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World Island Games
09/07/2005
First Minister Jack McConnell today opened the Natwest
Island Games on Shetland and hailed it as another chance
for Scotland to welcome visitors from across the world.
This is the first time this event has been held in
Scotland.
He said:
"These games have attracted sportsmen and women from
many islands spread across the world. It is fantastic that
they are coming to Scotland and to Shetland. I hope they
thoroughly enjoy the experience.
"Following G8 and the Special Olympics in Glasgow, this
is another chance for Scotland to host a global event. This
country is building up a reputation as a world class
destination for high profile events - and there can be no
better place for these games to take place.
"I am sure organisers, athletes, their supporters and
spectators will enjoy some special moments over the next
few days and take with them some special memories when they
leave.
"I have no doubt Shetland and Scotland will again shine
in front of an international audience."
The NatWest Island Games were founded in 1985 to:
- Foster and encourage friendship through sporting
activities between Island communities; and
- to provide opportunities for sportsmen and
sportswomen to participate in international sport.
NatWest, the event's main sponsor, provides funding for
both the 2005 Games and the International Island Games
Association. NatWest also offers sponsorship packages of up
to £2,000 per Island, each year, to assist with the
development of specific sports, coaches and technical
officials and the cost of travel to recognised competitions
outwith the applicants own Island.
The Games, which are held at two-yearly intervals, are
open to competitors representing an Island which is a
member of the Island Games Association. The International
Island Games Association is made up of 24 members who meet
every two years to compete in friendly competition. The
last Games were held on Guernsey in 2003 and attracted over
2,000 competitors. Rhodes will host the 2007 Games. The 24
island members of the Games are: Aland (located between
Sweden and Finland, in the northern Baltic Sea), Alderney,
Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands,
Froya (situated off the coast of Central Norway),
Gibraltar, Gotland (situated in the middle of the Baltic
Sea, 50-60 miles from the Swedish mainland), Greenland,
Guernsey, Hitra (situated off the coast of Central Norway),
Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Orkney, Prince Edward
Island, Rhodes, Saaremaa (the second largest island in the
Baltic Sea, lies in the Gulf of Riga), Sark, Shetland
Islands, St Helena, Western Isles, Ynys Mon (The Isle of
Anglesey).
Shetland has been represented at the Island Games since
its inception and the event continues to be a major
highlight in the sporting careers of many Shetlanders. With
a population of 23,000, Shetland is the smallest island to
stage the gathering, as well as being the first Scottish
island group to do so. Orkney and the Western Isles will
add to the representation from Scotland.