Our future's so bright, we gotta wear shades
Guernsey's Island Games are off to a dazzling start.
Thousands of spectators watched 10 sports on a sun-drenched first day of competition, which ended with Guernsey at the top of the medal table having won as many golds as all other islands combined.
Venues across the island were packed to watch local athletes win gold in a variety of individual and team events in triathlon, athletics and shooting before a crowd estimated at up to 4,000 packed the Track to watch the hosts start their men’s football campaign with a 1-0 victory.
‘It was beyond expectations,’ said triathlete Josh Lewis, after defending the gold he won four years ago.
‘I can’t put into words how much it means that so many people are here supporting and helping everyone through the race.’
Fellow triathlete Megan Chapple won her first Games gold at Rocquaine.
Watch: Guernsey's golden day at Rocquaine
‘I am ecstatic – over the moon,’ she said.
She paid tribute to spectators ‘the whole way around, and not just for Guernsey – there’s so many people supporting other islands and so many people cheering the whole race’.
Sarah Roe overcame an injury mid-race to win another 10,000m gold. ‘I did think, maybe, I wouldn’t [finish] but I kept going and the crowd was so great, so encouraging, they really spurred me on,’ she said.
It was clear from Saturday’s opening ceremony that Guernsey would warmly embrace the Games, as big crowds gathered at the North Beach and lined the seafront to welcome 2,500 athletes and officials from 23 visiting islands for the week-long festival of sport.
On a less happy note, Games organisers issued a warning to be vigilant of online scammers targeting the Games through copycat pages trying to encourage online fans to pay to ‘watch coverage’.
