May 21, 2014
Irish Hockey officially launched Quick Hockey, a new and exciting variation of hockey for everyone, at a demonstration of the game at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown on Wednesday, 21st May. The new game was explained and showcased at the launch in front of the Irish Sports Council, international players, IHA board members and media. The development of Quick Hockey is being made possible through the support of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.
Irish Hockey designed Quick Hockey after a participation survey revealed a gap in the hockey market for a more casual, fun, flexible variation of the game of hockey. From the survey 70% of hockey players indicated they would continue to play ‘informal’ hockey once they had retired from competitive hockey if it was available. The results also showed that one of the top reasons players cease playing hockey is trying to balance family, work and social life and the inability to commit to a club. Irish Hockey believes that Quick Hockey is the perfect game to fill this gap.
Irish Hockey was one of eleven organisations to benefit from €125,000 distributed through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund last year. It received a grant of €10,000 towards the project. The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund is open for applications once again this year and is seeking to support voluntary and non-profit organisations which want to kick-start new programmes encouraging people to become more active. Details can be found at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou and applications are being accepted online until the 16th of June 2014.
Commenting at the launch CEO Mike Heskin said “Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the support and funding received from the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund which is a fantastic initiative helping communities to get and stay active.”
He went on to explain the need for Quick Hockey “We first identified the need for a variation of our traditional eleven aside game of hockey when we conducted our participation survey. The results highlighted the necessity to offer a less formal option of the game that can be played on any surface in a 5-aside format. As a governing body we are always looking to progress our sport in line with our strategic plan, including increasing the numbers playing the sport and retaining those who currently play, the development of Quick Hockey is a game that will help us achieve these two goals.”
Erica Roseingrave, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland, said: “The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund makes awards to voluntary and non-profit organisations promoting active lifestyles in communities all over Ireland. Through the Fund we seek to support innovative ideas which will encourage those who don’t participate in physical activity to introduce it into their lives. Quick Hockey captured the judges imagination and we’re looking forward to seeing the programme rolled out across the country.”
Irish Goalkeeper Pamela Smithwick stepped out from the nets to trial Quick Hockey and spoke to us about the experience “I really enjoyed it. I was on a team with people I had never met so it’s a good way to meet new people.”
When asked if she found it difficult transitioning from a keeper to an outfield player for Quick Hockey she said “I didn’t feel disadvantaged playing Quick Hockey by virtue of the fact that I am a goalkeeper and this was due to the easy format and less technical skills required to play Quick Hockey. The bigger ball is more forgiving and the no hitting also makes it less intimidating when playing.”
Pamela felt it was a game that could have mass appeal “Quick Hockey will appeal to those that can’t commit to club training every week, also I think it will be great for schools and areas where there aren’t hockey facilities available. It was really good fun and great for fitness.”
Irish Hockey have laid out a five year plan to roll Quick Hockey out which will bring the game to new players who do not have the facilities to run the traditional 11 sided hockey format while also giving Irish Hockey the chance to bring hockey to new schools and communities.
The major difference between the traditional 11 a-side game and this format is this game is played with a bigger and lighter ball with simplified rules. This format is also played with smaller teams which can be mixed or single gender and it can be played on any surface. But beyond that it is fun, fast-paced so excellent for fitness and health, easy to play, can be played at any age and it is also perfect for beginners.
Irish Hockey has already trialled Quick Hockey with both Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club and at the National Hockey Stadium with their target audiences with great success.
Quick-Facts
- Teams are 5-a-side but can be flexible
- Play anywhere – indoor or outdoor on pitches of any size
- Mixed or men/women only
- Simple rules with a larger ball
- Perfect for all levels including beginners
For more information on Quick Hockey, go to www.hockey.ie/quickhockey. More details about The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund are available at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.
May 16, 2014
A major tourism summit has been told that Ireland could see its revenue from sport tourism double from €300m to €600m in the space of just five years.
The European Sport summit, the first of its kind to be held in Ireland, took place in one of Irish sports most iconic venues – Thomond Park. The organisers of the one day event called for the setting up of a ‘national bid unit’ and were clear on the benefits it would bring. Former Munster, Ireland and Lions great Keith Wood believes such a unit would be crucial for the development of the sector.
“We’ve looked at best practice elsewhere, especially in relation to Canada and Denmark, and how they’ve delivered on their aspirations was through a bid company”, he said.
Estimated to be worth in the region of €450bn globally, sport tourism is the fastest growing in the sector. The summit was attended by delegates from here and abroad and was addressed by high profile experts. Amongst these was CEO of New Zealand Rugby World Cup Martin Sneddon; Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark; Rick Traer, CEO of Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance as well as Keith Woods former Lions teammate and Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaligo.
Keith McCormack, head of Failte Ireland’s major events claimed that 10% of European holiday makers chose their destination based on the list of activities that would be available there. Furthermore, he believes that this number will increase to 15% in 2014. Speaking about the potential that Ireland has, McCormack noted that “the key thing for Ireland is we’re very well positioned and we have the natural backdrop for people to enjoy activity-based holidays”.
Importantly, he shared the views put forward by Keith Wood and agreed that it was key for the development of the sector here in Ireland to have a dedicated sports event unit.
“We need to collaborate with all the stake holders in Ireland for them to identify these events and we’re also hoping to work with an international research centre that would help us identify international events”.
Also speaking on the day, was vice president of Tough Mudder, Sarah Harvey. Tough Mudder is the largest adventure race brand in the world and is holding their first event in Ireland on October 4/5, which is expected to attract almost 10,000 participants – of which 1,000 will be from abroad. Harvey believes Ireland is an excellent location for mass participation events.
Keith Wood hoped the summit had begun to turn the wheels of interest in the benefits of such a national bid unit.
“There’s a simple statistic behind it. Sports tourists spend twice as much as anyone else and it is growing worldwide and we want a piece of that action”, he said.
May 14, 2014
The Federation of Irish Sport is delighted to see the further development of the National Sports Campus with the allocation of €5 million to Special Olympics Ireland for the building of a brand new HQ at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin.
CEO of the organisation, Matt English was quick to pay tribute to both the athletes and the volunteers saying “that the headquarters of their organisation can take its rightful place alongside the other national governing bodies of sport on the island whose headquarters are located on the National Sports Campus”.
The announcement comes as the Taoiseach Enda Kenny today launched the ‘Construction Strategy’ – the programme from which the €5 million investment is stemming from. Minister Kenny stated that the injection of money was to “consolidate their Dublin, Leinster and Eastern Region offices into a single new HQ office”. As a result, Special Olympics have said the new office will result in “significant savings for the programme”.
May 12, 2014
Ministers Reilly and Varadkar welcome launch of Active School Week 2014
12.5.2014
Part of an intersectoral approach under Healthy Ireland
The Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly TD, and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, today (Monday 12 May 2014) welcomed the launch of Active School Week 2014.
Minister Reilly said, “Active School Week is an ideal opportunity for schools, children, parents, and the wider community to work together to commit to becoming more physically active. Under Healthy Ireland we want the healthier choice to be the easier choice. We want to create an environment where everyone can take responsibility and play their part in improving the health and wellbeing of themselves, their families and their communities.
Minister Reilly said, “My Department is developing a National Physical Activity Plan with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport under the Healthy Ireland framework and with input from other key Departments and stakeholders, . It will promote and encourage greater levels of participation in physical activity by everybody living in Ireland. The aim is to create a shared understanding that more can be done together to address the high rates of physical inactivity in Ireland and the health, economic and social costs related to it.”
Minister Varadkar said: “I am really keen to promote more sport in schools. If we can get children active from an early age, they are more likely to live healthy and happy lives, and society as a whole will benefit. My Department is developing a Sport Policy which is designed to get all Government Departments working together on sport, and we are co-chairing the development of a National Physical Activity Plan with the Department of Health.”
The Ministers encouraged schoolchildren, their parents and communities to recognise the physical and social benefits of being more physically active.
Minister Reilly said, “We are designed to move and to be active and this is critical to our body’s maintenance and wellbeing. Physical activity is an essential ingredient for a healthier country and can deliver so many other benefits for individuals and the wider community. Being physically active is very important in preventing many chronic diseases and also has wider benefits for individual wellbeing”.
The Ministers praised the Active School Week and the Active School Flag initiatives – which are being undertaken by the Department of Education and Skills – for encouraging participation in all types of physical activity. “Active School Week promotes physical activity in schools and communities and fits in with this intersectoral approach”, said Minister Reilly. They expressed the wish that all of the participants would enjoy whatever activities they became involved in and urged even greater levels of participation in the future.
The Active Schools Week and Active Schools Flag initiative is funded by the Teacher Education Section of the Department of Education and Skills and based in Mayo Education Centre. For more details, see here
May 9, 2014
IT’S TIME TO GET MOVING!
APPLY NOW FOR A GRANT FROM THE COCA-COLA THANK YOU FUND
€125,000 IN FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
MINISTER LEO VARADKAR AND ATHLETE DERVAL O’ROURKE LAUNCH FUND
#MOVEMENTISHAPPINESS
Voluntary and non-profit organisations which want to kick-start new programmes encouraging people to become more active could win €25,000 to get them up and running, it was announced today.
Five grants totalling €125,000 are up for grabs for new sport and physical activity initiatives under the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund(the Fund), which was launched today by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD and Irish athlete Derval O’Rourke. Derval is this year’s ambassador for the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.
Applications for the Fund are being accepted online from Wednesday 7th May until 6pm on the 16th of June at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.
“This is a great initiative which aims to get people moving and help non-profit groups to stage physical activities. I got first-hand experience of this scheme by taking part in the Swim for a Mile challenge. Swim Ireland trained more than 1,000 people to swim for a mile and then hosted a series of nationwide events for them to put their training into practice. This year, five organisations will each receive €25,000 for their projects, and I encourage other groups to think about how they can promote active living through this fund,” said Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Fund ambassador Derval O’Rourke urged her followers on Twitter to start thinking of bright ideas that could use funding. She wrote: “Because #MovementIsHappiness we’re looking for inspiring projects that will get people moving! Enter at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.”
The Fund’s judging panel will include Lorraine Ho, Managing Director of Bootcamp Ireland, Tina Murphy, founder of Run with Tina, Denis Toomey, President, Cycling Ireland and Deirdre Garvey, CEO at The Wheel. Representatives from both of the Fund’s partner organisations Federation of Irish Sport, and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, will also join the panel along with Erica Roseingrave of Coca-Cola Hellenic Ireland.
“We are delighted to announce the availability of €125,000 in funding for 2014, and welcome voluntary and non-profit organisations to apply online at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou. The Fund is looking for creative and engaging approaches to getting people moving through sport and activity based programmes. We want to capture the imagination of those who may not incorporate a great deal of physical exercise into their routines at the moment by providing them with new ways of getting active. Now is the time to start thinking about what your organisation could do with our support to mobilise the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland towards greater levels of movement. In addition to submitting an entry via our website, we invite you to join the conversation on Twitter at #MovementIsHappiness,” said Ailish Forde, Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland.
The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund was launched in 2011 and has so far distributed €375,000 in grants. This year’s funding total of €125,000 will bring the amount donated through the Fund to half a million Euro. More information about the Fund is available at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou. Entries will be accepted online from today until 16th June 2014.
May 8, 2014
If participating in this years Women’s Mini Marathon then you could look to get a good idea of your preparation by taking part in South Dublin County Sports Partnership’s Ramble Aid event on Sunday, May 25th at 11am in Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan. The course is a flat 7.5km loop of the park on tarmac surface so will offer either a fast time if sought or a comfortable walk that will get you ready for the 10km mini marathon distance. The cost of entry is just €7.50 (+ 52c online registration fee) with proceeds going to the Carers Association, the national voluntary association for carers in the home. Timing and refreshments provided. To register see www.facebook.com/rambleaid and for more details contact the Sports Partnership office on info@sdcsp.ie or call/text 086 0441071.
The final event in the Ramble Aid charity series is a 10km run/walk (€10 registration) on Sunday, June 29th at 11am in Corkagh Park, Clondalkin.
Rambleaid Flyer
Irish Hockey officially launched Quick Hockey, a new and exciting variation of hockey for everyone, at a demonstration of the game at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown on Wednesday, 21st May. The new game was explained and showcased at the launch in front of the Irish Sports Council, international players, IHA board members and media. The development of Quick Hockey is being made possible through the support of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.
