A growing body of research and new surveys show that people are not only staying active into their 60s, 70s and beyond but are returning to organised sports — with measurable gains for fitness, mental health and longevity. Recent analysis of dozens of studies finds that sport participation in later life improves cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function and mood, while population surveys and national veteran competitions report rising numbers of older athletes. Experts say the risks of injury are real but manageable with screening, sensible progressions and a community support system — lessons Thai families, public health services and local governments can use as the country ages. (Many of these findings and expert comments were summarised in a guest column in The Washington Post.) (Washington Post guest column)
Why this matters in Thailand is clear: Thailand has already moved rapidly into an older society. Older people make up a growing share of households, carers and the workforce, and their health and social inclusion will determine future health-system demand and community resilience. Promoting safe, organised sport for older adults can reduce disability, prevent social isolation and strengthen family care networks — all priorities for Thai public health planners. (Situation of the Thai Older Persons 2022 report).
Recent evidence and participation trends support the change. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2023 concluded that participating in sport substantially improved cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function and mental-health outcomes in people aged 60 and older, while reducing body fat — outcomes linked to lower risk of chronic disease and improved independence. The review distinguished sport from general exercise by noting the rule-based, goal-focused and social nature of sport, which appears to add psychosocial benefits beyond simple activity. (British Journal of Sports Medicine systematic review)
Population surveys and organised events mirror this science with real-world behaviour. A recent Ipsos survey reported rising engagement in sport among older adults in 2025, while the U.S. National Senior Games — a biennial competition for people aged 50 and older — has grown from roughly 2,500 competitors at its start in 1987 to more than 11,000 participants in 2023, illustrating a surge in both grassroots and competitive participation among older cohorts. Such organised play offers structured training, social bonds and clear goals that reinforce long-term engagement. (Ipsos Attitudes to Ageing 2025 survey) (National Senior Games history and growth)
Perhaps the most attention-grabbing finding for the public is research linking specific sports to gains in life expectancy. Longitudinal analyses drawing on population data showed that people playing sports such as tennis, badminton, soccer, cycling and swimming had higher life expectancy estimates than sedentary peers, with tennis showing the largest association in some cohorts (close to a decade longer). Researchers caution that healthier people may be more likely to play sport in the first place, so these figures do not prove causal guarantees. Still, they are a powerful reminder that active lifestyles, especially those that combine aerobic work, agility and social interaction, are associated with meaningful longevity benefits. (Copenhagen City Heart Study and related analyses on leisure activities and life expectancy)
Experts emphasise that the social and community elements of sport matter as much as the physical ones. Older players report taking part to maintain health, make friends, belong to a community, feel achievement and enjoy competition or self-improvement. Those psychosocial benefits feed directly into mental health and resilience, reducing loneliness and strengthening daily motivation to stay active. “Movement in sport is a double dose,” said a health-and-wellness director involved with senior sports, noting how competition, coaching and group routines amplify benefits beyond solo exercise. (Washington Post guest column)
Thailand-specific implications and opportunities are strong. The Thai population is ageing fast: several government and academic reports note that the proportion of people aged 60 and over has risen sharply and that community-based prevention and wellness programmes are critical to controlling future healthcare costs. Sport can be a cost-effective prevention tool when integrated into existing primary-care, sub-district health promotion and municipal programs. Local initiatives such as active-senior classes, village exercise groups and municipal sports days already demonstrate demand; expanding organised, low-impact sports and age-friendly facilities would magnify those gains. (Situation of the Thai Older Persons 2022 report) (Promoting the Wellness of Older Adults through Integrated Health: SAGE journal perspective)
Safety and screening are essential components for any country that wants older adults to play sport widely. The National Senior Games Association and researchers have developed screening tools such as the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE), created from data collected over more than a decade among older athletes. SAFE combines a health questionnaire with performance tests that screen for cardiovascular risk, diabetes, low bone density and fall risk, helping to match athletes to appropriate sports and training loads. Thailand’s health system could adapt such screening models for local use through district hospitals and primary-care clinics to reduce avoidable injuries and ensure appropriate progression. (National Senior Games SAFE overview) (Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam outcomes study)
Practical precautions recommended by sports-medicine experts are simple and directly transferable to Thai settings: consult a physician before starting a new sport; start gradually and prioritise technique and balance training; respect recovery, sleep and nutrition; and seek coaching or beginner-friendly programmes that emphasise progression rather than immediate performance. For many older beginners, low-impact racquet sports such as badminton or walking versions of team sports (walking football), masters swimming sessions, community cycling groups and recreational bowls or petanque-style games provide good entry points that combine aerobic and strength elements with social contact. These recommendations align well with Thai cultural strengths — family encouragement, community networks and the central role of local temples and municipal halls as gathering places — which can be mobilised to support safe sport participation. (Practical advice and expert quotes summarised in The Washington Post guest column) (Washington Post guest column)
There are also policy-level lessons. Countries with longer traditions of organised senior sport show that modest investments in age-friendly courts, adult coaching programmes and competitive pathways for older adults yield high returns in health and social capital. Thailand can replicate aspects of the National Senior Games model — regional qualifying events, age-group competition, and a central multi-sport festival — while adapting to local preferences and climatic realities (for example, providing shaded courts, morning-hour programming and integration with community health checks at events). The NSGA experience shows the role of a coordinating organisation in standard-setting, health screening and public engagement. (National Senior Games Association history and model)
Culture matters in uptake and sustained engagement. Thai families, often multigenerational, can encourage older relatives to try sports as a group activity: intergenerational badminton, family walking groups around temples, or morning tai chi-like movement sessions on village greens combine social obligation and mutual care with physical activity. Buddhist concepts of moderation and mindful movement can be used to frame sport as a holistic practice that supports body and mind, avoiding the “win-at-all-costs” frame that can encourage overtraining and injury. Community leaders and respected practitioners can normalise sport for elders, turning participation into a source of social honour rather than novelty. (Evidence of psychosocial drivers of older-adult sport participation summarised in the academic review and press analysis) (British Journal of Sports Medicine systematic review) (Washington Post guest column)
Potential pitfalls deserve attention. Not all sports are equally safe for every individual, and the same sport can pose different risks depending on prior injuries, chronic disease and conditioning. Places with limited access to medical screening, physiotherapy or trained coaching may see higher injury rates. Policymakers should therefore prioritise training local coaches in older-adult conditioning, invest in basic screening tools at community health centres, and promote recovery-oriented practices such as sleep, nutrition and progressive strength training to protect joints and bone health. The evidence shows the benefits outweigh the risks for most older adults, but the margin of safety widens considerably with simple system-level supports. (SAFE screening evidence and recommendations)
Looking ahead, the momentum for older-adult sport appears likely to grow as populations age and as health systems emphasise prevention. In Thailand, integrating sport into primary care pathways, offering subsidised access to age-friendly facilities, and encouraging public–private partnerships for senior sports festivals could produce measurable reductions in disability-adjusted life years and improve quality of life for millions of families who depend on older adults for childcare, informal work and social cohesion. Research priorities should include local trials of sport-based interventions that measure falls, frailty, caregiving burden and healthcare utilisation to guide investment decisions. Early adopters — municipalities that pilot organised senior-sport programmes linked with screening and coaching — can produce the local data needed to scale effectively. (Model and evidence references: NSGA and systematic reviews) (National Senior Games SAFE overview) (British Journal of Sports Medicine systematic review)
For individual Thai older adults and families the practical takeaways are straightforward. Before beginning, visit a healthcare provider for a quick check-up, choose sports that match current fitness and joint health, start with beginner-friendly classes or coached sessions, prioritise gradual progression and rest, and engage family or community members to turn sport into a regular social habit rather than a lone chore. Local health volunteers, municipal sports officers and temple committees can help identify suitable programmes and facilities. For health professionals and local governments, adapting screening tools like SAFE to Thai language and clinical pathways and investing in coach education for older adults would be high-impact early moves. (Guidance synthesised from expert recommendations and SAFE screening tool descriptions) (Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam outcomes study) (Promoting the Wellness of Older Adults: policy perspective)
In short, the latest research and participation trends make a clear case: sport in later life is not a fad but a practical strategy for healthier, longer and more socially connected lives. For Thailand, where families and communities remain the backbone of care for older persons, making sport safe, accessible and culturally resonant could be one of the smartest investments in public health for the coming decades. (Summary of research, participation data and policy implications) (British Journal of Sports Medicine systematic review) (Washington Post guest column summarising experts and trends)