‘Games going back to grassroots’ in Orkney - GIGA chairman

It has been a huge few days on the Games front, with Orkney showing off their sporting venues one year before their first-ever staging, alongside the confirmation that the Faroe Islands will host in 2027 and the Isle of Man in 2029. Gotland was also confirmed as the preferred bidder for 2031.

Marley, chairman of the Guernsey Island Games Association, gave his seal of approval to the venues selected for next July.

‘All good. I’ve generally no complaints at all,’ he told the Guernsey Press Sport Podcast.

‘Looking forward to it, in fact.

• Hear the full interview with GIGA chairman Jon Marley on this week’s Guernsey Press Sport Podcast

‘Accommodation-wise, it’s obviously still a bit of an issue, but we’re going to work as much as we can with our athletes and the organisers.

‘Hopefully we’ll get everybody in and in the sort of beds and extra that they require – that’s a tough thing.

‘We all knew that, when we signed, Orkney’s up to doing it, so we’re going to have to buy into that and make the best of it.’

Marley highlighted the athletics track with its surrounding amphitheatre, a very good swimming pool, and multi-sport Pickaquoy Centre as standout venues.

Memories are still fresh from last July’s monumental home Games, which provided a swansong opportunity for many of the island’s top athletes.

In general, Marley sees the next few Games as a step back towards ‘grassroots’ type events – which is not necessarily a bad thing.

‘For the Island Games to continue, these types of Games are going to have to become more prevalent.

‘You can’t have Guernsey, Jersey and Gotland and Aland expected to step up every eight years, effectively.

‘There has to be other islands stepping into that, and thankfully we know certainly Faroes will be coming up in ‘27 and Isle of Man in ‘29.

‘Then there’s also some other islands that have got their names in the hat for future hosts as well.

‘It’s nice for the younger athletes, maybe, to make a name for themselves.

‘You know, how many other local athletes made their names at the Island Games? So yeah, I’m looking forward to it.’

Orkney 2025 will be the first edition under the heading of Isle of Man resident Andrew Inkster, who replaced the popular Jorgen Petersson as IIGA chairman.

‘We are delighted to see these future host island arrangements confirmed today, and we look forward to seeing more progress in their arrangements,' he said.

‘With a number of other member islands also showing serious interest in becoming a host, we are confident that our Games are secure for the future.’