NEWS RELEASE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ISLAND GAMES ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IN ORKNEY 20-25 MARCH 2002

NatWest Island Games 2003 in Guernsey to involve neighbour islands.

Shetland brings in squash to the NatWest Island Games 2005.

The Executive Committee (EC) of the International Island Games Association (IGA) met last weekend in the Orkney Islands. In addition to the officers and committee members of the IGA, representatives from sponsors, NatWest, and organising committee-members from the 2003 and 2005 NatWest Island Games in Guernsey and Shetland also attended the meeting.

NATWEST ISLAND GAMES IN GUERNSEY 2003
For the first time ever the Games in Guernsey will include competitions held on other member-islands. Some shooting-disciplines will take place in Sark while several football-matches will be played in Alderney, both members of the IGA. Mountain-biking will also take place on the Island of Herm.

"We are delighted to involve these islands in the organisation of the Games, believing this emphasises the importance of islands working together in order to host a major Channel Island event such as the NatWest Island Games", says Stuart Falla, chairman of the 2003 organising committee.

The Games will be opened the 28^th June 2003 by the Bailiff of Guernsey, Sir de Vic Carey.

NATWEST ISLAND GAMES IN SHETLAND 2005
At the EC-meeting in Orkney a contract was signed between IGA and the Shetland organising committee with regard to the NatWest Island Games in 2005. The planning of the eleventh Games is well under way and a 15^th sport has been approved by the EC as part of those Games. The new sport is squash which has never been included in the Games before. Three new venues are to be built in Shetland for the purpose.

WESTERN ISLES APPLIES FOR MEMBERSHIP
Western Isles, also known as the Outer Hebrides, has applied for membership of the IGA. Currently 23 islands are members, and according to the constitution of IGA a maximum of 25 islands can become members. The decision as to whether to admit the Western Isles as members will be taken at the Annual General Meeting to be held in Guernsey in July 2002.

FUTURE OF THE GAMES
Amongst the items discussed during the meeting in Orkney "the future of the Games" was a major issue. The challenge is to manage the growth of the event while not preventing smaller islands from becoming potential hosts. The Games attracts well over 2,000 people which puts enormous pressure on host islands with regard to accommodation and transport. The EC is monitoring the numbers of those attending the Games and considering different options for their future direction.

SOME WORDS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
"The Island Games have grown rapidly during the last years and we are well aware of the problems smaller islands have in order in taking on the task of being a host island.", says Bo Frykenstam (Gotland), chairman of the IGA.

Bo Frykenstam is also pleased that the main sponsor, NatWest, has decided to extend its contract with IGA until after the Games in Shetland in 2005.

"We have a good partnership with NatWest and are confident that our relationship with our sponsor benefits the member-islands", says Mr. Frykenstam.

For further information, please contact Bo Frykenstam, (Chairman, IGA) tel +46-498-58190.