The Irish Sports Council has launched the second year of its Sports Council Challenge to encourage businesses to meet guidelines for physical activity within their workforces.
The first year of the challenge attracted 55 companies and was won by Sport for Business member Sigmar Recruitment (pictured above) with an imaginative ‘Sigmarathon’.
This encouraged a staff 90 to run, cycle or walk an aggregate 10,000 miles from the company’s Dublin Head Office to its furthest flung outpost in Singapore.
The Challenge for 2013 will run from 29th April to 24th May and registration online must be complete by April 19th.
Originally devised by Gillian Costelloe at the Sports Council, the initiative allows for a range of activities to be completed by people across the organisations that enter.  It has proven to be a winner in terms of fitness, team building and inclusivity beyond normal working relationships.
Last year’s winners also included Astellas in the Large Company category, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in the Medium Company category and Special Olympics Ireland as the best Sporting Organisation.
“When we saw this initially it seemed like a great idea to get our staff fit and active,” said Robert Walsh of Sigmar.
“We created a bit of hype and hoopla among staff through distributing pedometers and t-shirts, organising nutrition classes and engaging with staff on how we could make it fun.”
“Sport for Business did a weekly update on our progress (which will be repeated in 2013) and we had great engagement from all our clients as well.”
“It was a winner every which way we looked at it, and led to the establishment of three sports clubs among the workforce that have continued through this first year.”
The Challenge has a nominated charity this year in Special Olympics Ireland.
“‘Let me win but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt’ is the athlete’s oath in Special Olympics and it seems to fit the bill perfectly for the Sports Council Challenge as well,” said Sahra O’Neill, Director of Fundraising with Special Olympics Ireland.
“We want to work with companies to see how we can help them to create a healthier workforce and to engage with the fun and the fundraising aspects of the challenge.
Sport for Business will be keeping a live update on up to four organisations that are competing in the competition.  Sigmar Recruitment and Special Olympics Ireland have already signed up to be part of this aspect of the competition and if you would like your organisation to join them, simply answer this short questionnaire.
Click here to take survey
Application can be made at www.irishsportscouncil.ie