Aldi Community Games to welcome 7,000 children to National Festivals in 51st year

Today (22nd May) marks the official countdown to the 2018 Aldi Community Games National Festivals. Launched earlier this year by former Ireland, British & Irish Lions and Munster captain Paul O’Connell and Olympic Bronze Medallist Rob Heffernan, the festivals will take place over two weekends: 25th – 27th May and again from 17th – 19th August at the University of Limerick - the new home for the Aldi Community Games Festivals 2018 to 2020.

 

This year marks the second of a three-year sponsorship by Aldi Ireland to invest in and support the event for future generations.  Aldi Community Games aims to encourage and introduce young people to a love of sport and culture, focusing on participation rather than winning.

 

More than 160,000 children across 575 communities are taking part or have already taken part in over 200 scheduled regional events supported by 20,000 volunteers and will bring together the regional champions in friendly competition across a wide range of sporting and cultural activities, individual and team sports. 

 

Helping the children will be some 300 volunteers each day overseeing activities including swimming, rugby, badminton, Gaelic football, hurling, skittles, debating, draughts, cross country, gymnastics and more. 

 

Over the past 51 years more than 5 million children have participated in Community Games, including many of Ireland’s celebrities, sporting heroes and world-famous actors. Some of the names in the history books include Paul O’Connell, Saoirse Ronan, Olive Loughnane, Bressie, Niall Quinn and Sonia O’Sullivan. 

 

Speaking at the launch of the Aldi Community Games National Festivals, Finbar McCarthy, Group Buying Director, Aldi Ireland, said: “There has been a strong tradition of young people from across Irish towns and villages taking part in Community Games. Aldi is proud to be supporting the Community Games and we are excited to work with the organisers to ensure more children and communities have the means, the opportunity and the encouragement to participate.”

 

“At Aldi our competitive nature ensures that we will never be beaten on price.  We have also made an equally strong commitment to promoting active, healthy lifestyles for Ireland’s next generation, and teaming up with Community Games is built on that vision. The first year of our partnership with Community Games was a huge success and I have no doubt 2018 will exceed our expectations. I would like to wish all the children and volunteers taking part in the National Festivals the very best of luck.”

 

John Byrne, Community Games CEO commented:  “We are looking forward to a new era for Community Games as we embark on a three-year partnership with University of Limerick to host our National Festivals. With the support of our title sponsor Aldi and our other corporate partners in the promotion of healthy lifestyles we are confident that a bright future lies ahead as we begin our sixth decade as Ireland’s leading sporting and cultural organisation.”

 

“The focus of Community Games has always been geared to providing our young people a pathway to an active lifestyle promoted by a cohort of hardworking and dedicated volunteers. We know Aldi share this vision with us and we look forward to involving more communities and young people in the years ahead.”