Athlone set for Community Games invasion

Thousands of children along with their family, friends and volunteers will be descending on Athlone over the next two weekends as the 2016 Community Games Festival gets underway from August 12-14 and from August 19-21.

In total over 7,000 talented children have got through to this year’s finals from the four corners of Ireland and will be participating in more than 50 wide-ranging activities: from table tennis to debating, indoor soccer to duathlon, athletics to rugby.

Athlone IT is the main venue for the activities.

Community participation and volunteerism are an essential part of Community Games and these two weekends are the culmination of months of preparation from 570 affiliated areas.

The Community Games is part and parcel of Irish society. Sporting legends such as Niall Quinn, Tommy Bowe and Sonia O’Sullivan are among those who have enjoyed the Community Games experience.