Hong Kong This year is Hong Kong GAA's 12th Asian Games and the club has come a long way through many highs and lows since its formation way back in 1995. As most established clubs in Asia will have already experienced, success on and off the field is cyclical. There is no magic ingredient for success and when times are tough,and they can be damn right tough, and this club has experienced them as much as any other. Whilst the Hong Kong GAA has done relatively well over the last few years, it would be impossible to deny that much blood sweat and tears have been expended in trying to get the club to where it is today. A number of year's ago, the committee recognised that the Asian and China Games alone could not sustain the season round activity that was required for the club to compete with the popularity of other amateur sports in Hong Kong, or at least, the effort that went into the recruitment, training and orgainisation for them was never fully rewarded in a sustainable large playing membership. The club's own football league was the only way forward, and sitting side by side the Asian Games as one of the club's most anticipated and enjoyable events, is the club's Summer League which, now, in its third year, is growing from strength to strength. Blokes and lasses in a bar talking about the weekend games between Crokes, St Kevins, Kickhams and the like, are no longer just referring to the All Ireland Club Championship, but also the Hong Kong GAA Summer League. By the time this goes to print, over 150 players in 8 teams will have taken part in the two month long event in some way. It has been a slow burner over many years, but it's getting there and we're starting to reap some of the rewards it deserves and is something that we would encourage other clubs in Asia to try and replicate somehow. To add to the growing popularity popularity amongst adults, the club is hoping that by the start of the new school term in September, gaelic football will be very much a part of the school curriculum as any other sport in several international scools in Hong Kong. Finally, the HKGAA would like to wish Singapore Gaelic Lions, its hard working committee and members every success with the weekend and to all Asian clubs, new and old, for making the effort to be here. Here's to a great weekend. Hong Kong GAA www.gaa.hk Formed 1995 |
