It was off to the races Tuesday morning as more than 200 area senior citizens and volunteers gathered to celebrate the opening of the 2014 Carbon County Senior Games.

The kickoff celebration for the 26th annual event was held at the Lehighton Recreational Center, Eighth and Iron streets. This year's competitors include seniors from Panther Valley, Lehighton, Palmerton, Weatherly and Jim Thorpe/Penn Kidder senior centers.The opening ceremony began with a presentation of colors by members of the Panther Valley JROTC and the singing of the national anthem by Jim Thorpe team member Martha Moyer.Anne Horrigan, coordinator of the games, welcomed everyone and then introduced guest speakers.Carbon County Commissioner William O'Gurek welcomed the participants and thanked everyone for making the games possible."It's the pleasure of the Carbon County commissioners to be able to sponsor these games," he said.He recognized the seniors who make the games as successful as they are and wished everyone good luck.Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard echoed his colleague's sentiment."The senior games are very special and near and dear to our hearts," he told the participants. "As long as I am a county commissioner, this event will go on for years to come."Gerhard added that the meaning behind the games is not about the competition for the medals, but it is the friendships that are created, the memories that are made and the opportunities that the men and women of the county have to get out and enjoy their time.He also apologized that Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, chairman, couldn't make the opening day because he had come down with the flu.Following the commissioners, Cheri Santore, director of the Carbon County Area Agency on Aging, addressed the participants."Every year we come here and every year it gets bigger," she said, noting that this event is the most organized and longest-running senior games event in Pennsylvania. "It is all about friendship and keeping you active."Santore thanked the participants, volunteers and sponsors for making the games such a success."It's you, the participants, that make the games happen," Santore said. "Thank you."She then turned it over to the driving force behind the senior games, Victor Pituch.Pituch joked about his time with the games and how much time he devotes to preparing for the event."I never believed I would be here at 85 years old," he said.He also highlighted his grandson, Kodie, a senior at Jim Thorpe Area High School who couldn't be present Tuesday. Pituch helped raise Kodie since he was 2, when his mother died, and more recently when his father passed away, and is proud of the man he is turning into.Pituch then addressed Harry Guardiola of Jim Thorpe, who has been a participant in the games for all 26 years.He thanked everyone for their love, help and support over the years.Before the official opening of the 2014 Senior Games, Santore led the participants in the Pledge of Allegiance and the senior games oath.Santore then officially opened the games with the usual saying, "Let the games begin!"The 2014 Carbon County Senior Games will continue through May 15 for county residents age 60 and older. Locations for this year's events include the Lehighton Recreational Center, Terpstra's, Jim Thorpe/Penn Kidder Senior Center, Panther Valley Senior Center, Heisler's Dairy Bar, Cypress Lanes, Fritz's Lanes and Baer Memorial Field. The games will conclude with a banquet at Whispering Pines, Penn Forest Township Fire Company No. 1, Jim Thorpe.Editor's Note: Daily results of the 2014 Carbon County Senior Games will be published in the TIMES NEWS. Grab a copy every day to see who is leading this year's competition, and make sure to visit tnonline.com to see pictures of each day's event in the online photo galleries.