This is the third year of the Blanchardstown World Cup. The aim of the initiative is to encourage fair play and respect in sport. Each participating team represents a country and learns about its people, culture and history. This year, the countries represented are all in Eastern Europe including Poland, Estonia, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Hungary. Fourteen teams took part from many parts of the country including Monaghan, Roscommon and Dublin, with 120 young people involved overall.
The World Cup took place at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown over two days. The young people thoroughly enjoyed themselves and made lots of new friends.
World Cup Winners: Sphere 17 Youth Group (Darndale), representing Hungary
Shield Winners: Boyle Neighbourhood Youth Project (Roscommon), representing Albania
Plate Winners: The Attic Youth Café (Longford), representing Russia
Bowl Winners: Mulhuddart Community Youth Project, representing the Czech Republic
Fair Play* Award: Foróige ORB Project in Blanchardstown
The Fair Play Award was given to the group who demonstrated significant respect to the other participants, offered to help, shook hands with opposing teams and had an all-round great attitude.This is a superb initiative which teaches fair play and integration! We commend the organisers and the volunteers who made the event happen and congratulate all of the young people who took part.