Community Games dampens down speculation over Athlone return

The community games has dampened down speculation that Athlone will again host its national finals in future years.

The annual event is being staged at Dublin's National Sports Campus this year, having taken place at Athlone IT for several years previously.

In a statement issued today, the community games said its finals would again be held in Dublin in 2018, and that there would be a tendering process inviting venues to bid to host the finals from 2019 to 2021.

'Over the past week there has been some comment and speculation in the media in relation to the return of the Aldi Community Games National Festival to Athlone IT in 2018,' said the statement.

'In the interests of absolute clarity Aldi Community Games wishes to outline the position with regard to the future hosting of our National Festival.

'Since the decision to relocate to the National Sports Campus was taken, there have been several expressions of interest to host the Aldi Community Games National Festival received from facilities throughout the Country.

'Consequently the Board of Aldi Community Games decided to initiate a tender process for the hosting of the National Festival with all interested parties and other facilities that the Board deem suitable.

'The Tender Document is currently in the final stages of drafting and will be issued in mid-March at the latest.

'Completed bids will then be assessed by a sub-committee of the Board, to be established for this specific purpose, who will make a formal recommendation to the Board as to the most suitable and advantageous location to host future National Festivals.

'As this process will inevitably take some time and in the interest of certainty it was considered prudent to again stage the 2018 Aldi Community Games National Festival at the National Sports Campus.

'The bids for the future hosting of the Festival will therefore cover the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 with a review to be undertaken mid-way through that period to assess the success and suitability of the winning venue.'

The statement ended by saying that the community games 'at all times strives to provide the best experience and  facilities for all our participants and volunteers and it is this ambition that will be to the forefront in the assessment of all the venue bids to host our National Festival.'