Island Games: Get to know ... Gibraltar

It is also one of the few competing jurisdictions to be more densely populated than Guernsey, with more than 30,000 people in an area the size of St Saviour’s – almost half of which is taken up by a massive Jurassic limestone promontory on which the only primates are a population of about 300 macaques.

‘We’re a mini England in the sun,’ said Gibraltar Island Games Association president Linda Alvarez MBE.

‘Everything is British here. We’re more British than the British people are.’

Linda describes ‘an outdoors lifestyle’ lived by ‘happy-go-lucky people’ but admits that life for Gibraltarians has become problematic since the last games were held there in 2019.

One particular story has rarely left the front pages – the consequences of Brexit. Unlike Channel Islanders, Gibraltarians were able to take part in the vote and they were among the most committed remainers, with 95.9% opting for the UK’s continued membership of the EU.

‘Obviously we have a border with Europe – with Spain – and Brexit has really affected us very much,’ Linda told us.

‘We’ve had lots of problems getting food in, getting goods in, people crossing the frontier and it’s still a problem at the moment.’

The governments of Gibraltar, the UK and Spain are theoretically working on the territory’s inclusion in the Shengen Area, which would return Gibraltar’s ease of travel over the border to what it had been. But talks appear to have stalled.

‘It affects every single way of life. There were about 10,000 workers who came across every day, working for finance companies, betting companies etc. It really did upset us.’

As well as finance and online gambling, shipbuilding is also a contributor to the economy, along with tourism. This has also been badly affected by the new border controls but a recent increase in cruise ship visits has been a silver lining.

Where sport is concerned, Gibraltar can safely be said to be punching above its weight.

Football is the most popular sport and this is reflected by membership of Fifa and Uefa – secured, in both instances, through appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after initial refusals.

This means that, like the Faroes, Gibraltar have bigger fish to fry and will not send football teams to these games. Their next international will be a men’s Euro 24 qualifier away to Greece on 10 September.

‘Most of our young people are multi-sport orientated, however,’ Linda said.

Such is the broad interest that Gibraltar can boast no fewer than 44 sporting associations, with particular success coming in netball.

Linda also named three sports which have been boosted by the experience of hosting the Island Games four years ago.

‘Our cycling has just gone through the roof, beach volleyball has done really well as well – we’ve had a new court built for it – and table tennis has really ignited,’ she said.

The increase in interest in cycling has come about despite would-be Island Games competitors having to cross the border to undertake any serious training.

Gibraltar will be represented in road cycling at these games, but which sport represents their best chances of medal success?

‘Why do all you media people go on about medals all the time?’ Linda said with a chuckle.

‘I’ve been in this game since 1987 and it’s not all about medals. For me, it’s the participation, it’s the camaraderie, it’s the getting out there, it’s developing sports for youngsters.’

Unfortunately, cost considerations have forced the withdrawal of the basketball team, following difficulties in securing a direct flight.

‘We booked with the same charter company that Guernsey used to get here for the last games and then in April that company came and said “Oh, sorry, we can’t deal with you because of Brexit”, so we had to go to another company,’ Linda said.

Problems included no longer being in Europe, the need to travel with guns, Guernsey airport being ‘very small’ and landing at Gibraltar airport being restricted – due to its geography – to a very limited number of pilots.

The preferred solution was to charter a flight to Jersey and get a ferry but the ferry ‘leaves too early’ and so seats on flights have had to be bought for all competitors and officials, while the bikes are being brought by the newspaper boat.

‘Hotels in Guernsey are a little bit expensive as well,’ Linda said.

Despite all these difficulties Gibraltar will send a large team, including one man – Harry Murphy – who has competed in shooting at every opportunity since 1987.

About Gibraltar

Area: 6.8 sq. km (2.6 sq. miles)

Population: 32,688 (2022 census)

Population density: 4,807 per sq. km

Time zone: One hour ahead of Guernsey

Distance from Guernsey: 1,511km (939m)

Total IG medals won: 267 (74.5 G, 83.5 S, 109 B)

Medals won in 2003: 18 (4 G, 6 S, 8 B)

Competitors coming to Guernsey: 73

Route: Charter flight to Jersey, flights to Guernsey

Sports in which competing: Athletics, badminton, cycling, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon

Biggest sports star: Alison Nicholas MBE (winner of the 1977 US Women’s Open golf championship)

National delicacy: Calentita – a seasoned flatbread made with chickpea flour and olive oil

Parliamentary representation: 17 seats in a largely autonomous Gibraltar Parliament