The All-China Gaelic games is a Gaelic games tournament held annually in China between club teams under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and the Asian County Board (ACB). The Asian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is one of the county boards of the GAA, which is set up and running outside the island of Ireland. This county board is responsible for Gaelic games across the Asia-Pacific Region, other than Australia and New Zealand (which fall under the Australasia GAA board).
The annual tournament is a one-day event, with men's and ladies' teams competing in Gaelic football. The tournament is the mid-season highlight for mainland China's Gaelic Athletic Association Clubs. Exhibition games were also held under International (compromised) rules and hurling during the event.[citation needed]
History
The All-China Games began in 2002 and feature GAA teams from across China, such as the Shanghai Gaelic Athletic Association,[1] the Hong Kong Gaelic Athletic Association,[2] and the Beijing Gaelic Athletic Association.[3] After being cancelled in 2003 due to the outbreak of SARS, they returned in 2004.[citation needed]
In April 2012, the Beijing Gaelic Athletic Association decided to host the 2012 All-China Games as part of the 10th Anniversary celebration of Beijing GAA.[4] Beijing GAA hosted the 2012 North Asian Games from June 8–10, 2012. It was the first year the previous All-Asia games were being expanded to include participants from across northern Asia. Beijing invited teams from various Chinese cities, such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Dalian, and Suzhou, and for the first time, it also invited teams from Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.[citation needed]
Participants
Teams sanctioned by the Asian GAA can participate in the competition.[5] Chinese-based teams include Shanghai Gaelic Football Club,[6] Beijing GAA,[3] Shunde Gaels, Hefei Warriors, East China University of Technology (Nanchang) GAA, Hong Kong GAA,[7] Dalian Wolfhounds,[8] Shenzhen Celts,[9]Suzhou Eire Og,[10] and Canton Celts.[11]
Participant players in the competition are primarily Irish diaspora, but they also draw participants from China and other countries who learn the sport. For example, players from 22 nations competed in the 2005 All-China Gaelic games.[citation needed]
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