About 20 seniors competed in the Annapolis Senior Activity Center's Summer Olympics Aug. 29 while another 25 seniors cheered them on.

Prior to the beginning of the competitions, some seniors gathered around the Front Desk to practice for the paddle ball event and to pick up flags from various countries. They also looked at flag pictures printed in color in a Webster's dictionary to identify the countries of the flags they were carrying.

When Mary Crowner, office support staff at the Annapolis Senior Activity Center, passed a torch to Becky Batta, center director, Batta proclaimed the official opening of the center's Olympics competition. She asked competitors to line up in the parlor area for the parade of flags.

The competing seniors waved flags from 15 countries as they trooped around the center to the applause of their fellow seniors

The first event was paddle ball. The laughter from that event was just the precursor for the even more riotous beach volleyball. To the tune of "We are the Champions"  and "We will Rock You," the seniors batted a beach ball back and forth with such vigor that the "crepe paper" net had to undergo quite a few scotch tape repairs. Laughter abounded as the beach ball went under, over and through the net to fall in the laps of or at the feet of unsuspecting seniors.

Airplanes appeared to be falling from the sky as the seniors made paper airplanes and then tested them out for the airplane flying contest. Most planes didn't fly very far, but one enterprising plane actually flew backwards, much to the surprise of its maker. James Talantino easily won the gold as his airplane flew the furthest.

The next two events -- boat races and water balloon throwing -- were outside. Seniors blew through straws at toy boats to maneuver them across a water-filled kiddy pool. In the water balloon toss, Helen Sharps caught all the water-filled balloons that were tossed to her while managing to eliminate all her competition.

At the end of the Olympics, all the winners lined up. Some had as many as three medals. Some won two medals and others had one medal. They all had big smiles as they were applauded by their fellow seniors and as they turned to face the American flag, their hands over their hearts for the final ceremony.