Morton Games launched by Minister Ring today

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD launched the Morton Games International Track and Field event in Dublin City Centre this morning (Wednesday 19th of June 2013). The Games which take place in the Morton Stadium Santry, Dublin on July 17th will feature top international athletes with men and women’s events over 100m, 400m, 800m and featuring the SSC Women’s International Mile, the Albie Thomas Men’s 3000 and the famed Morton Mile.

World class athletes confirmed for the 2013 Games include Fionnuala Britton, Brian Gregan, Paul Robinson, Amy Foster, London Olympic Pole Vault finalist Igor Bychkov (ESP) Great Britain International Pole Vaulter Luke Cutts, Garrett Heath (USA) and Brie Felnagle (USA). The event is set to be a true gathering of athletes and athletics fans, with athletes taking part hailing from the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Spain, The Ukraine, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Poland and Great Britain to name but a few.

Speaking this morning Minister Ring said: “The Morton Games is fast developing a fine reputation as a top class event. More than a dozen athletes who took part last year subsequently went on to compete in the London Olympics. Its great news that a number of athletes taking part this year will use the event as part of their preparations for the world championships in Moscow this August.

In the year of The Gathering the Morton Games is a true gathering of athletes from across the globe. I want to compliment the voluntary organising committee for their enthusiasm and work to put together a truly international event. I wish all the athletes the very best of luck. I am sure everyone involved will enjoy the event and for those who travel here for the event I hope they have a very happy Irish experience and a cead mile failte. Finally, I want to wish the Irish athletes taking part in this weekends European League 1 Team Championships in the Morton Stadium the very best of luck”.

The launch was also attended by the new Mayor of Fingal Kieran Dennison who complimented the organising committee on their endeavours in bringing an international athletics meeting to the Morton Stadium. Mayor Dennison also complimented the management of the Morton Stadium on the wonderful job which they have been carrying out in raising the standards of the stadium to its current world class level.

Mr. John Foley, the CEO of Athletics Ireland who are a partner in the Meet reconfirmed Athletics Irelands’ commitment to providing support both technical and financial for the Morton Games into the future stressing the importance of an International Invitational Athletics Meet being held in our capital city.

The President of Clonliffe Harriers Mr. Paddy Marley stressed the importance of the Morton Games in honouring the memory of Clonliffe’s Billy Morton and paid tribute to the hard work which was being carried out by the organising committee of the Morton Games the fruits of which were borne last year by the truly extraordinary nights athletics that the 2012 Meet produced and he expressed his confidence in the ability of the organising committee to deliver an even better Meet on the 17th of July next.

The Meet Director Noel Guiden thanked Minister Ring for officially launching the Morton Games, he also expressed his thanks to the Mayor of Fingal Kieran Dennison, Mr. John Foley the CEO of Athletics Ireland, Mr. David Conway of NSCDA and the team involved in the operation of and management of the Morton Stadium, he thanked “our loyal supporters and sponsors Commercial Hygiene Services, the Sports Surgery Clinic, Last Lap Café, Fashionflo, C & E Office Products and Behan & Associates and the outstanding contribution which has been made to the successful running of the Meet by the Meet Partners Clonliffe Harriers, Athletics Ireland, Irish Sports Council, the Irish Milers Club, Fingal County Council, Paralympics Ireland and Morton Stadium”. He outlined the fact that there would be athletes competing in the Morton Games from the four corners of the world and that in this the year of the Gathering there would be a true gathering of athletes and hopefully athletics fans in the Morton Stadium on the 17th of July. The Morton Games 2013 was significant in that it would mark the 55th anniversary of the Summer of world records set in the Morton Stadium and in particular was five years and eight days after the first of those world records set by Albie Thomas (AUS) and that to mark the occasion Albie Thomas’ daughter and grandsons would be special guests at the Games.

The launch was also attended by international 400 metre athlete Brian Gregan, Olympic Marathon Silver Medallist John Treacy on behalf of the Irish Sports Council, members of the Morton Stadium Management Committee, event partners, and members of Clonliffe Harriers .

Tickets for July 17ths Morton Games cost €10.00, however, there is currently an early bird offer and those purchasing tickets before July 1st will avail of a 20% discount. Tickets are currently available online www.mortongames.ie