Excitement builds as AIT prepares to host Community Games finals

Community Games fever is set to grip Athlone over the next few weeks as AIT prepares to host the National Finals for the very first time on May 22-24 next. Westmeath star footballer Dessie Dolan was on hand along with mascot Oltan the Owl and local children to officially launch the HSE Community Games National Finals at its new host venue in Athlone Institute of Technology yesterday (Tuesday). AIT takes over from the longstanding headquarters of many years in Mosney in Co Meath. Over 8,000 children will participate in various activities over the three weekends of competition in sports and cultural activities as diverse as running, gymnastics, football to model-making and painting. Speaking at the official press launch on Tuesday last, President of HSE Community Games, Miceal Curley commented that 2009 is especially significant as the organisation move to their new venue, adding that the first class facilities available at AIT will bring Community Games in to a new era. 'HSE Community Games is about providing children and young people with an enjoyable introduction to participation in sporting and cultural activities which we hope will remain with them as healthy habits throughout our lives,' he said. Paying tribute to institute staff for their cooperation and help throughout the process, Mr Curley said achieving the vision of healthy mind in a healthy body was central to the decision to move to Athlone IT as the new host venue for the large scale event. He also thanked the HSE for their sponsorship of the event and acknowledged the huge part played by the hundreds of volunteers who have given their time to 'ensure the smooth transition to the new venue for National Final weekends this year and hopefully for years to come'. Maria Lordan Dunphy, Health Promotion Development Manager HSE commented that working with community organisations like HSE Community Games supports the work of and broadens the reach of the Health Service Executive in terms of keeping the population healthy. 'At this time, the HSE Community Games is more important than ever as it provides opportunities for young people and their families to participate and be involved in a wide range of activities without significant expense,' Ms Dunphy said. She explained the event means the HSE can bring health promotion down to grassroots in the hope of promoting healthy young people growing into healthy young adults. 'There is a great air of excitement in Athlone about the move of the National Finals to the Midlands,' said AIT President, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin. 'This has been a genuinely cross-community project, with everyone from the accommodation providers, to retailers, gardai and the many sporting and cultural activities in the town are fully behind the event. We are delighted to team up with the HSE Community Games and provide a unique and exceptional facility here at AIT, which we hope will become synonymous with the National Finals for years to come'. After many months of planning, Mr Ó Catháin said he looks forward to the enormous effort paying dividends over the three weekends of competition for the national finals, an event he pointed out promotes the 'best civic aspect of Irish life' and is guided by the famous seanfhocal "Mol an Oige agus Tiocfaidh sí" or praise the youth and they will come. Thousands of competitors and their families will descend on Athlone over three Summer weekends on May 22-24, August 14-16 and August 21-23 next. More than half a million children aged between six and 16 take part in Community Games around Ireland every year, and the emphasis is on participation rather than competition.