PHOTOCALL AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES - Monday 11 July
Alison Sheppard to open NatWest Island Games Swimming Competition
PHOTOCALL AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
Monday 11 July & Tuesday 12 July 2005
Alison Sheppard to open NatWest Island Games Swimming Competition
Scotland's record breaking swimmer Alison Sheppard - Commonwealth gold medallist and five-time Olympian will open the swimming event of the NatWest Island Games and present medals to the winners of the opening day's competition in the evening.
Schedule:
Photo / Filming opportunity: All competing Island Flag bearers carrying island flags with Alison Sheppard in pool hall - prior to the opening ceremony for the swimming event
Venue: Swimming Pool Hall, Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lerwick
Time: 08:45 09:05
Interview opportunity: Immediately following the opening ceremony for the swimming event Alison Sheppard will be available for print and broadcast interviews
Venue: At the back of the Swimming Pool Hall, Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lerwick
Time: 09:45
Alison Sheppard, one of Scotland's most successful swimmers became the first swimmer in history to compete in five Olympics. She won silver in the 50m freestyle in a time of 25.92 at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and In the following year, Sheppard took Bronze in the European Championships 50m Freestyle and World Short Course Championships 50m
Freestyle. Alison Sheppard's visit is part of a support and advice package
on behalf of Scottish Swimming, the national governing body for swimming in Scotland. The Scottish Swimming support is critical for achieving an effective delivery of the swimming competition within the Games programme.
Monday 11 July
Jodie Foster and Carlos Morgan, two young athletes from the Cayman Islands team have each been awarded a £1250 grant from the NatWest Sports Development Fund to enable them to come to the NatWest Island Games XI Shetland 2005, following the devastation to the sports infrastructure caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The cheque will be awarded by a representative from NatWest, Bo Frykenstam, Chairman of the IGA and IGA Executive, James Johnston.
Venue: front entrance to the Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lerwick The NatWest Sports Development Programme aims to assist sports associations
Time: 11:30
Monday 11 July
Patricia Ferguson MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, encourages athletes of the NatWest Island Games to aim high.
As part of a visit to Shetland for the NatWest Island Games, Patricia Ferguson MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, will meet athletes from the Archery competition and will be given instruction on the techniques of competitive archery.
Schedule:
Photo / Filming opportunity: - Patricia Ferguson with archers from a number of competing islands
Venue: The North Field, Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lerwick
Time: 14:30
Interview Opportunity: Immediately following the photo opportunity Patricia Ferguson will be available for print and broadcast interviews
Time: 14:55 (approx)
Tuesday 12 July
The announcement of the host island for the NatWest Island Games XIII 2009. The bidding Islands are Aland and Yns Mon.
For the first time the media will be allowed into the annual general meeting of the IGA to hear the decision of the 48 delegates from the IGA as it is first announced by Chairman Bo Frykenstam.
Minorca is waiting to hear whether or not it will be accepted into the IGA as the 25th member island. This will also be announced at the meeting.
Venue: The Shetland Hotel, Holmsgarth Road, Lerwick
Time: 14:00
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

