Menorca withdraws, but Guernsey 2019 ruled out
MENORCA will not host the Island Games in 2019, but it would be impossible for Guernsey to step in, local Games director Jon Marley has said.
The announcement was made at the Island Games AGM, after the Spanish isle failed to get a contract in place, with just four years to go.
Now secret discussions are under way to find a back-up venue for the event.
Menorca had been due to host the Games in 2021, but stepped in to host two years early, due to the Faroe Islands having problems with their golf course.
But Mr Marley said the issues in the Spanish economy had resulted in the Mediterranean island's struggle and a decision had to be made.
'Menorca is just not capable of hosting it, so the International Island Games Association wants to give an emergency host as much chance as possible,' he said.
'There are a couple of potential hosts and they want to try and arrange something.'
But Guernsey is not in the running.
While the Guernsey Island Games Association hopes for the friendly games to return to the Bailiwick in the 2020s, Mr Marley said that was not possible with just four years' notice, even though most of the infrastructure is already in place.
