England CEO backs more internationals over here
GUERNSEY’S model of athletics is ‘fantastic’ – setting an example for mainland English clubs – and the island could definitely host another international competition in the next few years.
That is according to England Athletics chief executive officer Chris Jones, who has been inspired to improve his collaboration with Guernsey Athletics Club following a positive visit to Footes Lane this week.
A year after sending an elite England under-20 team over for a resoundingly successful Intertrust Games, dubbed the ‘Guernsey International’, Jones confirmed his interest in a similar meet in the near future.
‘We thoroughly enjoyed bringing our U20 international team to compete against a Guernsey and Scotland team in 2018,’ he said.
‘We are already looking at how we can repeat a similar approach in the coming year or two, resources permitting.’
This is all within the scope of a wider collaboration plan between the local club, the Sports Commission and England Athletics.
‘Providing opportunities for talented athletes to represent their country as part of their ongoing development is a fundamentally important aspect of what EA and, of course, the Guernsey federation do, so we share that ambition,’ he added.
‘With the Commonwealth Youth Games due to take place in 2021 and the senior event taking place in Birmingham in 2022, we all stand to benefit from ongoing collaboration.’
The standard of facilities had been a major eye-catcher for Jones and he also found inspiration in Guernsey’s model of cross-sport partnership.
‘I was also aware of the strong cross-sport partnership that is in place between football, athletics, rugby and hockey.
‘The model in Guernsey of a cross-sport partnership involving clubs, the island’s Sports Commission and the state is obviously extremely effective.’‘I am sure that other clubs on the mainland can learn much from this approach and I will take some of these findings back to impart with other member clubs.’
Full interview to follow.
