The Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association chairwoman received very positive feedback after 14 of the island’s top junior swimmers and their management travelled for last autumn’s Malta Invitational Games, in which successful coach Sara Parfit described the competition as ‘very slick’.
Stuart’s own experience with Commonwealth Sport Malta president Julian Pace Bonello – who also has 12 years leading the island country’s Olympic Committee – only solidifies this impression.
Overall, she described the news that Malta will be hosting as ‘brilliant’.
‘I’ve met the president of the Malta Commonwealth Games Association at our European general meeting and he is very, very experienced in major sporting events – Olympic level,’ she said.
‘They have vast experience and they know these styles of events and running of these events. We’re really, really pleased.’
Swimmers made up the bulk of Guernsey’s squad at ‘Trinbago’ 2023 and the sport is guaranteed to be returning for Malta 2027.
Athletics, netball, squash, triathlon and weightlifting also feature, while sailing and water polo will make their Commonwealth Youth Games debuts.
These sports will be split between Malta and the nearby Gozo – the newest member of the Island Games family – in a dual-island concept.
But cycling, where Sam Culverwell claimed a silver at the Bahamas in 2017, is a prominent absentee for this edition.
‘Cycling is a strong sport in the Commonwealths and we have medalled in cycling,’ Stuart added.
‘The sports that are put on are picked by the host country, in agreement with Commonwealth Sport, and it’s one of those situations where we’re provided with the programme and it’s up to us at the GCGA to support athletes from our island to be able to compete.’
Stuart has welcomed the inclusion of sailing and water polo, the former of which could bring strong Guernsey representation if logistically suitable.
‘From our point of view, on the board of the GCGA, we do support all sports.
‘Whatever comes forward for a Games, we will support.
‘All of our sports that can be represented are represented – that’s part of our role, to support all athletes that strive to compete at the Commonwealth Games.’
This comes alongside the unveiling of the session schedule for Glasgow 2026, which will be running between Thursday 23 July and Sunday 2 August.
Stuart will be especially busy in coming months as she juggles Malta with the senior event in Glasgow – to which Guernsey’s athlete allocation has been confirmed at 20, in keeping with the Games’ scaled-down status.
‘It will be double-time with Glasgow next year and the start of the preparation for Malta 2027.’
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