National Senior Games officials have selected Birmingham as the site of the competitions in 2017. The games attract thousands of athletes and spectators to what is billed as the largest sporting event for people over 50.

The event includes 19 men’s and women’s sports including swimming, archery and cycling. The Alabama Sports Foundation and the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau made the bid in July to the association’s board of directors. “With our selection of first-class facilities and with our community partners, we plan to make the 2017 National Senior Games a memorable and completely successful event,” CVB president Jim Smither said.