| Asian Gaelic Games 2004 Newsletter - 2nd September 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear All Welcome to the first edition of the Asian Gaelic Games Newsletter, which will appear weekly in the run up to this year's IrishAbroad.com Asian Gaelic Football Sevens. Each edition will include the latest news about the event, its participants, and other news related to gaelic games in Asia and elsewhere. To receive a copy of the newsletter, log onto www.asiangaelicgames.com and subscribe to the newsletter using the link on the front page of the website. This newsletter is for everyone in Asia, so contributions are welcome, especially light hearted articles on the subject of missing toucans, player profiles on players of whatever quality, club boot camps and club ructions...they can all be reported here. This edition includes an introduction to our sponsor, IrishAbroad.com, an update on the games, the nightly events, the GAGA championship, and the adventures of the Toucan over the last couple of years, and lots lots more !!! If you have any articles you want included, just e-mail Myriam at myriam@irishabroad.com. ***Click on links immediately below to gain quick access to the areas you are interested in***
What makes the Asian Games different to anything they produce in the
USA, Australia or Europe, aside from the quality of football which can
speak volumes for itself, the relentless partying of the mentors, players
(non-serious, cough !), visitors and spectators, transcend the Asian Games
to one massive footballing and fun weekend. Over the years, various themed
parties and events have been arranged including a Bond theme night, pool
parties, dancing poodles and sword swallowing transvestites (the things
that happen in Thailand !). Last year, in Hong Kong there was a massive
harbour fireworks display (actually held the week after), a harbour boat
cruise for 300 people and then a party at the stadium. Saturday Well suit yourself,,,,,,, but this year we are actively encouraging to go to Lan Kwai Fong and the night is Saturday night - the venue is the Official Asian Gaelic Games Bar for Saturday night only - An Poc Fada - Located slap bang in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong. We have taken some foreign establishment, changed its name, changed its image and for one night only it will have 400 completely new punters. It's the only place in Lan Kwai Fong that holds these numbers. Kick-off 7.30pm - food will be served, but get there early - if they run out, there's a host of fast food outlets, restaurants around that will serve you up a hearty feast in a hurry. But back to Saturday, it ain't just a normal Saturday, there is a theme and we're letting you in on what it is…..Movie Stars - come dressed as a chipmonk, James Bond, Shrek - whatever you thing resembles your best physical qualities - the party starts at 7.30pm - there's a live dj and you're in Lan Kwai Fong, so you don't have to wait 4 hours for the boat to return to harbour to leave early. More details next week on the fireworks party for Sunday night. "Joe will you ref ?" - Joe, " I have to phone a friend" Whether it is a senior championship match, a juvenile match or the Asian Games, the task of refereeing is a thankless task. Last year, we were fortunate to be given the services of John Bannon, a senior GAA referee from Ireland at the expense of the GAA. John Bannon was ably assisted by the likes of Ronan "Pierluigi Collina" Delaney, Noelie "keep an eye on the Toucan lads" Lennon, Ronan "I haven't a clue how to ref" McGuiness, Seamus "Why isn't Joe Burke helping out"? Hanley, Stevie "6 minutes stoppage time" Keane and a few others who dared volunteer. Regardless of their varied ability - at most times, bordering on excellent, but perhaps that's a little too generous - games could not proceed without their assistance. This year, the GAA has agreed to send two referees, one male and one female, to officiate at the Asian Games. Whilst four legs are better than two, they cannot and will not be expected to referee every game over the weekend. As a result, each club is requested to nominate one referee for every two teams that they enter in the Games and submit these names together with team lists one week before. The referees being sent by the GAA will also be conducting a referees course on the Thursday prior to the Games. A common complaint by many clubs is that there is no one within their club who is fully familiar with the rules and in some cases. If there are any players who intend to arrive on the Thursday before the Games they are invited to attend the course. Alternatively, this course could be conducted on Friday afternoon. Please let us know details of those who would like to attend such a course. With less than six weeks to go, we'll build that arch over Aberdeen Stadium yet. The HK committee has worked tirelessly over the last week, ah no seriously, the last 6 months to make this event better than last year's event. Only the participants can be the judge of that, but at least we've put in place some things that will take a bit of the heart-ache and pain which caused some HK committee members to seek psychiatric help in the weeks after the games. The Games are a hard slog to organise, and once you make that fatal step to organise a better event than before, you start down that road of no return - it's all or nothing. Getting sponsors on board is a chicken and egg situation. To get their support, you need to give them something in return, so you have to make commitments well in advance of having anything. Once they're on board, you have to live up to those promises. Already, the Organising Committee has done some magical work in preparing for this year's games. It looks like that there'll be about 32 teams competing. At one stage, we did think there would be 40 teams, an incredible number, which would have put things at breaking point. 32 teams mean that we require 3 pitches for Saturday morning and afternoon, a logistical nightmare. The venues from last year have been secured again for this year, we're in the process of finalising the third pitch. Golf - Asian GAGA Championship The Annual Asian GAGA Championship will be held on Friday, the eve of the Games. The cost is a mere HK$800 and anyone who partook in last year's event will acknowledge that is great value for money. More details are available from the website, but be quick as entries close this weekend. The format this year will again be the modified Peoira Handicap System. Simply put, your handicap is calculated at the end of your round using the score from six random holes la la la la - then the winner's name is drawn out of the hat with the runners-up prizes chosen in reverse order - great fun Ted. There's also a longest drive and a closest to the pin and a 100 meter dash in a golf buggy. The event is being organised by Hong Kong's very own Georgie Best (wait until you see him on the pitch with his silver Beckhams), so expect an event to remember. Next week, we'll publish an extracts from an interview with last year's winner, Mark Cameron and discuss with him the impact that fame and fortune has had on his career. Mark will reveal all about his choice of balls, tees and woolly hats for his driver. The actual format will be finalised in the coming weeks as the number of teams are confirmed and like last year, there will be great pressure to get as many games as possible played on the Saturday, so that Sunday is left for the final stages of the knockout matches. On Saturday, each game will be allocated 18 minutes - 7 minutes each-way, 2 minutes at half time and 2 minutes between each game. Teams are reminded to bear this mind in their preparations. A penalty point will be deducted from a team's goals and points difference for every minute that they are late arriving on the pitch. On Saturday, games will be spread over 3 locations. Whilst we are appreciate that certain ladies teams are coached by male players and vice versa, we cannot accommodate every team in this respect in arranging that the ladies and mens teams of certain clubs play in the same location on Saturday morning. Again, teams are asked to bear this in mind in their preparations. As with last year, the initial cup quarter final games will be played on Saturday, including the quarter finals for the Ladies Cup and the Mens B Cup. It is intended that theses matches be played at one location - Aberdeen Stadium. All teams will have at least one game on Sunday. In a departure from the norm - winners and runners up of the Bowl and Plate competitions will be presented with their trophy and medals at the end of each final. More details on the actual format and the seedings in the coming weeks - once a decision is reached by all Asian clubs. Because of the number of teams the seedings and the format will be decided in advance of the tournament to accommodate the necessary planning. However the draw to decide on which group teams will play in will be conducted on the Friday night. And the winners of the Derek Brady Cup is Korea……and the Player of the Championship is ??? eh we don't know, we'll decide later. To avoid the delay that happened last year in announcing the Players of the Championship - some two months after, then there was the search for the trophies - this year, the Players of the Tournament will be selected using a points system over the duration of the tournament. At the end of each game, the captains from each side will be asked to nominate the best and 2nd best player from the opposition and one player from their own team - and hand the completed slip to the centre desk. Points will be awarded as follows Points will be tallied at the completion of the tournament and the winners will be announced before the Cup Presentations - brilliant Ted ! Vodafone Football All Stars Tour 2005 If you're head hasn't been in the mud for the last 4 months, you'll know that Hong Kong GAA will be hosting the Vodafone Football All Stars Tour in January 2005. The dates of the tour have been fixed from 20 January to 25 January 2005. The highlight of the weekend will be an exhibition match between the 2003 All Stars Team and the 2004 All Stars Team to be played on the about to be built new artificial turf at the Hong Kong Football Club - and you thought the Greeks had problems. To make the venue resemble home a little, we're planning to place a 100 metre long pint of Guinness on the roof of the stadium - so far due to typhoons and heavy rain, we've been unable to get the structure erected, but we're confident that with 4 months to go that all will be in place. The exhibition match will be played on the Saturday, with a 6pm throw in under the lights of Happy Valley. There'll be cameras, lots of them we're promised, and we're looking to fill the venue - all 2000 seats. Everyone from Asia is invited. As you might have seen on the website, we're proposing a number of warm up games including a Hong Kong ladies team to take on the Rest of Asia at the 15-a-side version. Also a Hong Kong Mens XII to take on the reigning Asian Champions at Australian Rules Football - The Hong Kong Dragons at International Compromise Rules. There'll be youth football also, live music, brass bands in a great venue. The weekend will be an open house for anyone that wants to visit and play. If teams want to come en masse, well then we'll organise a few more games around that. We're hoping that each Asian club will send at least a few representatives on the weekend - send us the names and numbers and we'll sort out the rest (on the football side). After the match on Saturday evening, there'll be a Gala Dinner upstairs in the banquet hall in the Football Club. A number of celebrities have been invited including Bono and Bosco, but they still have a few weeks to rsvp. A Toucan's tale Our tale begins in Dublin…born in a workshop near St. James's gate in the heart of the City, our hero spent the years of his youth in typical Irish fashion. Enjoying pints and 'The Craic' with the lads, and regularly attending matches in 'The Croker'. However, he always felt there was more to life and one cold winters day, following hours of shouting "Wrappin' paper, five for fifty" it happened. A Guinness Rep going about his Christmas shopping saw the Toucan and, immediately spotting his potential, approached him with the promise of a lucrative endorsement deal with the company. It was all our young hero had dreamt of and more! Millions in the bank, the mansion in Killiney (next door to Bono), the Ferrari and the supermodel girlfriend. Yet he still felt the cup of life offered more, and finding it increasingly difficult to live his life under the constant glare of the media, decided to give it all up and move to Asia. A Toucan in Asia…(The Formative Years) Following the footsteps of the great Gazza (and to make a bit of extra
cash along the way) the Toucan headed for Japan…. The Liberation…(The life of Reilly in HK) Having become accustomed to the easy life in Phuket, our feathered friend
('The Bird') moved in with a certain blonde who pampered him to such an
extent as to get him his own luxury pad. He revelled in his star status
in HK, rubbing shoulders (and other parts) with the likes of Michelle
Yeoh, Jackie Chan, Noel Smyth and Tom Howells (apparently a son of the
great Ian Candy). He attended many GAA (and other) functions as the guest
of honour and was in great demand among the HK glitterati. He once was
heard to say "Me wing is wore out from signin' autographs, and me
beak is bent from kissin' young wans" (eat your heart out Dustin!)
He also appeared as Santa Claus and presented the weather on T.V., all
in all, a very accomplished bird. In fact he was due to present the prizes
at the annual 'Beer Swilling Championships' in Delaney's but had to make
a hasty exit via an air-conditioning duct when a gang of comely 'maidens'
gathered on the pavement outside the pub and insisted that Toucan take
them somewhere called Villa Victoria, promising "I love you good…I
do anything". 'The Bird' later confided that it was the sheer number
of 'maidens' that scared him; otherwise "I'd have been dancing at
the crossroads". The Abduction…(The move to the Mainland) Following their glittering successes due to the Toucan's majestic presence,
the HK team ventured deep into the heart of enemy territory. Their goal
was simple, to strike a blow into the vile underbelly of the infidel…A.K.A
Shanghai GAA. With wanton disregard for his own safety, the Toucan left
his crack security force behind and led his much-loved team across the
border. Conclusion…(Present day) It has been four long months since our beloved Toucan was so cruelly
taken from us. There have since been various sightings around Shanghai,
but nothing concrete as to his exact whereabouts. Late Flash…(hush-hush) This reporter, while on assignment in Ireland earlier this month came
across a Shanghai resident in an infamous Dublin nightclub who, in drink,
claimed to have inside information on the location of 'The Bird'. We have
appropriated a private investigator to conduct further enquiries. He is
on the 'Toucan Trail' |
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