Lights! Camera! Action!
From Ireland Lights Up to the perils of binge-watching and the bene ts of Karl’s Ad Break road-show, this year’s Operation Transformation continues the show’s 360-degree tradition of covering all the bases and all the places.
Now in its 13th season, Operation Transformation continues to boldly go where few other reality shows do. This year it will be cominatcha from County Offaly, home to OT 2020. As ever the focus will be on the leaders but there are a few new ingredients in the pot as well
GAA, lights, action
The popular ‘Ireland Lights Up’ walking initiative returns in partnership with the GAA,
Operation Transformation, and Get Ireland Walking.
Clubs across the 32 counties are once more encouraged to turn on their floodlights and host community walking groups during the duration of the show. Over 270 clubs participated in 2019, with an accumulative 65,000 walkers taking part in the popular initiative. Clubs are encouraged to host their first ‘Ireland Lights Up’ walk in 2020 on Thursday, January 9th. This year clubs are free to host their walking groups any evening that suits, and while they must host one walk per week they are encouraged to do more if capacity and interest allows.
The aim is to make exercise more accessible on the dark winter nights and to offer local communities an opportunity to get together and socialise in a healthy way. Walking is proven to benefit both our physical and mental health. Your club could appear on Operation Transformation!
The battle of the binge
How we watch TV has changed utterly in the last decade. With the advent of the box set came the TV binge. Now with streaming giants increasingly ruling the roost, binge watching has become the norm. It sounds like fun – and it can be – but what of the health side effects of these marathon couch trips? Remaining largely stationary (apart from trips to make a cuppa or spend a penny) and stuffing your face with junk food (well mostly) for umpteen hours does, unsurprisingly, have a negative impact on your well-being. This year Operation Transformation, with its focus on health warning signs and preventative measures, will show us just how bad it is for you. Professor Niall Moyna of DCU is the man with the science on how we all need to be fighting the battle of the binge.
Take a break with Karl
Remember OT’s ad break challenge? It was the interactive bit of the TV show in which Karl Henry challenged viewers to do some exercise during the break rather than flip channel, eat more junk food or put on the kettle. Well now Karl is taking it on the road with a mini road show to all corners of Offaly. “This year we are taking the ad break challenge on the road, all around Offaly and challenging towns to be better than the last with bigger crowds taking part than ever before,” says the man with the exercise plan and the high hopes. The road show dates are as follows: Birr, January 4; Edenderry, January 11; Banagher, January 18; Clara, January 25; Moneygall, February 1; Kinnity, February 8; Tullamore, February 15.
The walk of the country
Once again Operation Transformation’s
Nationwide Walks, in conjunction with Sport Ireland and the Local Sports Partnerships, will be motivating the nation to get out and about. The walks are taking place on Saturday January 18th at 11am. Last year over 20,000 people attended walks at over 100 different locations all across the country. The OT leaders will be stepping out so you can join them if you are in their area. If not please check the OT website for your closest nationwide walk.
Barry, Andrea & Tanya (Cork) will be starting at CIT (Cork Institute Technology), Bishopstown, Cork. Shane (Galway) will be starting at Leisureland Salthill. Lorraine (Cavan) will be starting at Cavan Institute Cathedral Rd, Drumalee, Cavan.