Changes afoot for Athlone-based Community Games National Finals

Radical changes look on the cards for next year's HSE National Community Games activities in Athlone Institute of Technology. The National Finals wil be held over two weekends (rather than the current three weekends) in Athlone Institute of Technology, with activities now due to start on a weekday (Thursday, June 20, 2013). The first weekend will be held from Thursday, June 20 to Monday, June 24, with the opening ceremony on Friday, June 21 at 10am, and competitions running until Sunday evening, June 23. The second weekend will be held from Thursday, August 15 to Monday, August 19, with competitions running from Friday morning to Sunday evening. Westmeath Community Games have lodged their disapproval to the National Committee regarding many of the new changes and dates, and also to the National finals starting on a Thursday in June. For the first time in 40 years, the Westmeath Community Games AGM will not take place on a Sunday, following a proposal passed at last year's AGM. It instead takes place on Thursday, October 25 at 7.30pm in the Community Games Office, Mullingar. A Westmeath Community Games spokesperson said: "It's most important every Area has at least two delegates present at this meeting in order to discuss the implementation of the new programme. A member of the National Board of Directors will be present to answer any questions. With the introduction of the new programme coming in for 2013, it will not be possible to organise and run the new county community games programme without first, electing a County Games Director, and also a County Games Committee. Failure to elect the aforementioned Director and Committee, can only lead to revising our programme and having to drop a number of activities."