Thanks to Martin for sharing this latest news from the Isle of Wight Island Games Association. Ed
This week, the Chairman of the Isle of Wight Island Games Association (IWIGA) will head to the Swedish Island of Gotland in order to visit the sporting venues and inspect the available accommodation for the NatWest Island Games which will be held there from 24 June 2017.
24 Islands taking part
He’ll join around 40 representatives from the other 23 Islands who will take part in the games, in meeting with the organising committee and the International Island Games Association executive in order to hear about the plans for the sports themselves as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.
More than 3,000 athletes
It is now five years since the Isle of Wight hosted the games in 2011 and the 2017 games are expected to be one of the biggest games since they began in 1985 with more than 3,000 sports men and women taking part in five days of sporting competition across 14 different sports.
Team Isle of Wight expect to take part in 13 of those sports with a team of around 160 present at the games.
Identifying the logistical challenges
Chairman Martin Goodall said,
“This will be a great chance to meet with our colleagues from other islands, identify the logistical challenges of getting to the games and to examine the sporting preparations of our hosts to ensure that the Isle of Wight team are fully informed and prepared ahead of the games next year.
“Gotland hosted a games in 1999 and the feedback from that games is that they were well organised and delivered a great week so I am sure the organisers will be keen to at least match that if not surpass it.”
He went on to add,
“These games are the highest international event at which a sportsperson can directly represent the Isle of Wight and we hope that we will be able to take a very strong team with medal chances across all of the sports where we are taking part.
“At the latest games in Jersey last year the Isle of Wight performance was the best for several years and hopefully we can build on that success in Gotland.
“Several of our sporting stars have achieved international standards representing England, Scotland and Great Britain and they are keen to represent the Isle of Wight again next year.
Image: © Isle of Wight Island Games Association
