Care home residents will compete in their very own Winter Olympics – complete with opening ceremonies and even ski chalets.
Specially adapted activities from seated ice-hockey to stationary skiing are on the cards for OAPs at 16 homes around Scotland run by Renaissance Care.
The two-week event was created by staff to encourage mobility, fitness and wellbeing and follows the summer Olympics which was held in July.
The competition is designed to improve fitness, confidence and team spirit.
Contenders will be going head-to-head or working with a team in a number of sports including stationary skiing, designed to improve arm strength and stamina, seated ice-hockey, to develop aim and team-work, and indoor curling, to increase hand-eye co-ordination and independence.
Those who prefer to be spectators have been working with staff over the past couple of weeks to make sure the event goes off without a hitch.
Crafty residents and staff have been busy creating signage for the occasion, placards with messages of support and have even turned areas in the home to apres-ski chalets where spectators and athletes alike can enjoy a hot chocolate.
Skip of the competing GB Curling team and three-time Olympic champion, Eve Muirhead, said “I hear you’re all giving curling a go, what a great opportunity to do that in the month of February.
“I hope you enjoy it. I’ll be competing at the Olympics in Beijing, but I hope you all have lots of fun.”
Gillian Sangster, 79, who lives at the Cowdray Club, Aberdeen, said: “We have all been getting ready for the Winter Olympics since we completed the summer games.
“The competitive spirit has been great for morale and although we are trying hard to beat the other, it’s been fantastic for the mood in the home.
“All the fighting talk has given us a great laugh.
“In these events being a spectator is just as important as taking part in the sport, which suits me perfectly.
“It allows me to rest up and get my tactics right for the next round of ice hockey.”
Yvonne Mackenzie, Operations Director at Renaissance Care, said: “Just as our summer Olympics, this campaign has underlined the extra lengths our staff go to ensure the residents in their care not only are well and staying fit, but are having fun and enjoying life to the fullest.
“The Winter Olympics is the first of many events we have scheduled for our residents throughout the year to encourage physical activity and mental wellbeing.
“If the creativity and effort of this campaign is anything to go by, this year will be a fun-filled one for all.”