Pittsburgh Welcomes Thousands for National Senior Games

Thousands of elite athletes will soon file through Pittsburgh International Airport as the city hosts the National Senior Games July 7-18.

Why it matters: A 20-sport, biennial competition for men and women age 50 and over, the National Senior Games is the largest multi-sport seniors event in the world. Pittsburgh last hosted the games in 2005.

• “A great way to generate new dollars for the region is by hosting live sporting events that attract participants, organizers and fans from all over the country, and the National Senior Games is a perfect example,” said SportsPITTSBURGH executive director Jennifer Hawkins.
• “We will welcome more than 10,000 athletes to Pittsburgh for the competition, which gives us an opportunity to highlight the importance of health and wellness for those over the age of 50.”

What to expect: Medal sports for the games will include archery, badminton, basketball, bowling, cornhole, cycling, golf, pickleball, power walking, race walking, racquetball, road racing, shuffleboard, soccer, swimming, table tennis, track and field, triathlon and volleyball.

• SportsPITTSBURGH projects that more than $30 million will flow into the local economy as the athletes and their families and friends patronize area hotels, restaurants and attractions over the 12-day event.

Sports destination: This year’s event continues a years-long trend of bringing thousands of people into the city for national sporting events.

• Pittsburgh has been a regular host of early-round games of the NCAA Division I “March Madness” basketball championship and will do so again in March 2024. Duquesne University and SportsPITTSBURGH will co-host that event at PPG Paints Arena.
• In 2021, Pittsburgh hosted the Frozen Four, the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, at PPG Paints Arena.