Competition open to amateur athletes age 50 and older as of Dec. 31, 2026
Registration is open for the Senior Games of the 37th annual Gulf Coast Games for Life, Sarasota County staff has announced.
Open to amateur athletes ages 50 and older as of Dec. 31, 2026, “the event features 16 competitions offering fun, fellowship and fitness opportunities in January and February, throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties,” a news release points out.
The games are a collaboration among the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department, the Manatee County Sports & Leisure Services Department and the City of North Port Parks and Recreation Department, the release explains.
The Senior Games will kick off with the 5K Road Race on Jan. 17, 2026, the release notes. Additional events will take place from Jan. 24 through Feb. 21, 2026, the release says.
Among other Gulf Coast Games for Life events are basketball shooting, cycling, pickleball, rowing and paddling, shuffleboard, swimming, and table tennis, the release adds. These games are designed to encourage and promote healthful lifestyles for Florida’s seniors and provide them an opportunity “to compete at the local, state and national levels,” the release points out.
A one-time registration fee of $13 is required, the release says. That includes an event shirt. An additional $4 is charged for each event, the release notes. Some events may call for a facility fee, as well, the release adds.
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to each event date, with the first event registration deadline on Jan. 3, 2026, the release notes.
To register, visit bit.ly/gcgflregister, call 941-861-PARK (7275) or print and then mail the registration form from the Gulf Coast Games for Life Guide available at Sarasota County, Manatee County and City of North Port government buildings, the release adds.
“Medals are awarded to the top three finishers in each age division,” it points out.
The Gulf Coast Games for Life are a qualifying event for the 2026 Florida Senior Games, which will be held in December 2026, the release explains. The top five finishers per age group will qualify to participate in the Senior Games, apart from those in target shooting and rowing and paddling, as the latter two types of competition are not offered at the Florida Senior Games, the release adds.
For more information, call 311 or visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.