FAIRBANKS — The Alaska International Senior Games, a 10-day Olympic-style festival of sport and gala games for competitors age 50 and over, are scheduled for Aug. 13-22 throughout the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

This years games also serve as a qualifying event for the 2011 Summer National Senior Games in Houston, Texas.

On-line registration for the games is now taking place at www.alaskaisg.org. The early bird discount deadline is Aug. 1. Several athletes from the Lower 48 have already registered, according to Senior Games organizers.

The Alaska games feature 21 different events with 14 of those — archery, 3 on 3 basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, race walk, racquetball, 5-kilometer running race, swimming, table tens, tennis, track and field and triathlon — serving as national championship qualifiers.

The other seven events are ballroom dancing, bocce, gala games, miniature golf, pistol shooting, rifle shooting and trap shooting.

Each competition is open to anyone age 50 and older as of Dec. 31, 2010.. Medals are awarded in each age group. Age groups are broken down in 5-year increments.

The archery competition is scheduled for Aug. 3-4, but all of the other events will be held from Aug. 13 to Aug. 22.

Opening ceremonies take place on Aug. 13 at the Centennial Center for the Arts at Pioneer Park. The Gala Games are part of the evening’s festivities and all participants are encouraged to participate in three of the nine contests being offered, Senior Games volunteer Maryann Nickles said.

Closing ceremonies, which include dinner and the election of board members, are slated from 6-9 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Centennial Center for the Arts.

For more information call 948-2388 or send e-mail inquiries to alaskaisg@gmail.com.

Banner Health/Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and GCI are this year’s main sponsors.