‘Going for Life’ for European Sports Week!
THE craic was fairly mighty as groups of women from across the county descended on the centre to try their hand at a number of games as part of the Age and Opportunity’s Go for Life Programme celebrating 2018 European Week of Sport and Physical Activity (EWOS), run in conjunction with Sport Ireland.
The aim of EWOS was to promote sport and physical activity across Europe; organised with a view to all age groups, backgrounds and fitness levels. Organisers hope the events would inspire people to be active on a regular basis for the good of their health.
“As part of EWOS in Kerry Age and Opportunity joined forces with Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership to organise a Go for Life Games Fest in John Mitchell’s GAA Club Tralee, to give older people in the region that chance to join in and be active,” a spokesperson for the event said.
“The Go for Life Games themselves are devised specifically for older people. Games played on the day included ‘Scidils’, which is a two-sided adaptation of ten-pin bowling but using two skittles and ‘Flisk’, adapted from boccia and horseshoe pitching, and a new game ‘Málaí’ - an adaptation of the popular cornhole game using beanbags and a wooden box which is now being made for groups all over the country by Men’s Sheds.
“These games, with clear rules and scoring systems, can be played and practiced by everyone, no matter what level of sporting ability.
They said the games are great for developing balance, flexibility and concentration.
“The social aspect of the games also brings people together with a healthy amount of competition to keep things interesting. We would encourage everyone to use the opportunity of the week to get involved in sport and to get active,” they added. All those who took the opportunity in Kerry enjoyed the programme’s mission to the letter, clearly.