Registration is now open for the 37th annual Gulf Coast Games for Life, a regional Senior Games event for amateur athletes age 50 and older as of December 31, 2026. The competition features 16 events scheduled throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties in January and February.
The games are coordinated by Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, Manatee County Sports and Leisure Services and the City of North Port Parks and Recreation. The first event, a 5K road race, will take place on January 17, 2026. Additional events will run from January 24 through February 21, 2026.
Competition categories include basketball shooting, cycling, pickleball, rowing and paddling, shuffleboard, swimming and table tennis, among others. Organizers aim to promote active living for older adults and provide a pathway to compete at local, state and national levels.
A one-time registration fee of 13 dollars includes an event shirt. Each event costs an additional 4 dollars, and some sports may require separate facility fees. Registration closes two weeks before each event, with the first deadline on January 3, 2026.
Participants can register by visiting bit.ly/gcgflregister, calling 941-861-7275 or mailing a printed form available in the Gulf Coast Games for Life guide at Sarasota County, Manatee County and City of North Port government buildings.
Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age group. The Gulf Coast Games for Life serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 Florida Senior Games, which will take place in December 2026. The top five finishers in each age division will qualify, except for target shooting and rowing and paddling, which are not included in the Florida Senior Games program.
For more information, call 311 or visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.
