Paddy's Sports Fair Looks to Help Undo All of Your Self-Inflicted Summer Misdeeds, Sep 8

There is literally no better pairing in the entire universe than sports and beer. Granted, the pairing is best achieved when it's only the fans sinking vast amounts of yellowy, bubbly 'quids, but Paddy O'Shea's has gone one step further by inviting both the fans and the organizers of Beijing's top sports clubs for one massive and somewhat oxymoronically health-and-beer-fueled show-and-tell on September 8, 8pm onwards. Given that we're also a fan of sports and beer, we've decided to tag along as the official media sponsor.

There are currently 11 of the city's biggest sports teams signed up to attend, raring to get you on board and healthy via football, rugby, running, ice hockey, fencing, Gaelic football, cricket, handball, and darts. (OK, no one ever got healthy playing darts.)

Each team will hold down the fort at a booth in front of the bar, where they'll imbue knowledge about their respective sports, teams, details of their practice and league schedules, and be slinging some merch for fun.

Best of all (returning to the everlasting bond between beer and sports), Paddy's sponsors every team that will be in attendance, meaning that you'll also gain access to superlative discounts at one of the best sports bars in town!

Continue reading for a more detailed look at who'll be in attendance come September 8, descriptions courtesy of each club:

Hash House Harriers – "A drinking club with a running problem"
Originally established as a club in 1938, in what is today known as Malaysia, the Hash House Harriers (aka HHH, H3, Hashers) spread to Beijing in 1979, and are a friendly, social, non-competitive, beer-motivated running club and part of an international network of about 2,000 local chapters on all seven continents.

The Beijing Ducks Cricket Club
The Beijing Ducks Cricket Club was established in 2016 as Beijing's premier social cricket team. The Duck's arrival on China's social cricket scene was nothing short of spectacular, winning the 2016 Sean Connery Shield of Dreams at the coveted Nanjing Rural Sixes. Expectations were high leading up to the prestigious Beijing Sixes later that year. However, an over indulgence in beers lead to them walking away with the Wooden Spoon Trophy. Now a regular in the Beijing Cricket Club league, Beijing's most social cricket team's form has been patchy, to say the least. They are however consistent in some aspects – the love of the game and cold beer.

Beijing Celtic Football Club (Men and Women)
Beijing Celtics club was founded in 2002 and play as part of the International Friendly Football Club (IFFC) league, and are always looking for new members to play some football and be part of the Beijing Celtic community.

The Aardvarks Rugby Club (Men and Women)
The Aardvarks are Beijing’s largest (and best) rugby club, made up of a men's and a women's team with a wide range of players from all over the world. The team is all about meeting new friends, playing good rugby, having fun socializing, and are open to players of all levels; from experienced through to people just keen to make friends and learn a new sport.

The Megatons Darts Club
Created in 2013, the Megatons play the friendly Beijing league, and have already won the league twice. The club is open to everyone!

The Oilers Ice Hockey Team
The Oilers is one of the eight teams that make up the Beijing International Ice Hockey (BIIH) league. Made up of 140 expatriates and Chinese nationals that all share the passion of playing ice hockey in China, players and supporters of the BIIH take an immense amount of pride in being involved; not only a hockey league but a way of life.

The Gaelic Athletic Association (Gaelic Football for Men and Women)
Beijing Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club is one of the city’s most established international sports clubs and has participated in Gaelic football and hurling competitions throughout China and Asia. However, Beijing GAA is more than just a sporting club as it provides a welcoming presence to those who have left Irish shores and arrived in China’s capital for the first time. It also brings together people from different backgrounds and cultures, where long-term friendships are often built.

Fencing Liangmaqiao
Fencing Liangmaqiao supplies fencing kit and equipment to adults and children who are looking to learn more about the sport

Attendance to the event is free and kicks off at 8pm on September 8 at Paddy's O'Shea's in Dongzhimen.

Images: New York Times, Paddy O'Shea's