GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 20 – February 22, 2015 | Page 8

the makeup of teams has evolving to more of a mix of Irish
and international players from a specific region as well as
out and out all non-Irish teams. The increase of the nonIrish player coupled with the internationalization of GAA
clubs around the world have laid the groundwork for a
more authentic World Cup type event to take place, and
at that take place outside of Ireland, and the games in Abu
Dhabi in early March represent such a move.
This time the new event called the GAA World Games
is firstly more representative of all GAA regions around
the world with 9 different international areas (excluding
Britain & Ireland) such as – Asia, Europe, South Africa,
Canada, North American (NACB), New York, Argentina,
Australasia, and the Middle East. But even more importantly the make- up of teams reflects the evolution of world
GAA clubs as sides representing Argentina, Canada, Middle East, Galicia region and South Africa, are exclusively
non-Irish and taking part in the International World Cup
at the forthcoming GAA World Games.
Helping with travel costs for teams, Etihad Airlines, the
main sponsor of the World Games is bringing one team
from each GAA international region to Abu Dhabi for free.

World Games Logo

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Speaking at the GAA World Games launch last December
outgoing GAA president Liam O’Neill noted the changing
face of the organization worldwide.
“I am delighted that this is happening, this is the start of the
globalization of the games,” he said.
“The growth of organised championship events around the
globe in recent years has been truly staggering and they all occupy their own special place in the GAA calendar,” remarked
the president at the time.
The World Games in Abu Dhabi are focusing on Ladies and
Men’s Gaelic Football for now and feature two specific competitions hosted by the Middle East GAA and sponsored by
Etihad Airlines.
The breakdown is a Tier 1 World Cup competition featuring 8
ladies and 8 men’s teams where Irish diaspora teams will compete and includes any non-Irish players good enough to play
on squads. The criterion for a player in Tier 1 is that one must
be able to prove residency in one’s respective city or county for
12 months. The second competition is a Tier 2 International
World Cup with 4 men’s and 4 ladies non-Irish teams from
South Africa, Canada, Galicia, Middle East, and Argentina.