Asian Gaelic Games, Phuket, Thailand
27th September - 29th September

The seventh annual Asia Gaelic Games will take place in Phuket, Thailand on the weekend of 27-29 September 2002.

Teams representing China, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand will be joined at the games by Irish people based elsewhere in the region. For the first time teams from China and Dubai will take part and Korea will also participate after a break of four years. The main competitions will be seven-a-side mens and ladies Gaelic football, and there will also be an exhibition hurling match. Japan and Hong Kong are the current holders of the mens and ladies Asia Gaelic Games titles.

This year's event again aims to raise a substantial amount for charity – Father Joe Maiers "Human Development Centre" in the Klong Tey suburb of Bangkok (see http://www.fatherjoe.org/). The Human Development Centre co-ordinates thirty-one kindergarten schools for 4,500 slum children aged three to six. In addition, Fr. Maier's centres also provide vocational training, support for AIDS sufferers and even hospice care for older children but the emphasis is on equipping young, poor children to enter the Government school system.

The tournament hotel is the Holiday Inn Phuket and special rates are being offered for Asia GAA teams and supporters - Single TB 1800 & Double TB 2000 (which includes tax and breakfast). The rates are good for before or after the tournament. Please book for your teams directly with the hotel quoting the Asian Gaelic Games - wm_hirp@phuket.ksc.co.th

The games will be played at a publicly owned stadium which has a superb playing surface and ancillary facilities.

If you require any additional details please contact Peter Ryan at peadaroriain@hotmail.com