Guernsey hosting 2023 ‘was just meant to be’
Guernsey is a fitting host for the post-pandemic NatWest Island Games, the chairman of the International Island Games Association has said.
With the start of the Games less than 48 hours away, Jorgen Pettersson said that the island’s position as being the first host to stage the Games on three occasions meant it was better-prepared to deal with the postponement of the 2021 event and be ready to host a fantastic Games.
‘I’m glad that it was Guernsey’s turn to become a host island for the third time,’ he said.
‘After 1987 and 2003, you, the people of Guernsey, you’re perfectly aware of what to expect.
‘So hence I think it was probably meant to be Guernsey this time, to handle the effects of a pandemic that we’ve never seen before, and to be able to not only accept the fact that it didn’t happen according to plan, but also to adjust to the new situation and deliver the way you have.’
Hear more from Jorgen Pettersson on our Guernsey 2023 preview podcast with Tony Curr, Gareth Le Prevost, Jamie Ingrouille, and Matt Fallaize
Mr Pettersson has praised the efforts of the local organising committee. He said the decision to postpone the 2021 Games was a difficult call, but well handled by Dame Mary Perkins and her team.
‘In my opinion, we did what we always have expected our competitors to do, to try a little bit harder, adjust to new situations and deliver the best you can.
‘So in a way, I think that we as administrators now have been put to a task that we have usually expected from our competitors, but we have not been used to doing it ourselves.’
Teams started to arrive yesterday by plane and boat. Some 500 arrived from as far afield as the Falkland Islands and Greenland, with direct flights also from the Faroe Islands and Copenhagen. Today another 1,400 athletes are expected.
‘It’s been brilliant to see the teams arriving and to feel their excitement. It’s been really busy at the airport all day,’ said Alex Smedley, leader of the volunteer welcome team.
