Volunteers to deliver advance notice of closures for events

More than 100 volunteers in green shirts are making the hand deliveries around the Town seafront, the western parishes, and the west coast.

To ensure the safety of athletes and spectators, there are a handful of events that will involve some road closures.

There are three races that require closures around the western parishes and west coast, and a further three which will necessitate the closure of the Town seafront.

The opening ceremony will also take place on the Town seafront, and the closing ceremony will see Footes Lane closed.

The Games organising committee is hoping that four months’ advanced notice will allow people to plan ahead.

Communications and events director Amanda Hibbs said the aim was to create a great games experience for everyone.

‘We last hosted the Games in 2003, and it’s a huge honour to be the first island to host for a third time,’ she said.

‘This is a once-in-20-years chance for people to enjoy their own unique viewing point for the cycling and triathlon events.’

She said that the quality of the competition was one of the reasons they needed to close roads with some cyclists expected to reach speeds more than 30mph on some stretches.

‘The atmosphere is going to be amazing, so we want people to come out, support the Games, and be part of it,’ she said.

She said organisers wanted to keep everyone fully informed, so they can prepare and enjoy the Games.

As the Games get closer, organisers will release awareness videos, and update the website guernsey2023.gg.

Volunteers are picking up the letters and leaflets this morning, and they have been asked to deliver their batches over the next couple of weeks.

The leaflets include comprehensive details about the roads affected and the timings.

People living outside the footprints of the courses will also be able to pick up leaflets from the constables’ offices and other public buildings.

During a closure, there will be no vehicular access along the route.

The exception is the cycle road race, where a rolling closure will allow cars to travel one-way behind the convoy for part of the course.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times, and people can walk pedal bikes along the routes.

At some junctions, vehicles will be able to cross over routes with the help of marshals.

Road closures will be kept to the shortest amount of time possible and removed as soon as it is safe to do so. Advance warning signs on affected roads will be put up well before the event.

The Games organising committee has worked closely with the sports, douzaines, Traffic & Highway Services, Guernsey Harbours, and JESCC, to try to minimise any inconvenience.

Emergency services will have full access as usual.

The Island Games is taking place between 8 and 14 July.

. Anyone with any queries regarding the closures can contact the Games office by emailing info@guernsey2023.gg or by calling 720215.

Roads affected by the Games

Opening ceremony

The seafront from the roundabout, including the Albert Pier, will be affected between 4 and 9pm. This is a similar area to a Seafront Sunday closure.

North Beach car park will close partially between Friday 7 and Sunday 9 July.

Triathlon

Route de Rocquaine, from Route de la Lague, will be affected between 8am and 5.30pm on Sunday 9 July. The cycle route will be closed from 11.50am to 4pm, with the route covering the length of Rocquaine Bay, as well as a loop that stretches as far inland as the Forest School filter.

The course will reopen once the last cyclist is finished.

The running route will be along the Rocquaine coastline, with the road shut between 11.50am and 5.30pm.

Cycling time trial

The women’s race takes place between 9 and 10.45am on Monday 10 July, and the men’s between 11am and 1pm.

The route stretches from L’Eree up to the Puffin & Oyster, and then back south, ending close to the Longfrie filter.

Cycling road race

This will consist of laps of the L’Eree circuit and the Coudre circuit on Wednesday 12 July.

The former will have a rolling closure, while the latter will require a full closure. The men’s race is between 8.30am and noon, and the women’s between 12.30 and 2.45pm.

Half marathon, cycling road criterium and triathlon relay

The St Peter Port seafront will be closed on Friday 14 July. Exact times will be given later.

Men’s football final and the closing ceremony

This will affect Footes Lane between 1pm and 12.30am on Friday 14 July. Details about how this will affect the Grammar School will be announced later.