2019 Island Games

Last updated

2019 Island Games
2019 Island Games logo.jpg
HostFlag of Gibraltar.svg Gibraltar
Teams24 islands
Athletes≈2,000
Events14 sports
Opening6 July 2019
Closing12 July 2019
Opened by Ed Davis
  2017
2023  

The XVIII Island Games (officially the 2019 NatWest Island Games) were held in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar between 6 and 12 July 2019. This was the second time the territory hosted the Games, the first being in 1995.

Contents

The 2019 Games did not include archery, cycling, football, or volleyball, which had been part of all previous games since 1985, due to the lack of venues. They were replaced by tenpin bowling, judo, and squash. Gibraltar's sports facilities were greatly redeveloped throughout 2018. Cycling was subsequently included in the list of events on the Games official website, while the 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament was announced as a substitute for the lack of football. [1]

Host

The Faroe Islands were initially scheduled to stage the 2019 games, with the 2021 games taking place in Menorca, but in 2014 the hosts were swapped following issues with the Faroese facilities being ready in time. [2] Menorca then withdrew from hosting the 2019 games in July 2015 following a change in government. [3] After the Isle of Man and 2015 hosts Jersey confirmed that they would not apply as replacements, [3] [4] Gibraltar announced in August their intention to host the games, [5] and were officially announced as hosts in April 2016. [6]

On 2 May 2018 it was announced that Ynys Môn would hold an unofficial football tournament to replace the absence of football in the Island Games. Islands that are regulars to the Games were expected to attend. [7]

Participating islands

22 island entities of the IIGA, from Europe, South Atlantic and the Caribbean area, competed in these Games. Both Rhodes and Frøya did not participate in this edition.

Sports

Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each sport. [8] [9] [10]

Venues

SportVenue
ShootingRifle Shooting Range, IPSC Shooting Range
Basketball & TennisTercentenary Hall & Bayside Sports Complex
JudoDevils Tower Camp Gym
TriathlonEastern Beach
Ten Pin BowlingKings Bastion Leisure Centre
SailingRoyal Gibraltar Yacht Club
TennisSandpits Lawn Tennis Club
Table TennisSt Joseph's Middle School
ShootingClay Shooting Range
Athletics, Shooting & SwimmingLathbury Sports Complex
Beach VolleyballCamp Bay
Badminton & Squash Europa Point Sports Complex

[11]

Medal table

  *   Host nation (Gibraltar)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Jersey.svg  Jersey 33312993
2Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man 29221768
3Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 22112760
4Flag of Guernsey.svg  Guernsey 19373187
5Saaremaa lipp.svg Saaremaa 1612634
6Gotland kommunvapen.svg Gotland 13141643
7Flag of Aland.svg  Åland 1271635
8Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands 1110930
9Flag of the Isle of Wight.svg  Isle of Wight 1181534
10Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar*812929
11Bandera de Menorca.svg Menorca 8101331
12Western Isles Council Flag.svg Western Isles 4228
13Flag of Greenland.svg  Greenland 2248
14Flag of Shetland.svg  Shetland 211114
15Flag of Anglesey.svg Ynys Môn 2136
162007 Flag of Orkney.svg Orkney 1326
17Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 06814
18Flag of Hitra.svg Hitra 0213
19Flag of Sark.svg Sark 0101
20Flag of Alderney.svg Alderney 0000
Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg  Falkland Islands 0000
Flag of Saint Helena.svg Saint Helena 0000
Totals (22 entries)193192219604

References

  1. North Wales Chronicle article announcing tournament
  2. "Guernsey to bid to host 2023 or 2025 Island Games". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 Law, James (6 July 2015). "Island Games: Menorca pull out of hosting 2019 event". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  4. Kneale, Dave (10 July 2015). "Isle of Man not in running to step in and host 2019 Island Games". Isle of Man Today. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  5. "Island Games: Gibraltar bid to host 2019 competition". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  6. "Gib set for 2019 NatWest Island Games". Gibraltar Chronicle. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  7. "Ynys Mon to host unofficial 2019 'Island Games' football tournament". BBC. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  8. "2019 Island Games: Gibraltar axes football, cycling and volleyball". BBC. 20 October 2015.
  9. "Guernsey to host the 2021 Island Games". IIGA.
  10. "2019 Island Games: Sports".
  11. "Venues". Gibraltar 2019 Natwest International Island Games XVIII. Retrieved 13 June 2019.