On Thursday last the 1st September Galway Sports Partnership launched it’s Fit Towns 2017 initiative in the Clayton hotel. Special guest on the evening, Pat Lam, Connacht Rugby head coach performed the launch. The attendance included public representatives, community group representatives and members of the Sports Partnership Steering Group.
In his address to the attendance Pat Lam made reference to the importance of ‘community doing things for people’. He said that sport plays a huge part in the lives of people in communities throughout Galway and that Fit Towns provides a real opportunity for these communities to build relationships through sport, for the good of all the people.
FIT TOWNS is a competitive process open to all groups/clubs and organisations in Galway who wish to organise and provide a six week programme of sport and / or physical activity for their local communities. It is supported by Sport Ireland and there is a prize fund of €15,000 available for distribution across three categories of entries, a total of €5000 in each category –
- Urban areas and large towns of population over 2000 persons,
- Rural areas and smaller towns/areas of population under 2000,
- An off-shore island category.
The ‘Activity Period’ in 2017 will be from the 13th February to the 27th March 2017 and during that time clubs/groups/individuals and organisations in each category are invited to come together and organise sport and physical activity opportunities for all persons within their communities – from the very young to older adults. All types of sport and physical activities can be considered from archery to zumba and everything in between.
Communities may decide that one or two groups/clubs take a lead on the organisation of the activities or they may decide to set up a specific ‘Fit Towns’ committee to run the events. Once they have organised the events they are invited to apply to Galway Sports Partnership to partake in the competition. Closing date for receipt of applications is the 3rd February 2017.
Galway Sports Partnership will run information workshops in the following locations throughout Galway on the date and at the times as follows –
Monday 5th December 2016 Clifden Town Hall
Tuesday 6th December 2016 Oughterard, the Boat Inn
De Ceadaoin 7ú mína Nollaig 2016 An Crompán, An Ceathrú Rua
Wednesday 7th December 2016 Clybaun Hotel (7pm).
Thursday 8th December 2016 Gort Community Centre
Wednesday 14th December 2016 Árd Rí hotel, Tuam
Monday 12th December 2016 Menlo Park hotel, Galway (7pm)
Wednesday 14th December 2016 Lough Rea hotel & Spa
All workshops are at 7.30pm except where stated above.
Full details on the FIT TOWNS initiative including information packs and application forms are available from Galway Sports Partnership on 091 509572 or by email to galwayactive@galwaycoco,ie.