aldi.jpg

All set for Aldi Community Games National Festival

Nine out of 10 adults believe technology and hand-held devices are making children today less active than when they were young, a new survey to mark this weekend's Aldi Community Games August National Festival has revealed. 


The research also found that six out of 10 adults (62%) feel that children's diets are less healthy than 50 years ago, with 73% stating children today are less physically active.  This is despite almost seven out of ten (68%) people believing there is more opportunity for children to get involved in sports in the community today then there was 50 years ago, with the figure increasing to 76% for the over 50s surveyed. 


Commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Community Games this year, the survey examined views on health, exercise and community participation, with an emphasis placed on the opinions of adults aged 50 years and older. Aldi Community Games August National Festival takes place this weekend (August 19th-20th), with some 4,000 children travelling from around Ireland to the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus at Abbotstown in Co Dublin to take part.  The festival brings together the regional champions in friendly competition across a wide range of sporting and cultural activities, individual and team sports such as indoor soccer, handwriting, the long puck and modern dance.

 

Finbar McCarthy, Aldi Ireland's Group Buying Director, said: “This weekend's August National Festivalis the culmination of months of hard work for thousands of youngsters. I would like to wish everyone taking part good luck, and to thank all the volunteers whose time and dedication make Aldi Community Games such a success.â€

 

Over the past 50 years more than five million Irish children have participated in Aldi Community Games, with the research finding that half (51%) of all adults in Ireland today have taken part.  Two out of three of those who participated (65%) said the experience encouraged them to get their children or grandchildren involved in community activities.

 

Aldi Ireland launched a new three-year partnership with Community Games this year, that has seen Aldi provide a significant six-figure investment to become its title sponsor.