Irelands' Scholar Athlete Games
Future Youth Games Office, Room 15G09, UUJ, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim. BT37 OQ8
The Games Themselves
Background to the Games
In 1993, the Institute of International Sport, Rhode Island, USA, held the first World Scholar Athlete Games. Those Games brought together over 1600 young people from 108 countries. Due to the success of these games, the Institute for International Sport received several grants to replicate this concept in various states and countries.
This culminated in the Institute for International Sport and the University of Ulster, Jordanstown establishing a programme entitled Irelands Scholar Athlete Games (ISAG) in 1995.
Modelled on the successful Belfast United program and World Scholar-Athlete Games, the Belfast Scholar-Athlete Games united an equal number of Catholic and Protestant youth in August, 1995. A full-scale Irelands' Scholar-Athlete Games took place August 10-17, 1996. This program involved the participation of young people from Ireland, Northern Ireland, The European Union and United States.
The Irelands' Scholar-Athlete Games, held on August 14th to 22nd 1998, in Northern Ireland, were a huge success. The Games took place on the beautiful campus of the University of Ulster in Jordanstown, located fifteen miles outside of Belfast.
Through experiences in team sports; dance, drama and other arts; group discussions; and informal gatherings, the Future Youth Games will enable young people from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, UK, other European Countries and the USA, to develop respect, understanding, acceptance and friendship with fellow participants.
The unique experiences gained by the participants at the Games will help estabish open and long lasting relationships among young people from different parts of the world with varying backgrounds and cultures.
All of these programmes have been extremely successful and it is anticipated that through the Future Youth Games in 2000, an improved programme and range of activities on offer will combine to attract entrants from far afield.
