News Release - Tuesday 23 June 2005
850 CHILDREN TO COMPETE IN SPORT
AHEAD OF THE 2005 NATWEST ISLAND GAMES, SHETLAND
On Thursday 23 June and Tuesday 28 June 2005 more than 850 schoolchildren from across Shetland will take part in two spectacular sports festivals ahead of the 2005 NatWest Island Games, a biennial international multi-sport event - larger in scale than the Winter Olympics - that will see 2,000 athletes from 24 island communities throughout the world compete in 15 sports from 9 to 15 July.
The Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lerwick, will host two 'Mini Island Games'
events. The first on Thursday 23 June will involve around 60 children with additional support needs from across Shetland competing in the swimming pool and on the athletics track. The opening ceremony will also feature all athletes in a 'parade of islands' with each school team representing their adopted islands for the event.
On Tuesday 28 June up to 800 schoolchildren will take part in day of sport that will include swimming, football, badminton, athletics and indoor bowls competitions. A 'funzone' will also offer school pupils the chance to sample other sports activities, such as Tri-Golf a junior version of the adult game and a competitive obstacle course.
Twenty-seven Shetland schools will be represented, involving pupils from all
primary classes and secondary year one. Schools have been selecting their
teams over recent weeks, in preparation for the 'Mini Island Games. Some smaller rural schools will be entering combined teams to ensure they can field a full team. Fair Isle and Bressay Primaries (school rolls 13 and 32
respectively) for example, are entering a combined squad of seven pupils for the five-a-side football event.
Active Schools Manager with the Council, Philip Ashley-Smith commented 'It has been a challenge to co-ordinate the logistics of both days of the Mini Island Games. The co-operation of school staff has been essential to the planning of the event and special thanks must also go to the Council's Transport Manager, Ian Bruce who has spent considerable time on the
transport arrangements. I hope that all the young people really get a feel
for taking part in a major sports event and that inspires them to be healthy and active in the future.'
Both events will be co-ordinated by the Active Schools Team and Donna Mainland, Development Officer: Disabilities, of the Council's Community Development Service. The Additional Support Needs event has also involved Yvonne Clark, PE Teacher for Additional Support Needs, based at the Anderson High School. This is the first time that a schools' event on this scale has been attempted, although still small in comparison to the week-long Island Games itself, with over 2000 participants expected.
Bob Kerr, Sports Development Officer at Shetland Islands Council, said: 'Our two Mini Island Games events are just a taste of what is to come in July. I am sure that with the amazing spectacle and excitement of the NatWest Island Games together with the colour, noise and emotion that goes hand in hand with it, the young people of Shetland will be fully motivated to want to take part in sport.'
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