To think we should have elite sports only for players over 30?

[youreactinglikeafunmum]

Why should the world be aimed at the youth? 🙄

We could have elite sports men and women compete against eachother and it would make for great entertainment?!

Over 30s tennis, over 30s professional football

No need for the greats to retire, and we could have new greats who maybe weren't that great their 20s

🤷‍♀️

We do! There’s lots of Masters/Veterans events in most sports. In rowing you can start Masters rowing at 27 and it’s brutally competitive. A good friend just won a couple of golds at the Masters world championships aged 56.

What we don’t have is much TV coverage of it.

And ex colleague of mine won a masters commonwealth games medal in fencing, these events do exist, you just don't hear about them.

Agree.

tennis has the seniors tour which you can watch on the iPlayer. It's just not on mainstream tv. I love watching the senior tour.

Darts and snooker both have a heavily supported tour for seniors, both of which are on mainstream tv for the main events.

The most recent snooker world championship followed the main tour and was played at the same venue. It was on Channel 5.

The darts seniors has a massive following. The most recent Champion of Champions event was also on free to air TV.

I think a level of retirement is often welcomed. Darts etc isn't putting your body under pressure. Even at 30, you notice that recovery is longer, Injuries can be permanent. Professional sports people aren't always healthy, the training and food restrictions aren't good for us. Then there's the women wanting pregnancy etc. Or finally enjoying a drink. Soccar aid is good. I suppose we could have a few more charity sporting events.
A relative was on a poster for the NHS. There used to be triathlons and categories split by age. Covid put a stop to a lot of events that never started up again.

Masters swimming is big and there was a masters event at Wimbledon wasn't there? I definitely watched a game with a 70 year old playing and he was fantastic.

There certainly are in tennis.

In fact when I used to play there were over 30yo, over 40yo ... all the way up to one even had over 90yo.

And Wimbledon has the invitational doubles which is vastly entertaining.

I feel like it would need to be on mainstream tv, with tabloids following the players around (who wants that i dunno) some sponsorship deals, very much like the current football/tennis, high profile, exciting

A serious league - maybe with an upper age limit, I wouldn't want to watch rio ferdinand in his 70s but in his 30s/early 40s, why not

I had no idea though about the other sports! I dont think many people know at all

I think most people who are interested know that there are 'masters' and 'veterans' leagues and tours and competitions @youreactinglikeafunmum

It has always happened, but has increased a lot in the last few years.

Of course, many sports men and women are still competing at top class and International level in their 30s anyway.