Extensive Senior 55+ programme

CSIT WSG2025 Loutraki

The CSIT World Games in Loutraki are attracting more Senior 55+ participants than ever before. 69 participants from Austria, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Mexico and the Netherlands have travelled to Greece and are taking part in numerous exercise and sports activities under the direction of Birthe Henriksen. 55+ is a group that is particularly important to the CSIT. Exercise in old age is not only important for the body, the social aspects are also extremely important. CSIT therefore offers a wide range of activities so that there is something for everyone. For the first time, walking football with a minimum age of 50 is also included, which is already anchored in the programmes offered in many countries and many sports organisations.

Walking football is a variant of football aimed at people over the age of 50 and those who are unable to play the traditional game due to lack of mobility or other reasons. The sport can be played both indoors and outdoors. Walking football was initiated by Chesterfield FC Community Trust in the UK in 2011. Since 2016, England has had its own umbrella organisation, the Walking Football Association (WFA), in which 366 clubs are organised. The WFA established a national team in 2018 and the first match took place in May 2018 against Italy. Internationally, walking football in the FIWFA is the international umbrella organisation in which 19 national associations are registered.

In addition to walking football, the CSIT programme for seniors 55+ in Loutraki also includes the relatively new sport of Catch'n & Serve, Krolf (a combination of golf and cricket), AQUA-Gym, Greek National Dance, Ancient Greek Sports and lots of fun sports activities, to which not only the seniors are invited, but which are also open to all other participants and guests or spectators. At the end of the games, the seniors will also have a touristic day in the region of Loutraki with olive oil tasting before departure.