Press Information Pack

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26-28 September 2003 ,Hong Kong

• Press Information Pack

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Introduction
To Whom It May Concern This year, Hong Kong will
host the Asian Gaelic Football 7s (the Games)
between 26 28 September, at Aberdeen
Stadium. The Games are being organised by the
Hong Kong Gaelic Athletic Association (HKGAA)
a group of about 120 members, who play gaelic
football regularly in Hong Kong. At least 11
Countries will compete and over 300 players, male
and female are expected to participate. Many
of the participants are Irish expatriates or
expatriates with an Irish background and based in
Asia, however there are an increasing number of
other nationalities playing the game in Asia,
including Koreans and Japanese. In fact, the
mother of one of the most famous gaelic
footballers in Ireland, Jason Sherlock, is from
Hong Kong.
The 2003 Games have been actively promoted
throughout Asia since March of this year and we
are working closely with the Irish Government
through Enterprise Ireland, Hong Kong Tourist
Board and InvestHK to promote them further. We
are delighted and grateful for the generous
support and sponsorship provided by Enterprise
Ireland and InvestHK. We are hopeful that the
Games will be attended by thousands of supporters
from Hong Kong, Asia and Ireland and that they
will will attract immense media exposure in Hong
Kong, Asia, Ireland and beyond. I have set out
in this presentation further details on the
Games, their history, the tournament this year
and its highlights. Yours in sport Fergal
Power Chairman, HKGAA
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The History

• Inaugural tournament held in Manila in 1996.
• 7-a-side tournament. Men and ladies compete
  separately.
• Korea and Japan are the reigning champions of the
  mens and ladies titles respectively.
• The President of Ireland presented winning
  trophies in Phuket last year.
• The 2002 Games received unprecedented media
  coverage in Ireland.
• 2002 website www.asiangaelicgames.com

The President of Ireland, Mary McAlese presents
the cup to Korea, the winning team.
Action shot from the final Korea v- Singapore.
Celebrations on the final night.
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2003 Tournament
Men Korea A (Holders) Korea B Japan A Japan
B Hong Kong A Hong Kong B Singapore A Singapore
B Japan / Sydney Exiles
The Tournament The Tournament itself will be
played on the Saturday and Sunday of the weekend
of 27-28 September. There will be a separate
competitions for the men and ladies. The men
will play for the Derek Brady Cup, a crystal
glass replica of the Sam Maguire and the ladies
will play for the Ladies Cup. The game,
described as a cross between soccer and rugby is
a fast flowing game, full of excitement and point
scoring. The Games areplayed in a 7-a-side
format, with a maximum of 12 per panel with
rolling substitutes. The games are 7 minutes
each way throughout. The Finals will be played on
the Sunday afternoon. This year the games will
be played at the Aberdeen Stadium on the southern
side of Hong Kong island. It is looking like
that we will have the highest number of entrants
ever. So far, based on previous years and on the
indications so far, the following teams will /
might compete-
Taiwan A Taiwan B Shanghai Beijing UAE Saudi
Arabia /Bahrain Macau
Ladies Japan A (Holders) Japan B Hong Kong Hong
Kong B Korea
Singapore A Shanghai UAE Chinese Taipei
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The Highlights
The Craic Aside from the football, one of the
other emphasises of the weekend is to have a
great time, meet old friends, make new friends
and if you are lucky acquire an odd team mascot
here and there. As is tradition, there will be a
series of organised events / functions over the
course of the Games.
Punchline Comedy Club To help promote the Games
in Hong Kong and Asia we are teaming up with the
Punchline Comedy Club Special at the Viceroy on
Thursday 18th September. Wednesday 24th For
those players arriving early, Wednesday evening
is the night for we the Happy Valley races. The
participants will be treated to a night at the
Happy Valley Races.
Thursday Evening Aside from trotting around HK,
the players will be invited to a relaxed evening
at Delaneys only 50 yards from the Games hotel.
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The Highlights
Friday
For golfers, weve arranged a tournament for
Friday mid morning at the Kau Sai Chau south
course.
On the Friday and Monday, we will be arranging
small junk trips for teams to go island hopping
and see the sites of Hong Kong
Friday Evening The Opening Ceremony will be held
at the Viceroy Restaurant offering the
spectacular backdrop of Hong Kong. The draw for
the Games will be held live, therell be the
traditional Dragon Dance and live music.
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The Highlights
Saturday-
The action begins,,,, a fleet of busses will
shuttle players forward and back to the nearby
Aberdeen Stadium (about 10 minutes). The
football will be interrupted briefly by some
hurling, Korea, Japan v- Rest of Asia. Aberdeen
will be set up with food and beverage tents,
bouncy castles for the kids and entertainment.
Saturday Evening
An easy night. More boats.this time a Star
Ferry Partythe ferry has lasted a 100 years .
fun, food, drinks, live bands and djs .. for
just a couple of hours.otherwise a free night
for all participants to enjoy HK.
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The Highlights
Sunday, 28th Finals Day. To break up the day,
were planning to have a Compromise Rules Game -
Asian GAA v- Hong Kong Dragons (Asian Ozzy
Rules Champions), to be played just before the
Ladies Final. The Asian team to be made up of
those players not in the Men's Final. Various
dignitaries from the Hong Kong, China and Irish
political and sporting community will be invited
to attend a brunch (at a venue nearby) before
being brought to watch the final rounds of the
Games. A Irish Government minister has been
invited to attend. To add to the occasion
therell be music from the Police Pipe Band and
more hurling, Dubai v- Rest of Asia. The HK
Special Olympics team is also being invited to
participate in some manner on the day.
Again, Aberdeen Stadium will be set up with food
and beverage tents, bouncy castles for the kids.
Sunday Evening After the finals are finished,
the plan is to wheel out the big stage and have
an almighty party at the stadium. Were still
hoping for the Saw Doctors a famous Irish band
- subject to sponsorship. Afterwards, back at
Delaneys and subject to technical capability.
We are arranging for the All Ireland Football
Final to be shown live. After which therell be
more live music to finish off the weekend.
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Sponsorship / Charity
Charity In addition to its sporting and cultural
significance this weekend also provides an
excellent opportunity to raise money for charity
and give something back to the Asian community.
The games will continue to support the
Human Development Foundation in Bangkok which
co-ordinates 31 kindergarten schools for 4,500
homeless children aged three to six years, and
run by an Irish missionary priest, Father Joe.
Support will also be given to the Hong
Kong Down Syndrome Association, whose Special
Olympic team members were unable to travel to
Dublin due to complications with the SARS
quarantine arrangement agreed with the Irish
Department of Health. The entire Hong Kong
Special Olympics Team will also be invited along
to the Sunday of the Games.
Sponsorship If any business would like to
sponsor the Games in some way, we would be very
happy to provide more details on how they could
help. Any sponsorship that is provided will
assist the Games Organisational Committee in
underwriting the cost of hosting the Games and
each of the peripheral events. Our outlays
include PA systems, medical assistance all
weekend, hotel deposits, insurance, event
deposits, band hire, entertainment, promotion,
web-site hosting, transport for players. The
list goes on.
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Information
Useful Links Contacts www.gaa.ie Fergal
Power 852 93047945 www.irelandhk.com Michael
Garvey 852 98811977 www.asiangaelicgames.com Rona
n Delaney 852 96885384 Ronan Collins 852
92389072 Pat Foy 852 97735342 We are
grateful for the support and assistance already
provided by- Mr Sean Kelly Gaelic Athletic
Association Mr Con Conway Hong Kong National
Olympic Council Mr Michael Garvey Enterprise
Ireland Mr Mike Rowse InvestHK Ms Rita
Au Hong Kong Tourist Board Mr Declan
Martin Dublin Chamber of Commerce