Thousands of competitors and their supporters are to descend on Athlone this weekend as the first HSE Community Games national finals to take place in the town are launched.
Athlone Institute of Technology will play host to a jam-packed schedule of activities over the course of the weekend.
Following the official check in and setting up of projects this afternoon [Friday], a parade will take place at 5.30pm from Golden Island shopping centre to the Athlone civic offices.
A welcome ceremony will then take place in the town centre, followed by an official opening ceremony at 7.15pm in AIT. An Taoiseach Brian Cowen will be special guest at the ceremony.
Between Friday and Sunday, finalists will battle it out for all-Ireland titles in activities as diverse as handball, chess, choir, badminton, table tennis, model making, and comedy sketches. The majority of activities will take place on the AIT campus.
Meals will be provided at AIT, and evening entertainment will consist of nightly discos at the college.
