1,500 athletes will descend on the University of Limerick this July to participate in the 36th World Medical & Health Games.
The bid to host the Games was won last year after strong support from the University, Limerick City and County Council and the Shannon Conference and Sports Bureau.
The games are returning to Limerick having been hosted here before in 1995. They will draw competitors from around the world who work in medicine and healthcare. A campaign is already underway within the HSE to encourage Irish practitioners compete in the games and meet their worldwide peers.
The event will include triathlons, half marathons, a 100km road cycle race, as well as golf, tennis, swimming, soccer, volleyball and tag rugby.
“It is particularly appropriate that the University should host an event which links Medicine, Health and Sport given its prominent role in the development of Medical, Health and Sport education and research,” said Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan launching the Games at the University of Limerick yesterday.
“The first Graduate Medical School in Ireland which opened in 2007, has now successfully forged a partnership with our city hospital”.
“We are delighted to return the Games to Limerick,” added Pierre Lusinchi, CEO of the Games Organising Committee.
“I’m hugely impressed by the incredible advancement in the sports and accommodation facilities at the University of Limerick since our last visit in 1995.”
“The superb infrastructure offered by UL in terms of its Olympic style sports villages means we can comfortably accommodate our athletes and their families in one very attractive location.”
“The University of Limerick campus is the main venue for the Games but there is huge enthusiasm locally, with several key events taking place with the support of other clubs and venues throughout the city and county,” said UL Sports Director David Mahedy.
“The great advantage the University of Limerick has in hosting an event of this scale is that apart from the sports facilities, participants can avail of many of UL’s amenities including its attractive ensuite residences and the wonderful atmosphere in our great value bar restaurants and cafés dotted across the campus. We will also offer Games visitors dawn walks along the river, tours of our arts and sports collections and entertainment from students of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and local artists.”
UL’s Graduate Medical School is hosting a two-day international symposium during the Games, on the importance of health in sport.
Join us on Monday for news of a new partnership between Sport for Business and the Shannon Airport European Sport Tourism Summit to be held in Limerick in May.
