100-day countdown to the Island Games

There are now 100 days to go until the 2023 NatWest International Island Games.

With 100 days until the Guernsey Island Games, some of the sports co-ordinators and games organising team gathered at Beau Sejour. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 31957073)

Nearly 2,200 athletes from 24 different countries will compete in 14 different sports across 25 venues over the space of one week this July, with over 1,600 medals up for grabs. The event kicks off on Saturday 8 July when the Town seafront will host the opening ceremony, the sports starting the following day.

Games director Julia Bowditch said preparations had been going to plan and the focus has now turned to logistics.

‘It’s been non-stop for the last couple of months,’ she said.

'We’re on track but it’s one of those things where in the next three months we’ve got a lot of things to get right.

‘Things like getting all the entrants in from the member islands. It’s the level of detail we have to go to, to make sure we have the right bus to pick up the right team, getting luggage labels out to the member islands, making sure when they arrive it's as smooth as possible.’

A recent concern for the Games’ team was accommodation for officials, which had led to sports clubs being asked if they could offer a bed and breakfast service.

Ms Bowditch said that this is currently being taken care of.

‘Accommodation for officials is all being done now,’ she said.

‘We’ve got over 100 international technical officials so we’re slotting them between all the hotels across the island, they’re all being booked in and they’ve got all their flights.’

Another milestone in the build-up is the release of the finalised schedule which is now available on the Guernsey 2023 website and also shows when each medal ceremony will take place.

There are 205 events taking place over the week, with 56 medal ceremonies.

Guernsey Island Games Association chairman Brian Allen expects to see crowded venues throughout the sports.

‘The Guernsey person is a fantastic enthusiast for sport for the island. I don’t think we have to do a lot apart from lay on all these competitions free of charge for them all to come and see and they’ll be there.’

More information on the Games, alongside a copy of the programme is available at guernsey2023.gg