Brussels – Brussels hosted its first “Olympics for Seniors” on Tuesday, giving the chance for locals aged between 75 and 96 the chance to compete in a range of adapted sports at the national stadium.

“Happiness has every age” was one of the key messages of the event.

More than 130 residents of private rest homes took part in activities ranging from throwing a wool ball, tossing a pancake, a music quiz and a wheelchair relay of four times 25 meters.

In line with Olympic founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s principle, the important thing was not winning, but taking part.

Brussels and “A Travers les Arts”, an organization working with rest home residents, decided to launch the first edition to promote outdoor activities for elderly people in care and as part of a push to make the Belgian capital more age-friendly.