The Government should devote greater resources to the Community Games movement so that it could play a greater role in the development of young people, the president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, Mr Frank Allen, said at the opening of the 28th national finals of the games at Mosney, Co Meath.
Rural and urban communities needed to do far more to encourage a greater number of young people to become involved, he said.
The Credit Union Community Games were opened on Saturday by the Minister for Sport, Dr McDaid, and attended by the President, Mrs Robinson. Almost 6,000 young people are competing in 25 sporting and cultural activities over two weekends.
This year two more events have been added: girls' under-12 soccer and girls' under-12 grass cycling. The swimming competitions were a major focus at the weekend. Thirteen years ago Michelle Smith won her first gold medal when she competed in the Community Games at Mosney. Next weekend the centrepiece of the games will be the track and field events, in which almost 2,500 young people will compete.