Minister Michael Ahern, presents Annual Community Games Area Awards

At the Silver Springs Hotel, Cork

Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern, TD, today (Saturday 19^th November) made presentations at the Annual Community Games Area Awards in the Silver Springs Hotel, Cork. The Area awards is an evening of celebration to acknowledge the importance and value of the 20,000 volunteers who work with the Community Games movement across the country

“I am delighted to be present with you here this evening for the Annual National Community Games Awards. At this evening's Award Ceremony, thousands of Community Games volunteers from all over Ireland will be rewarded for their hard work”.

The National Community Games is an independent voluntary organisation operating in local communities throughout the entire Island of Ireland. Over 50,000 children between the ages of 6-16 years participate in over 35 cultural and sports activities. The National Community Games involves over 20,000 volunteers. These volunteers work tirelessly all year round organising events, coaching, inspiring, refereeing, driving and supporting local teams. They form the backbone of the Community Games, spanning 800 areas across Ireland.

Minister Ahern went on, “The Area Awards acknowledge the importance and value of volunteers in the Community Games. These Awards not only reward the volunteer's contribution, but also encourage people to stay involved. I am delighted to see the Community Games recognizing, in such a positive way, the valuable contribution that their volunteers are making to sport in Ireland”.

“Through the medium of the Community Games young people are afforded the opportunity to experience a wide range of sporting and cultural activities in a friendly environment, where participation has primacy. I know that the National Community Games, which this year celebrates its 38th year in existence, has been responsible for introducing thousands of young Irish people to sport.”

He continued, “I can assure you that this Government is fully committed to sport and believes in the contribution it can make to our Society, for individuals and for communities. The last seven years have seen a dramatic increase in Government funding for Irish sport. The provision in the 2005 estimates for the development of new sporting infrastructure, as well as for the support of sporting programmes, is €149m, which includes over €34m for the Irish Sports Council, in comparison to just over €13m a few years ago”.

“The future will be very bright for volunteering in Ireland if all organizations such as the Community Games reward and recognize the great value that volunteers play, in not only sport, but in community development and greater society” the Minister concluded.

ENDS

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