An elderly sportsperson in the Vhembe region, Mr Samuel Rambani, said that participating in sports was a solution to protect the elderly from diseases.

"Exercising for elderly people is important, because at the age of 60 and above, muscle tone starts to deteriorate," said the elderly Rambani who, at 75, is the chairperson of Vhembe Elderly People. He added that physical fitness is a reliable solution for maintaining a healthy body, heart, mind and weight and for staying strong and flexible.

Vhembe District Municipality, in partnership with Midi tea, the Department of Health, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the Department of Social Development had organized the Golden Games for elderly people above 60 years and the games took place at the  Thohoyandou Stadium last Wednesday. The different activities included duck walking, dressing up, goal shooting, pegging washing pegs, athletics, passing the ball, ring the stick and many others.

Mr Moss Shibambu, the media liaison officer of the Vhembe District Municipality, said the provincial games would take place at the Thohoyandou stadium on 7 October, while the national event would  be held in Kimberley in the Northern Cape at the end of October.