GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 16 - December 19, 2014 | Page 7

BY DENIS O’BRIEN

One Week ago, December 12th,
the Gaelic Athletic Association at
their headquarters in Croke Park
Stadium, Dublin, announced their
arrival on the global scene when
stating details of the first ever
‘GAA World Games’ to be held
in the United Arab Emirates next
March.
The ‘GAA World Games 2015’
will take place from March 5-7
in the city of Abu Dhabi with the
Ladies Gaelic football at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Photo: Abu Dhabi na Fianna)
sports of men’s and ladies Gaelic
football featuring with participating teams from international GAA units from around the
“The growth of organised championship events
world, excluding Ireland and the UK. The Games will get
around the globe in recent years has been truly stagunderway with cultural events on Friday, March 5th folgering and they all occupy their own special place in
lowed by two days of competition.
the GAA calendar,” noted the president. He went on
to say that the games will leave a lasting legacy globThe event marks the first time that such a world cup type
ally.
gathering of representative teams is being organized by the
GAA and is being led by host unit Middle East GAA in part“I believe that in years to come we will look back on
this event as being of huge importance in helping to
nership with main sponsors, Etihad Airways. That these
connect our international units in a way that will begames are taking place outside Ireland is a testament to the
come the norm into the future.”
growth of Gaelic Sports on a global setting and the arrival of
the GAA as a truly world sporting body.
THE GAMES
Speaking at the GAA World Games 2015 launch, GAA
President Liam O’Neill said he was happy that such an event
is taking place and that it marks a watershed moment for
Gaelic Games on the world sporting horizon.
“I am delighted that this is happening, this is the start of the
globalization of the games.”

There will be 24 men’s and ladies teams from all
corners of the world descending on the Zayed Sports
Complex in Abu Dhabi on the March weekend. Representative teams from Argentina, Asia, Australasia,
Canada, New York, North America, Europe, South
Africa and from host’s the Middle East, will compete
in the inaugural competition.

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