Mangueirão hosts the opening of the Active Life Program Games with participation from over 600 seniors
The event celebrated the vitality of the elderly with an Olympic torch, athlete's oath, and a tour of the modernized arena
This Wednesday morning (26) was filled with joy and celebration at the Olympic Stadium of Pará - Journalist Edgar Proença, Mangueirão, which hosted the opening ceremony of the Active Life Program Games. Over 600 students from the elderly participated in the event, which also offered a special tour of the stadium, allowing visitors to closely see the newly modernized structure.
The ceremony featured the traditional Olympic torch and the athlete's oath, officially marking the start of the competitions. Present were the State Secretary of Sports and Leisure, Cássio Andrade, the deputy secretary, José Francisco, and directors from Seel.
During the event, Secretary Cássio Andrade emphasized the importance of the initiative for public sports and well-being policy in Pará. "The Active Life Program is a priority for us. Seeing Mangueirão filled with elderly people, with this energy and willingness, shows that we are on the right track, promoting health, self-esteem, and inclusion through sports. These games are a celebration of the vitality of our seniors," he said.
The seniors also showed enthusiasm for participating and for the opportunity to know the largest sports stage in the State. Retiree Valdeci Silva, Corrêa, 61 years old, shared the emotion of being at Mangueirão for the first time. "I never imagined entering here as an athlete. When I climbed the stands and saw everything up close, I was moved. It’s a moment I will cherish forever," he said.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Maria Corrêa, 68 years old, highlighted the impact of the program on her routine. "The Active Life changed my life. Today I have more energy, made new friends, and participating in these games is a personal victory. Especially in such a beautiful stadium like Mangueirão," she celebrated.
The sports programming continues this Thursday (27), starting at 8 am, with aquatic events at the Asalp headquarters. On Friday (28), activities continue at Tuna Luso Brasileira, with board games and dodgeball, concluding with the awards ceremony.
The Active Life Program for Seniors is a free initiative from the State Secretary of Sports and Leisure of Pará (Seel), aimed at people over 50 years old. The goal is to promote health, well-being, autonomy, and self-esteem through activities such as water aerobics, functional gymnastics, and yoga. Classes are offered in centers like Tuna Luso, in Belém, and Asalp, in Ananindeua.
