Week 13: Organising the North Asian Games starts with finding a pitch

Preparations for the North Asian Games have been picking up pace recently. We have just one training session left before the competition and less than ten days left to iron out the finer details of the event.

Fortunately things are beginning to fall into place. For most of us, it is our first time organising such an event. To run an International GAA competition in Asia takes time and commitment. We are all just players, and volunteers, too. Preparation begins months in advance and there are many factors we have had to deal with along the way.

The first and most important thing was to find a suitable venue capable of holding a competition with over a hundred players. In Korea, finding one pitch for weekend training sessions has proven difficult over the years. So finding two pitches, side by side, which we could book for the day was one of our biggest challenges. We started the search early and fortunately, we secured Namyangju Sports Center, at the beginning of March. It is less than an hour by bus from central Seoul where most teams and players will be staying. With two pitches parallel to each other plus covered stands on both, it was exactly what we were looking for. Soon afterwards our proposal to host the tournament was sent in and accepted by the Asian County Board.

By April, we were looking at venues for the post-games award ceremony and other events throughout the weekend. This includes a welcoming party on the Friday night where we will meet team captains and give out player packs as is normal in most International GAA competitions in Asia.

In Seoul, there are some terrific Irish musicians so we decided we would let them showcase their talent on the Sunday after the games before players and teams start to head in separate directions.

Since then, we have been busy getting sponsorship for the event and spreading the word to clubs around North Asia. As the time gets closer we have started looking at the finer details on the day. Medical assistance, for example, will be provided by Dr. Phil Kim’s Boneplus Medical team while there will be an ambulance on standby throughout the day. Dr. Phil has been a fantastic friend and supporter of Seoul Gaels down through the years and it will be great to have him on the sideline as in previous tournaments.

Unlike, at home, goalposts are a luxury item over here. We train mostly on soccer pitches and goalposts are usually required only for tournaments like this that we are hosting. In the past we have had to make goal posts using material from local hardware stores and that may well be the case again. In the next few days player-packs will be organized while trophies, medals and tournament polos will arrive. Some friends and family will bring extra footballs over from Ireland just in time for the event.

On the pitch we will have one final training session. For some of us, it will be a double session, this Saturday, with both hurling and Gaelic Football. As well as men’s and ladies ‘competitions, on the day, there will also be an exhibition of hurling and juvenile games.

We are looking forward to producing a good demonstration of hurling even if it’s not quite of all-star quality. The children’s team have been getting high numbers at training recently and should produce an equally good spectacle.

Finally, the playing schedule of the competition will be drawn up next week. I’m excited at the prospect of another day of football on home turf for the first time this year. It will be a great occasion before people start to head off on their summer holidays in July and August.

The countdown has begun.