Limerick Post Sports Blog all the sports not fit to print

Work, Rest, Play….Sport?

Whether it’s a collar worn turned up Cantona style; that guy who always gives an over enthusiastic post goal celebration at indoor soccer; the person on your tag rugby team who thinks they should have received a Lions call up, or the scores of us who will dust off our tennis rackets over the coming weeks; let’s face it, we are all a little bit inspired by our sporting heroes.

And this summer, Mars is making it easier for Irish people to not just watch their heroes on the box, but to actually get out and be just like their heroes, and enjoy an active summer of sport, by giving away €20,000 worth of Lifestyle sports vouchers.

The “Mars Summer of Sport” campaign was launched today by Leinster’s Heineken Cup winner Shane Horgan, Irish International Stephen Hunt and last year’s Young Footballer of the Year, Kerry’s Tommy Walsh.

All three sports stars admitted they were hugely influenced by their own sporting heroes, despite them not being from their own codes.

“Just like Star (Kieran Donaghy) I also played a lot of basketball when I was younger, and there was no one to match Michael Jordan,” said Walsh. “Watching him really inspired me to get out there with the basketball and practice, and of course like all young lads I was always decked out in the latest Air Jordan gear as well.”

Horgan’s sporting hero, like many modern athletes, was Muhammad Ali, while Stephen Hunt, a huge Waterford hurling fan, admits he had lots of sporting inspiration as a child, from Déise legend Tony Browne, to tennis bad boy John McEnroe.

“But I guess when I started playing soccer with a bit of intent, there was only one hero for me and that was Roy Keane”, said Hunt. “I would have loved to have had the opportunity to play alongside him. He is a legend.”

One thing the players all agree on, is that it’s not the sporting hero or the game that matters, it’s the inspiration it gives people to get out and be active that is important.

“It really doesn’t matter where the inspiration comes from, nothing beats getting out there and either taking part in a sport, or just going for a run, a walk or a swim; whatever takes your fancy,” said Horgan. “It’s a lot more fun to get out and get active yourself rather than just watching us lot on a pitch, and it’s great that Mars is making it easy for people to get equipped and get out there this summer.”

“Like everyone else, as soon as Wimbledon hit our TV screens each year my friends and I would root out our tennis rackets and become our centre court heroes for the summer months,” said Eavan Hayes, Mars Brand Manager. “This campaign is about reminding people how good it actually feels to get out and be active regardless of what level that’s at – it’s having some active fun that’s the important thing. By giving people the chance to win €20,000 worth of sports vouchers we hope to equip everyone to get moving. It could just be a pair of trainers for your daily walk with your friends or some high tech running apparel to achieve your marathon dream, or if you are like me, a new tennis racket so you are equipped when that Wimbledon fever hits again!”

The Mars Summer of Sport campaign gets underway today with €20,000 worth of Lifestyle sports vouchers, in denominations from €20 to €500 to be won. All people have to do to be in with a chance to win is to text MARS to 51500