Senior Winter Olympics of 1972

I remember the magic and excitement of the Senior Winter Games that were held here in Pottsville in 1972. While overshadowed by the Schuylkill Senior Summer Olympics, these winter games were always a hoot. Obviously most of the winter games were at the old Ski Lodge, not to be mistaken for the Moose, Masonic or Elks Lodges, all within the city limits (and where some of the events were held). For those too young, the Pottsville Club now occupies the old Ski Lodge and it sits high on top of Sharp Mountain.
Just like the summer games, the tenaciously trained senior winter Olympians came from all corners of Schuylkill County to participate in the cold, all sponsored by state lottery money.

The opening ceremony, at Veterans Stadium, had the athletes enter on their Rascal scooters and parade around under the flags of their respective municipalities. It was the last year that scooters were permitted onto the field due to the damage caused by the chains on the tires. All subsequent opening ceremonies had the participants in snowmobiles or pushing shopping carts.

All announcements were all broadcasted in the three official Senior Olympics languages.* Soon the word bellowed that the senior Olympians, all dressed in either spandex or Morgan Knitting Mill Long Johns, were now taking the field in the Parade of Municipalities. A tumultuous applause broke out that lasted for ten minutes as it was discovered that clapping ones hands keeps frostbite risks to a minimum. The athletic events would soon begin in earnest after the male figure skating tribute to the Pottsville Maroons and the torch lighting of the official Senior Olympic cauldron.
The Senior Olympic Committee expanded the number of events that year. Not only would there be the traditional sports of Skiing, Bobsledding, snowball fighting, milk curling, dog sledding and synchronized snowman building, as now many new sports would be featured. Generation G was not content with old sports, they demanded new exciting events. Moustache defrosting was held at the Moose Lodge and was quite a crowd pleaser. If I am not mistaken, Sacramento won the gold for the men, while West Penn won the gold for the women. But I may be wrong. It may be the other way around.
Then there was the sport of Igloo-building which was dominated by the elders of Eldred Township. Rumors spread that Geritol enhancement may have assisted in their victory but the urine tests all came back negative. If I am not mistaken gold medals were given for urine tests that year for the first time. Eldred doubled the gold that year.
One of the most exhilarating sports added that year was the Craftmatic Adjustable Bed Race which had teams carry beds down Market Street, north on Centre and then up Laurel Boulevard to ice-filled Veterans Stadium. Shenandoah was the odds on favorite. “Do you believe in Miracles?” Well, Pottsville got the gold, Shenandoah got the silver, and Ringtown captured the bronze in a breath-taking photo finish upset to the amazement of thousands watching in the stands rooting for their hard of hearing home team. It is often referred to as "the miracle ear on ice."
Icicle Bingo was held at the Elks Lodge but that event was quickly dropped due to no spectators showing up. If anyone got a medal that year, no one cared. Compare that to the Cold Water Diving held at JFK Stadium. “The Tower” was still standing then. That event drew the most contestants and the biggest crowds, with many children encouraging their elders to just give it a try. I don’t know how to express in words, the emotion felt by watching people old enough to be my great-grandparents do twists and turns into the frigid waters of the pool, kept warm only by a heavy coating of Vicks-Vapo Rub, and being judged for technical achievement, overall impression and artistic interpretation. All of this diving was done for the glory of their respective municipalities, and not for personal edification. It brought tears to my eyes, and those tears quickly froze.
The Senior Winter Olympics of 1972 were unforgettable and I was glad to be there.

* The three official languages of the Senior Games are King’s English, Pennsylvania Dutch and Skook dialect. For example:

King’s English : “How are you doing, Sir?”
Pennsylvania Dutch: “Wie tun Sie, Herr throw me down the stairs a kiss.”
Skook Dialect: “How’re youse doin’ yo?”

Another example:
King’s English: “Why, my word, look at that!”
Pennsylvania Dutch: “Gookamoedoe! Throw me down the stairs a kiss.”
Skook dialect: “Wad da frik!!!”

Still another example:
King’s English: “Pardon me Sir. Can you please pass the bottle of ketchup to me?”
Pennsylvania Dutch: “Mich begnadigen geehrter Herr. Konnen sie mich die flasche des Ketschups bitte fuhren and while you are at it throw me down the stairs a kiss.”
Skook dialect: “Yo, butt, gimme dat friggin’ catsup bough-ull, wuj- ja.”