News Release - SATURDAY 9 JULY 2005
FIRST MINISTER JACK McCONNELL MSP TO OPEN NATWEST ISLAND GAMES XI SHETLAND 2005
As London begins its preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games, Shetland today sees the culmination of five years of planning as The NatWest Island Games XI, a biennial international multi-sport event, gets under way.
First Minister, Jack McConnell MSP, will attend the opening ceremony of this unique week long festival of sport (9 15 July 2005) that will see 2000 athletes from 24 island communities throughout the world compete in 15 sports. He will officially launch this large-scale sporting event, known to competitors as the island 'Olympic Games'.
Gary Jakeman, General Manager of Shetland Island Games 2005 Ltd, said: 'Last minute preparations have been going very well, competitors are arriving from all over the world and there is a great buzz of excitement all over Shetland. We are well on target to make this a spectacular and entertaining festival of international sport - the best NatWest Island Games yet!.
'We are indebted to the 1500 volunteers from Shetland and further afield who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes, some for more than two years, to make this a top class event. They have been crucial to the success of the Games and we are sure that the experience gained by them over the next week will leave a lasting legacy for the future.
'The host broadcast service provided by SMG Broadcast and Event Solutions and funded by EventScotland has already boosted the profile of both the Games and Shetland with free preview coverage being distributed internationally. Commitment from both terrestrial and satellite broadcasters has also been confirmed for the Games week. This is bound to raise the profile of the event throughout the world.
'We are now looking forward to a week of top level, record breaking and friendly competition in the coming week.'
The NatWest Island Games were established in 1985 by the International Island Games Association (IGA) to provide an opportunity for athletes from island communities, with a population of less than 125,000, to compete in friendly competition at international level. Shetland, whose team has participated in every one of the ten previous Island Games, is the first Scottish member island to host the games; and with a population of approximately 23,000 it is the smallest island population ever to host this large-scale event.
A steady stream of athletes, officials and media have been arriving from as far afield as Greenland in the north, the Estonian island of Saaremaa and the Greek island of Rhodes in the east, Prince Edward Island, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands in the west; and the Falkland Islands and St Helena in the south in order to re-kindle the healthy inter-island rivalries that have developed since the Games began; and a truly international atmosphere is building throughout the Islands.
Two cruise liners, the Athena and the Van Gogh have now docked at Lerwick Harbour and will be home to up to 1300 athletes for the Games week. Many local residents have opened up their homes to accommodate athletes and community halls and schools have been converted into team dormitories adding to the whole community spirit that is such a major part of every NatWest Island Games.
Scotland will be well represented at this year's NatWest Island Games with three teams attending the event. As host-island Shetland has increased its team numbers by one hundred percent from previous Games and will field a 200 strong team competing in 14 of the 15 sports. The Western Isles, who were accepted into the IGA in Guernsey in 2003, will participate for the first time; alongside Orkney and Shetland. However they will have strong competition from the other British islands in the competition Alderney, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Sark and Ynys Mon.
For the Games in Shetland 15 different team and individual sports have been chosen from a list of 18 set down by the IGA. These range from athletics, swimming, football and volleyball to sailboarding, table tennis and cycling.
The 2005 Games will see squash included in the sports programme for the first time and what better place to showcase this event than the new state-of-the-art squash facility, part funded by sportscotland, at the Clickimin Leisure Complex in Lerwick, that is ranked as one of the finest in the UK and Europe and undisputedly the most versatile and extensive in Scotland. Indoor Bowls returns to the Games this year after a gap of 20 years.
The NatWest Island Games will provide Shetland with a lasting legacy for the future, encouraging more people to take up sport and promoting Shetland as a vibrant and outward looking island community capable of hosting major international events.
Bob Kerr, General Team Manager for the Shetland Island Games Team and Sports Development Officer for Shetland Islands Council said: 'The Games comes to Scotland for the first time, with three Scottish island teams competing.
This is a fantastic showcase for Scottish island sport. We have some excellent facilities and with the established links with governing bodies, we certainly hope to host more major international events in the future
'The Shetland Community has really pulled together to stage the Games and an event of this scale is sure to inspire more people to participate and volunteer in sport.'
Being a well known haven for wildlife; together with its archaeological and geological sites of great importance and its deep rooted cultural heritage, Shetland is a popular year round holiday destination. The NatWest Island Games will also provide great showcase opportunities for a destination that surprisingly little is known about. The legacy of Shetland's excellent infrastructure, modern facilities and passionate sporting community will help aspiring visitors consider Shetland for more than just the traditional icons. All competitors, officials and spectators can be assured of the warmest welcome and the opportunity to make friends for life.
Ends
MEDIA CONTACT:
Paddy Cuthbert - Podge Publicity : M: 07968 699 636 / E: paddy@podge.co.uk
Editor's Notes:
The NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, 9 - 15 July. Shetland is the first Scottish member island to host the games; and with a population of approximately 23,000 it is the smallest island population ever to host this large-scale event.
NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005: http://www.shetland2005.info/ NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, event results website http//www.shetlandresults2005.com NatWest Island Games and the IGA: http://www.Islandgames.net/
The 24 member islands of the International Island Games Association are:
Aland, Alderney, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Froya, Gibraltar, Gotland, Greenland, Guernsey, Hitra, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Orkney, Prince Edward Island, Rhodes, Saaremaa, Sark, Shetland, St. Helena, Western Isles, Ynys Mon.
Sports for the NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005: 15 different team and individual sports have been chosen from a list of 18 set down by the IGA:
Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Bowls, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Sailboarding, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis and Volleyball.
Shetland
The Shetland Islands are situated 200 miles North of Aberdeen and 225 miles West of Bergen. Made up of a diverse group of over 100 islands, bordered by jagged cliffs and bleached white beaches, Shetland is ruled by water. The mainland of Shetland is approximately 70 miles in length and 35 miles wide, with a population of around 23,000. http://www.visitshetland.com
Funding Partners
Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Charitable Trust, EventScotland and sportscotland
Sponsors and Supporters
NatWest is the official sponsor to the IGA and the NatWest Island Games. The NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, is the fourth Games that NatWest has sponsored.
A large number of Shetland businesses are also supporting the games.
http://www.shetland2005.info/
MEDIA CONTACT:
Paddy Cuthbert - Podge Publicity :
17 - 23 Calton Road, Edinburgh EH8 8DL
T: 0131 477 2037 / F: 0131 558 3904 / M: 07968 699 636
E: paddy@podge.co.uk / W: www.podge.co.uk