THE EVENT 2013 GIFT 2012, a history‐making American football event conceptualized and produced by Global Football President Patrick Steenberge, has led to even loftier plans for 2013. With encouragement and support from key Irish leaders in sports, tourism and education, a vision has emerged for a new, broader based sporting event in 2013. Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland along with the Irish government, have announced “The Gathering 2013” (thegatheringireland.com). “The Gathering Ireland 2013” is about the Irish people celebrating their rich history and culture by throwing open their arms and inviting anyone with a connection to this magical country to visit.
Global Football/Global Sports Group, in collaboration with Failte Ireland, Anthony Travel (US) and Abbey Tours, is proud to join in this effort by inviting quality high school, college and club sports teams from the US, Canada and beyond to participate in the Global Ireland Sports Gathering 2013 (GISG).
While our athlete’s main focus is to train and compete in their respective sport, Global Football’s mission is to also engage them in the local culture. Thus, we have built educational tours and social events into the itinerary. By doing so, we give the student athletes an opportunity to meet, interact with and experience the wonders of Ireland and its people. A unique GISG 2013 highlight will be attending the Gaelic Football All‐Ireland semi‐finals. We will get a first hand experience of this truly Irish event in legendary Croke Park on Sunday, September 1, along with 80,000 fans!
The historic Global Ireland Sports Gathering event, planned for the extended ’13 US Labor Day weekend, fits ideally into The Gathering initiative and most school sports’ calendars. We invite your men’s and women’s teams, support groups, school administrators, faculty, families, friends and media to join us!
GISG ‘13 SPORTS American Football Basketball Golf Lacrosse Rugby Soccer Swimming . Men’s and women’s teams are invited to compete in all sports except American football . Competition will be designed in a two‐day tournament/meet format o Teams will compete against others of similar ages & skill, as well as vs. Irish teams wherever possible . American football teams will only play one game o Game counts as regular season contest for US & Canadian teams except if playing a European opponent . Other sports’ meets, matches and games may be considered as regular season competitions or exhibitions based upon the season and accompanying regulations
OBJECTIVES 1. To provide an athletic, educational and cultural experience for American and Canadian student athletes, their school communities and families in Ireland. A service/volunteer component may be incorporated into the itinerary per the school’s request. 2. To attract primarily high school aged American/Canadian/European participants and visitors including: student athletes, marching bands, cheer & dance teams, coaches, school administrators, teachers, families and fans. 3. To attract NCAA Division III (non‐scholarship) institutions. 4. To match similar teams (including Irish teams) for a multi‐day tournament in each sport. 5. To conduct youth clinics, teaching local youngsters their respective sport. 6. To showcase the beauty of Ireland, its people and culture.
BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION Since 1996, Global Football has produced football games (American football as it is called internationally) and events in 19 different countries on six continents! This qualifies Global Football as the world’s largest producer of football events on foreign soil. We are also able to say, with a great deal of pride, that Global Football produced the first‐ ever American football game on African soil. The Global Kilimanjaro Bowl took two teams from two countries to Tanzania and atop Mount Kilimanjaro in May ’11.
Global Football’s President, Patrick Steenberge, is currently leading the effort to produce the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) which is the single largest football tournament ever played outside of North America, featuring American, Canadian and UK players. GIFT 2012 will bring about 2300 travelers to Dublin this Labor Day weekend, August 28‐September 3. Learn more @ www.gift2012.com
GIFT will feature 12 teams from highly respected athletic and academic institutions from eight different states, two Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom! Schools travelling to Dublin with Global Football include: Father Judge (PA) Hamilton HS (AZ) Jesuit Prep (TX) Loyola Academy (IL) The Kent School (CT) Notre Dame HS (CA) Notre Dame Prep (AZ) Oak Park (Winnipeg) Villanova (Ontario) UK All‐Stars U19 John Carroll Univ. (OH) St. Norbert College (WI)
DATES FOR GISG ‘13 . Tuesday, August 27 ‐ Monday, September 2, 2013 (Labor Day weekend in US & Canada) o Note ‐ most flights departing from the US & Canada are overnight flights meaning the group leaves in the evening and arrives in Ireland the next morning o Return flights land the same day as departure
BASIC SCHEDULE . Tuesday, Aug. 27 Depart US/Canada (5‐night Ireland package) . Wednesday, Aug. 28 Arrive in Ireland, Educational Tour, Training o Depart US/Canada (4‐night Ireland package) . Thursday, Aug. 29 Training, Educational Tour, Youth Clinics o Arrival of 4‐night groups . Friday, Aug. 30 Competitions, Optional Educational Tours, Service Option . Saturday, Aug. 31 Competitions, Optional Educational Tours, Service Option . Sunday, Sept. 1 GAA All‐Ireland Semi‐Finals @ Croke Park o Celebration Banquet & Party . Monday, Sept. 2 Depart Ireland/Arrive US/Canada
COST Comprehensive travel packages are based on either the 4 or 5‐night Ireland Land Itinerary and can be customized as requested based upon the number of desired days for competition, training, touring, service, etc. . All team participants, including players and coaches, must be part of an official GISG 2013 Travel Package offered through Anthony Travel in conjunction with Global Football. . Land Only Costs o 6 Days ‐ $1799* 7 Days ‐ $1999* *Airfare will be determined based on your departure city . Teams/schools will earn 1 free spot for every 10 spots purchased by the school and its supporters
A limited number of teams will be admitted per sport. We advise you to register as early as possible to secure your team’s spot in the Global Ireland Sports Gathering 2013! For inquiries and to reserve your team’s space contact:
Global Football, Inc./ Global Sports Group In partnership with: Abbey Tours 7301 Crube Ct. Granbury, TX 76049 City Gate Contact: Patrick Steenberge, President 22 Bridge St. Lower [email protected] or 817 219 7274 Dublin 8 www.globalfootball.com Contact: Jane Magnier, Managing Director www.abbeytours.ie Anthony Travel Dallas, TX Endorsed by: Contact: Sheldon Baxter, Int’l Director [email protected] or 214 363 0074 www.anthonytravel.com