A host of Irish sporting personalities including, Dublin's Michael Fitzsimons, Galway hurler David Burke and Mayo footballer Cora Staunton lined out in Croke Park this morning to officially launch the 22nd Annual Asian Gaelic Games sponsored again this year by FEXCO.

Presented by the Asian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and FEXCO, Ireland's largest, privately owned financial technology company, the 2017 FEXCO Asian Gaelic Games will take place on November 18th and 19th in Bangkok, Thailand. Now in its 22nd year, the FEXCO Asian Gaelic Games has grown to be the premier Irish event in the Asian region and is the highlight of the calendar for the Irish in Asia & the Gulf. 

Featuring 65 teams representing 20 clubs from across 18 countries in Asia, the FEXCO Asian Gaelic Games will see more than 800 Irish, as well as non-Irish GAA players who have picked up the sport, come together to battle it out in a weekend of over 200 fixtures.

Games Ambassador, Cora Staunton commended the games commenting: "It's a great honour for me to be an event ambassador for the FEXCO Asian Gaelic Games. Having experienced the games first hand, it is exciting to see the standard is getting stronger each year, a wonderful sign for any sporting event. It is a superb testament to the work of the Asian County Board and to the GAA."

The participating teams represent Senior, Intermediate and Junior divisions in both ladies and men's football, hurling and camogie. Throw in for the first game takes place at 8am on Saturday, November 18th culminating in the finals at 6pm on Sunday, 19th November.

Director General of the GAA, Páraic Duffy commented: "We are delighted to be able to witness the Asian Gaelic Games go from strength to strength each year. The ever growing popularity of the games is a true reflection of the work and commitment of the Asian County Board as well as the participating players, managers and their support networks. I would like to extend my best wishes to all those involved in 2017 and to thank FEXCO for their continued support as the games grow."

Looking ahead to the 2017 FEXCO Asian Gaelic Games, Joe Trolan, Chairperson of the Asian County Board, said: "We are very excited to build on last year's hugely successful tournament by bringing this year's games to Bangkok. We look forward to welcoming the newest generation of players to the sport from across Asia to this years tournament. The growing reputation of the event is due in no small part to the support of companies like FEXCO helping to make the vision of the Games a reality every year."

CEO, Payments and FX, FEXCO, Denis Cleary, said: "We are delighted to continue our involvement with the Asian County Board and support the Asian Gaelic Games, an event which has become a key date in the diary of GAA enthusiasts across ASIA and gives attendees a familiar sense of community to the Irish diaspora in their home away from home.

Throughout our sponsorship, we have seen the scale of the games grow impressively thanks to the hard work, dedication and commitment of the Asian County Board and members, who manage the event on a voluntary basis is truly remarkable.  We, at FEXCO, are very much looking forward to this years games and we would like to wish all participating clubs and delegates the very best of luck in their preparation and involvement in November."

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