Morton Games supports Sanctuary Runners
The partnership was announced at Morton Stadium and was attended by athletes Mahad Mohamed Egaal, Abdi Ali Maow and Ibrahim Umar, all of whom started their athletics journey with Sanctuary Runners. Mahad competed in the men¡¯s U/20 mile race at last year¡¯s Morton Games.
The partnership is also being supported by Dublin City University.
The 2024 games will take place on Friday July 12 in Morton Stadium in Santry. Dublin City University took over the running of the stadium in 2022 and have so far invested €3 million in upgrading the facilities there, including the laying of a new indoor and outdoor track, upgrades to the high performance gym and changing rooms, new drainage and cross-track electric power outlets, new fencing and stand seating, an IT system replacement and the delivery of new track and field equipment.
Sanctuary Runners, founded 6 years ago, is a solidarity-through-sport initiative which uses running, jogging and walking to bring together asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and all Irish residents. Many Sanctuary Runners having taken those initial tentative steps in the sport of athletics have since been welcomed in as members of the wider athletics community by joining clubs including Clonliffe Harriers AC, the club that promotes and hosts Morton Games.
University of Sanctuary
DCU became Ireland¡¯s first University of Sanctuary in 2016, and the university is proud to welcome international protection applicants, refugees, and those with leave to remain.
University of Sanctuary focuses on enabling access to higher education in Ireland through material support for students, and it has a limited number of scholarships available for eligible students seeking to study in DCU, as well as supports such as stipends and laptops.
Noel Guiden, meet director of Morton Games said:
¡°Morton Games, as an international athletics meet, welcomes athletes from all corners of the world to Dublin each summer and we are therefore delighted to welcome our friends from Sanctuary Runners. Throughout history, and indeed now, Irish emigrants have left Ireland¡¯s shores for communities many thousands of miles from home. We at Morton Games want to show solidarity by offering the hand of friendship to those who have left family and friends behind and welcome them as members of our community.¡¯
Susan Moran, Dublin Group Leader Sanctuary Runners said:
¡°We are delighted to partner with Morton Games and to be afforded this exciting opportunity to bring the message of solidarity, friendship and respect to the wider athletics community. Our mission statement is to become bridge builders by using running and walking groups to bring asylum seekers, refugees and migrants together and by creating these opportunities in an equal and respectful way this will enable the entire community to develop friendships.¡±
James Galvin, Director of DCU Sport said
¡°DCU is very happy to be part of this unique and meaningful partnership, and we look forward to supporting the endeavours of the Sanctuary Runners. We recognise and value the unifying and inclusive power that sport has among people from all walks of life, backgrounds and cultures and look forward to a long and productive association together.¡±
Tickets for the Morton Games are €11 and can be purchased here