A team representing GALWAY competed at the 2019
National Go for Life Games held in the DCU on Saturday 8th June. The
competition included twenty-four teams of older people donning their county
colours, participating in a day of fun and sport.
The Go for Life Games brings together almost 300
older people from all over Ireland to compete, to be active and most
importantly to have fun meeting and competing against their peers from every
other county. Now in its eighth year, it has grown to become one of the
biggest social sports events for older people in Ireland.
Go for Life is the National Sport and Physical
Activity Programme for Older People, run by Age & Opportunity and funded by
Sport Ireland. The Go for Life programme and the National Games event
demonstrate that sport is for everyone no matter what age or ability.
With 24 teams from 20 counties competing GALWAY
faced some stiff competition on the day. What began as a small pilot
event with 7 counties taking part in 2012 is now a year round phenomenon, with
groups of older adults training, practising, competing with some coming through
heats in their counties, in order to compete in the finals in DCU.
Sue Guildea, Physical Activity Programme Manager for
Age & Opportunity was delighted with the great atmosphere on the day:
“The National Games are always the highlight of the
Age & Opportunity calendar each year. There is a great buzz around the day
which reflects the build-up in each county with leagues, blitz days and weekly
games happening in local communities, sports hubs, men’s sheds and sports clubs
around the country. The beauty of the Go for Life Games is they have been
adapted from existing sports so that they are open to adults of all abilities.”
The games themselves were devised specifically for
older people which means even if you have never been “sporty” you can be now!
“Scidils” is a two sided adaptation of ten pin
bowling but using two skittles and a smaller lighter ball and “Flisk” is
adapted from boccia and horseshoe pitching. “Málaí” – an adaptation of
the popular cornhole game using beanbags and a wooden box. Some of the
counties have their local mens sheds putting these sets together for
them.
These games, with clear rules and scoring systems,
can be played and practised by everyone, no matter what level of sporting
ability. They are great for improving balance, strength, flexibility and
concentration. The social aspect of the Games also brings people together
with a healthy amount of competition and county rivalry.
All the teams come together from Active Retirement
groups, social clubs, Men’s Sheds, sports clubs, ICA’s, Go for Life groups and
other community groups, are supported year round by their Local Sports
Partnerships.
To find out more about the Go for Life initiative in
your county, contact Age & Opportunity on (01) 805 7738 or visit
ageandopportunity.ie.
