COMMUNITY GAMES Children help Oltan the Owl Launch the HSE Community Games National Finals 2009

Tuesday 5th May, 2009: Children helped treasured mascot Oltan the Owl launch the HSE Community Games National Finals today, unveiling the state-of-the-art facilities at new host venue, Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT). With over 8,000 children participating in various cultural and sporting activities such as running, gymnastics, cycling, football, model making and painting, the move to the top class venue marks a new era for the HSE Community Games National Finals.

More than 500,000 children aged 6-16 take part in the HSE Community Games each year, and the emphasis is on participation, rather than competition. Friendly rivalry and the encouragement from families, coaches and volunteers can help children get to the ultimate goal of representing their county at the National Finals, and becoming heroes to their peers. Families from all over Ireland will travel to the National Finals, which will be held over three weekends this year; May 22nd-24th; August 14th -16th and August 21st-23rd at new venue, AIT.

"HSE Community Games is about providing children and young people with an enjoyable introduction to participation in sporting and cultural activities which we hope will remain with them as healthy habits throughout their lives." said Miceal Curley, President, HSE Community Games. "Achieving our vision of a 'healthy mind in a healthy body' was central to our decision to move to Athlone IT as the new host venue for our National Finals weekends. Our title sponsor the Health Service Executive, our supporter the Irish Sports Council and our new host AIT all share our vision for the young people of our nation. We were greatly impressed by the first class facilities which will bring the HSE Community Games into a new era and will add to the enjoyment of the events for both participants and spectators. We wish all the children, families and volunteers the best of luck and hope they enjoy the HSE Community Games National Finals", he continued.

Speaking at the launch of the HSE Community Games National Finals was Maria Lordan Dunphy, Health Promotion Development Manager, HSE. "Working with community organisations like the HSE Community Games supports the work of and broadens the reach of the HSE in terms of keeping our population healthy. At this time, the HSE Community Games is more important than ever as it provides opportunities for young people and their families to participate and be involved in a wide range of activities without significant expense. It is also a great way of helping children to stay active and get the exercise they need to lead healthy and enjoyable lives. Parents need to help their children build more activity into their daily lives and the Community Games is a perfect choice."

"There is a great air of excitement in Athlone about the move of the National Finals to the Midlands," said AIT President, Professor Ciarلn س Cathلin. "This has been a genuinely cross-community project, with everyone from the accommodation providers, retailers and gardaي to the sporting and cultural bodies in town fully behind the upcoming events. We are delighted to team up with the HSE Community Games and provide a unique and exceptional facility here at AIT, which we hope will become synonymous with the National Finals for years to come."

Chief Executive of HSE Community Games, Fiachra س Mathْna said "We are all delighted with how the preparation and planning for our first National Finals has gone. Great credit and thanks are due to our title sponsor, the HSE, for their continued support, our host venue AIT, for their commitment to the cause and vision as well as the Irish Sports Council and our other partners and sponsors without which none of this would take place. Most importantly we thank our volunteers and the young people who participate to make the HSE Community Games National Finals the spectacle it is."

The HSE through Community Games provides information to young people and their families taking part in the games on health promotion issues such as nutrition and physical activity. It recommends making healthy lifestyle choices by eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily, choosing wholegrain foods to protect the body from ill health and being physically active for 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week.

Recent research conducted by the HSE and safefood found that parents are making positive changes to their children's lifestyles, so the HSE Community Games is another opportunity to help their families to stay active, while making new friends on both a local and national level. Further information about being active and eating well is available on www.littlesteps.eu.

The HSE Community Games is a voluntary organisation operating through local communities at Area, County, Provincial and National level with over 500,000 participants, 20,000 volunteers and 1.3 million supporters. For more information about HSE Community Games please visit www.communitygames.ie or www.hse.ie.