ORONO – The 17th National Veterans Golden Age Games, the largest senior veterans sporting and recreational event in the nation, is coming to Orono, Aug. 7-12. More than 500 military veterans from across the United States have registered to compete in this year’s events.

The games are co-sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center at Togus will be the local host.

Local games coordinators expect that several hundred volunteers will be needed to meet the needs of the visiting participants. Volunteers will assist with tasks ranging from registration and transportation to meals, data management, photography, equipment setup, timing and scoring events, and many other functions.

At the games, competition in sporting events such as bicycling, swimming, horseshoes, bowling, croquet and a pentathlon – softball hit, discus, shot put, basketball free throw and air guns – as well as in recreational events such as checkers, dominoes and shuffleboard will be held. The majority of the events will be held on the Orono campus of the University of Maine.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are held at VA medical facilities at different locations every year. This is the first time the annual event will be held in Maine.