Remarks at the HSE Community Games National Finals
Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone, 25th May 2012
A Dhaoine Uaisle, agus a bhuachaillí agus a chailíní,
I am very pleased to be here this evening with you all as guest of honour at the HSE Community Games National Finals. Tá an-áthas orm freisin an deis a bheith agam cuairt a thabhairt ar Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Luain. In that this is the fourth time that the National Finals have been hosted here at Athlone is testimony to the state-of-the-art sports facilities here.
It is such a good news story that close to 8,000 children will participate over three weekends in these Community Games National Finals. It is also part of an even better news story in that we know that the Games provide sporting and cultural activities for up to 200,000 young people aged between 6 and 16, in more than six hundred and fifty areas (667). Sport and cultural engagement are hugely important – I would say critically important - factors in the development of our young people and now in their 45th year Community Games have provided endless opportunities for countless numbers of our young people in an environment that is also filled with excitement and fun. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. Psychologists tell us that providing young people with challenges in circumstances where they also have an encouraging adult influence play such a big part in helping our youth to grow and develop and reach their potential. The community games have certainly played their part through the past almost five decades and which I commend everyone associated with the games for.
When Joseph Connolly formed the idea of establishing the Community Games in 1967, he showed great vision and determination. For him, the Games were a way of involving children in activities that would benefit their health and well-being and would also be a way of keeping some who were perhaps likely to get into trouble, occupied. Since those early days and humble beginning, the movement has developed into one of the topmost sporting initiatives in Ireland with children participating in every parish, village and town the length and breadth of the country.
Competitive activities make us want to achieve the most we can on a personal level and also for our team-mates, families and communities. And doesn’t sport do a wonderful job of bringing people together in the pursuit of a shared passion and provide us with a strong sense of personal achievement when we meet with success? It also teaches us valuable lessons about how to handle disappointment at not performing as we expect we might, not bringing home that coveted trophy. These experiences, the cut and thrust of competition, the successes and disappointments are very important in the development of our young people – they help to build confidence, determination, to learn and practice values of self-discipline, tolerance and team spirit.
One of the strengths of the Community Games is that they allow young people the scope to develop a range of sporting skills before deciding on the activities most suitable and attractive to them. Many of the top names in Irish sport over the past four decades owe their introduction to sport to the Community Games. You are following in a long line of illustrious predecessors who have gone on to become great Irish sportspeople. I think of people like Sonia O’Sullivan, Niall Quinn and Tommy Bowe to name just a few. Here at these finals, we may well be watching Ireland’s future champions.
Whether national recognition is achieved or not participation in these Games guides our youth towards a healthy approach to competitiveness and the promotion of the concept of fair play, of respect and tolerance. These are attributes necessary for so many other relationships in life, whether in the classroom, in college, in the workplace, in public service, in business. Strong ethical values serve us well in life. We are only too well aware in this country of the failures when those ethical values are not at the centre of decision making. Today we should redouble our efforts to involve our young people in sport and to impart the learning that honest effort has its own reward in sport, as in life.
We are a nation of sport lovers in Ireland and are well aware that as a nation it has a significant and enriching impact on culture and identity. Success of our sportsmen and women puts a smile on our faces and has lifted, on more than a few occasions, the morale of the nation. We look forward to some more of that hopefully scenes in the months ahead at Euro 2012 and in London at the Olympics and Paralympics.
To the volunteers who year in and year out give of their time and energy and expertise to make these Community Games the success they have become over the past decades and continue today, I say thank you and well done for all that you do, often far away from the limelight or any attention. Without you many sporting events would simply not be possible.
Ní mór do Fheidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte bheith bródúil as an urraíocht a chuir sí ar fáil do na Cluichí Pobal le blianta beaga anuas. Is fiú go mór an infheistiú sin i dtodhchaí ár bpáistí. Tá a fhios agam gur bhain Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte agus na Cluichí Pobal taitneamh agus tairbhe as an bpáirtíocht seo mar chuir sé go mór le clú agus cáil na gCluichí agus díríodh isteach ar cheisteanna sláinte tábhachtacha mar murtall, cothú agus gníomhaíocht choirp.
[The Health Service Executive can be justly proud of their title sponsorship of the Community Games for the last few years. It is a very worthwhile investment in all our children's future. I know this partnership has been beneficial to both the HSE and the Community Games as it has enhanced the reputation of the Games and highlighted important health promotion issues such as obesity, nutrition and physical activity.]
The theme for the partnership between the HSE and the Community Games is ‘Active Healthy Lives’, which reflects the shared goals of both organisations. The National Physical Activity Guidelines (developed by the Department of Health and Children and the HSE in June 2009), emphasise the importance of physical activity to overall health and well-being. They include recommendations for all age groups and levels of ability. The basic message is an important and simple one - that ‘physical activity is for everyone, and any level of activity is better than none’.
Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt don Roinn Iompair Turasóireachta agus Spóirt mar aon le Comhairle Spóirt na hÉireann as an tacaíocht a chuireann siad ar fáil do na Cluichí Pobal.
[I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport through the Irish Sports Council for all the support they give to the Community Games.]
And for all the participants, this weekend is about doing your best, while also making new friends and enjoying yourself. Reaching the National Finals is a wonderful achievement, you have already come through your local and county competitions. You should all be very proud of yourselves and I wish you the best of luck whatever activity you are taking part in, whether it is sport, art, singing, dancing or drama.
Finally, I would like to congratulate John Byrne on his recent appointment as the new CEO of the HSE Community Games. I would also like to thank the President, Gerard Davenport and the Board of Directors of the HSE Community Games for their kind invitation to be here this evening and also to thank you for the excellent work that you have done for our young people over the years. I wish the Community Games Organisation every continued success for the future.
Go raibh maith agaibh.