More than 5,000 fit and not-so-fit visitors will be in Limerick in June for the UK and Ireland Corporate Games.
The games were first held in the city in 1999. About 4,000 visitors will travel from Britain and £2 million will be spent in the region during the three-day event. The selection was made at the World Corporate Games at Aberdeen last July. "There was a great feedback from the people who participated. They loved Limerick," Mr Gerry Lowe, chairman of the city's host committee, said.
The games are an international event open to any group of company employees.
This year, the new £20 million indoor arena at the University of Limerick will be used and Lough Derg will be the venue for dragon-boat racing. Golf, match fishing and mountain biking are also among the 21 events. The games are put on at a cost of about £150,000, raised through sponsorship and support from Shannon Development and Bord Failte.
Dr Ken O'Bryan, chief executive of Sport for Life, the organising company, said an all-Ireland corporate games event was being considered.
The main logistical problem was providing accommodation.
"We have about 4,500 bedrooms reserved within a 30-mile radius of Limerick. We are looking to have 6,000 people here this year."