-old Terry Griffiths, a resident at Ryman’s Logan Campbell village in Auckland, New Zealand. A swimmer since the age of five, Terry has held national titles and been a volunteer surf lifesaver at Piha Beach, west of Auckland, for many years.
“It’s going to be a bit of fun. I’ve been a competitive swimmer all my life so I’m looking forward to it,’’ said Terry (pictured).
