© International Island Games Association
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 July 2004 Shetland is ready for the NatWest Island Games – 2.500 sportspeople to compete About 60 delegates representing 24 member-islands visited Shetland this weekend in order to inspect sporting facilities and plans for the 2005 NatWest Island Games – a major sporting event taking place in Shetland 9-15th July next year. About 2.500 sportspeople will compete in 15 different sports at the biennial sporting event that started in Isle of Man 1985. The chairman of the of the International Island Games Association (IGA) Bo Frykenstam (Gotland) comments: ”I have great confidence in the organisation of the NatWest Island Games in Shetland. The organisers have done an excellent job ensuring that the eleventh Games will be a great experience for the sportspeople from the different member islands.” During 2004 £ 13.000 has been paid to different member-islands from the NatWest Sport Development Programme. Since 1998 over £ 70.000 has been allocated to schemes which have both introduced and developed Games sports in the member islands. At the Annual General Meeting Åland, Ynys Mon and Saaremaa confirmed their intention to bid to host the Games in 2009. The Cayman Islands representative gave notice that they intend to bid for the Games in 2011. It was agreed that from 2009 there would be a maximum of 14 sports and a minimum of 12 in any Games. These will be chosen from an agreed list of 18 sports. The NatWest Island Games will be one of the biggest multi-sporting events in Europe 2005. For more information please visit www.islandgames.net or www.shetland2005.info or call Mr Frykenstam, tel +46705649575. Shetland 11th July 2004. |
