Remarks by President McAleese at the Closing Ceremony of the 1999 Community Games National Finals
Remarks by President McAleese at the Closing Ceremony of the 1999 Community Games National Finals in the Mosney Holiday Centre
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls.
Tá an-athás orm bheith anseo i bhur measc inniú. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht bhur bhfáilte chaoin.
I am delighted to be here today at Mosney for the Closing Ceremony of the 1999 National Community Games and I wish to thank Community Games President George O’Toole for inviting me to be with you. I believe that Mosney has been a hive of activity over this, and last weekend with over 6,000 young people competing. Congratulations to all the medal winners and indeed all the competitors for your wonderful achievement in reaching the final stage of the Community Games.
We recognise that sport is perhaps one of the most important elements in the physical and mental development of young people. In addition to the physical benefits the keen competitive atmosphere and team spirit which is generated has a far reaching and very positive impact on our youth and will serve them well in later years. Whether or not you competitors progress to higher things in sport or take up other callings, the experience gained will prove to be a tremendous advantage to you in life.
It is wonderful to see so many young people eager to participate in Community Games and it must give you encouragement seeing former participants go on to achieve international recognition in their choice of sports. People like soccer players Denis Irwin, Roy Keane, Stephen Staunton and Niall Quinn, (and didn't we do well on Wednesday night against Yugoslavia) people like our great athletes Sonia O’Sullivan, Susan Smith, Caitronia McKernan, John Tracey, Emily Maher and Eamonn Coughlin. They were all past participants in Community Games as were Maeve McGrath from Fair City and Sinéad O’Carroll from the group 'Bewitched'.
We recognise how important the Community Games have become to our young people and to sport in general in Ireland over the past 30 years. In 1963, 300 children from 24 areas in Dublin took part in what came to be known as the Dublin Community Games. The Games were an immediate success and were held again in 1969 and 1970 expanding and involving more and more children each year.
The spectacular success of the Dublin Games in those early years prompted other counties to organise their own games and in 1971 the First National Games were held. This year, a staggering half million children participated in Community Games with over 20,000 volunteers helping those young people and organising area, county and provincial finals to ensure that children in their locality had a place in Mosney.
I would like to place on record today my appreciation of, and gratitude for the wonderful work of all the volunteers associated with the Games. It is vital that their dedication is never forgotten and that their contribution is encouraged sustained and not undervalued. It is those volunteers who have worked so hard to nurture the belief in children that they have the potential to develop their talents and abilities. The Community Games introduce young people to the activities of their choice, encouraging the pursuit of healthy interest in them and I am glad to see that the emphasis when competing is placed on participation rather than on winning at all costs.
I would like to finish by congratulating all the participants and organisers involved in this great enterprise of Community Sport and I wish you every continued success in the future.
I would now like to officially declare the 1999 National Community Games closed.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.