Island Games

Last updated

Island Games
GenreMulti-sports event
FrequencyBiennial
Location(s)Various
Inaugurated1985;39 years ago (1985)
Most recent 2023 Island Games
Next event 2025 Island Games
Participants~ 2,000
Organised by IIGA
Sponsor NatWest International
Website Official IIGA website

The Island Games (currently known as the NatWest International Island Games for sponsorship reasons) are biennial international multi-sports events organised by the International Island Games Association (IIGA). Competitor teams each represent different island communities (with one team from the peninsula of Gibraltar) which are IIGA members. Currently, all competitor teams represent non-sovereign territories of European nations—some within European waters and some further overseas.

Contents

The most recent edition was the 2023, which took place in Guernsey with around 2,200 competitors from 24 islands or island groups participating in 14 sports. The next games will be hosted by Orkney in 2025.

History

The Island Games began in 1985 as the Inter-Island Games, as part of the Isle of Man International Year of Sport, and were intended to be a one-off sporting celebration only. Geoffrey Corlett, who became the first Games Director, not only contacted the islands surrounding the United Kingdom, but also encouraged the countries of Iceland and Malta, the territories of Faroe Islands, Greenland, Saint Helena, the Channel Islands and others to participate.

Initially, fifteen islands with 600 competitors and officials took part in seven sports, [1] with the total cost of staging the Games being put at £70,000. The track and field events were held on an eight-lane grass track, a far cry from the current games, which now use synthetic tracks in stadiums capable of holding thousands of spectators. The Games of 1985 were so successful that organisers decided to hold a similar event two years later. [2] The Games have grown from strength to strength, with limits now in place for the number of teams, and the number of sports at each Games, currently 12 to 14. Sark could be considered the most successful island, their population of 600 having acquired 20 medals by 2015, one for every 30 people.

NatWest International has been the main sponsor of the Games since 1999. In April 2018, they signed a deal extending their sponsorship until at least 2021. In 2020, Natwest International confirmed the Guernsey games, originally scheduled for 2021, but delayed to 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic would be the last tournament they would be sponsoring. [3] At the time the replacement sponsor had not been confirmed.

A traditional symbol of the games was started in 1991 when Åland asked all teams to bring some water from their islands, which was then mixed in a fountain. All future games has water from the previous fountain added to water from each island competing in the new games, creating a symbol of "mixing together". [4]

Games venues

Faroese stamp to the 1989 Island Games: Rowing Faroe stamp 180 boat race.jpg
Faroese stamp to the 1989 Island Games: Rowing
Football Faroe stamp 182 football.jpg
Football
YearGamesHost islandNumbers of
participants
AthletesSports
1985 I Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man 157007
1987 II Flag of Guernsey.svg  Guernsey 181,0499
1989 III Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 1580011
1991 IV Flag of Aland.svg  Åland 171,50013
1993 V Flag of the Isle of Wight.svg  Isle of Wight 191,44814
1995 VI Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 181,21413
1997 VII Flag of Jersey.svg  Jersey 20~2,00013
1999 VIII Flag of Gotland.svg  Gotland 221,85814
2001 IX Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man 222,02015
2003 X Flag of Guernsey.svg  Guernsey 232,12915
2005 XI Flag of Shetland.svg  Shetland 241,65814
2007 XII Flag of Rhodes Island.svg  Rhodes [5] 252,34314
2009 XIII Flag of Aland.svg  Åland 242,28614
2011 XIV Flag of the Isle of Wight.svg  Isle of Wight 242,31114
2013 XV Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 221,29614
2015 XVI Flag of Jersey.svg  Jersey 242,43014
2017 XVII Flag of Gotland.svg  Gotland 232,33314 [6]
2019 XVIII Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar [7] [8] [9] 221,70014 [10]
2021 Postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic [11] [12]
2023 XIX Flag of Guernsey.svg  Guernsey [13] [14] 242,19414
2025 XX 2007 Flag of Orkney.svg  Orkney [15] [14] 13
2027 XXI Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands [16] [14] [17]
2029 XXII Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man [14] [18] 14

Guernsey put in a bid for the 2021 Games following the Faroe Islands' withdrawal from hosting. [19] The bid was approved in July 2016. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Games were cancelled and rescheduled for 2023 with Guernsey still as hosts, with future hosts pushed out by two years as well.

Orkney will host the 2025 Games. [20] They were awarded the right to host on 7 July 2018 at the AGM in Gibraltar.

The Isle of Man made an official bid to host the Island Games in 2029 in July 2023. [21]

In August 2018 it was reported that the Falkland Islands are considering hosting the Games in 2033. [22]

In December 2023 it was announced that the Faroe Islands would replace Ynys Môn as the hosts of the 2027 games due to funding having been directed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Faroe Islands, who had submitted a bid for the 2031 games [23] , expressed a desire to host the games early, having previously guaranteed funding towards the games in 2018 [24] , and were selected as a replacement for Ynys Môn. [25]

Participation

A total of 28 islands, island groups or territories have participated in the Island Games; eleven of these have participated in every Island Games.

Medals

Every island has won at least 4 medals with Alderney the only island awaiting their first Gold.

Island Games participants and total medals won (to 2023)
Island(s)Country (and status)PopulationYearsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Flag of Aland.svg  Åland Flag of Finland.svg Finland (autonomous province)28,6661985–191200190.5581.5
Flag of Alderney.svg  Alderney Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (island; part of the crown dependency (Bailiwick) of Guernsey)1,9001987, 1993–0235
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (overseas territory)64,2002003–107115119341
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (overseas territory)56,7001999–13310791331
Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg  Falkland Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (overseas territory)2,9001993–2111326
Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark (autonomous territory)49,7001985–269255301825
Flag of Froya.svg  Frøya Flag of Norway.svg Norway (municipality island) [lower-alpha 2] 4,3001985–1124
Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (overseas territory)30,0001987–77.586.5119283
Flag of Gotland.svg  Gotland Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden (county)57,2001985–336.5245.5252834
Flag of Gozo.svg  Gozo Flag of Malta.svg  Malta (island)39,300 2023 1 2 1 4
Flag of Greenland.svg  Greenland Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark (autonomous territory)56,0811989–243138.593.5
Flag of Guernsey.svg  Guernsey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (island; part of the crown dependency (Bailiwick) of Guernsey)65,8001985–5365495341619
Flag of Hitra.svg  Hitra Flag of Norway.svg Norway (municipality island) [lower-alpha 2] 4,2501985–1989, 1997–4101528
Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (crown dependency)84,5001985–530495460.51485.5
Flag of the Isle of Wight.svg  Isle of Wight Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (English county)138,4001985–203208220621
Flag of Jersey.svg  Jersey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (crown dependency, Bailiwick)105,5001985–634625560.31819.3
Bandera de Menorca.svg Menorca Flag of Spain.svg Spain (island)94,4002007–575771185
2007 Flag of Orkney.svg  Orkney Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (Scottish council area)21,3001985–234144108
Saaremaa lipp.svg  Saaremaa Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia (county)31,0001991–126129101.5356.5
Flag of Saint Helena.svg  Saint Helena Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (overseas territory)4,2501985–1987, 1997–33511
Flag of Sark.svg  Sark Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom [lower-alpha 1] (island part of the crown dependency of Guernsey)6001987–2011, 2015–317727
Flag of Shetland.svg  Shetland Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (Scottish council area)23,2001985–6283113258
Western Isles Council Flag.svg  Western Isles Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (Scottish council area)27,4002005–28262781
Flag of Anglesey.svg Ynys Môn Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (Welsh principal area) [lower-alpha 2] 69,7001985–434257142
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 329,0001985–1997504540.7135.7
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 445,0001985–198762210
Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg  Prince Edward Island Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada (province)140,0001991–200766921
Flag of Rhodes Island.svg  Rhodes Flag of Greece.svg Greece (island; Regional Unit (Περιφερειακή ενότητα))115,5001999–2011, 2015535245150

Islands marked in grey are no longer members of the IIGA and so cannot compete at the Island Games.

Participation in other games

Of the 24 current IIGA members, two (Bermuda and the Cayman Islands) have competed in their own right at the Olympic Games.

Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Jersey and St. Helena have each sent teams to the Commonwealth Games.

Olympic athletes

Islanders who have gone on to participate in Olympic Games events include:

Sports

The host country chooses between 12 and 14 different sports for their games from this list:

Sport I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX Total XX XXI
Archery Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg16Green check.svg
Athletics Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg19Green check.svg
Badminton Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg18Green check.svg
Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg11
Bowls (Indoor‡,
Lawn∞, or Ten Pin*)
Green check.svgGreen check.svg*Green check.svgGreen check.svg*Green check.svg5Green check.svg
Cycling Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg18Green check.svg
Football Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg17Green check.svg
Golf Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg14Green check.svg
Gymnastics Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg12Green check.svg
Judo Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Sailing (may include
Sailboarding*)
Green check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svgGreen check.svg14Green check.svg
Shooting Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg19Green check.svg
Squash Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg4Green check.svg
Swimming Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg19Green check.svg
Table Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg17
Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg15
Triathlon Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8Green check.svg
Volleyball (may include
Beach Volleyball*)
Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg*Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg*Green check.svg*Green check.svgGreen check.svg*18
Total sports79111314131314151514141414141414141413

Notably, the Island Games' football tournament is one of the most well-established tournaments of non-FIFA international football.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are not part of the United Kingdom, but their sovereignty is the responsibility of the United Kingdom as they are not sovereign countries themselves.
  2. 1 2 3 Connected to their main countries by road.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Island Games Association</span> Organizer of the Island Games

The International Island Games Association (IIGA) is the organising body for the Island Games, a friendly biennial multi-sport competition between teams from several European islands and other small territories. The IIGA liaises with the member island associations and with sponsors of the games. It investigates whether islands wanting to join fit the membership criteria.

Non-FIFA international football is the segment of international football that is not overseen by FIFA. FIFA is the international governing body of association football, overseeing football globally and with running international representative matches. However, some international football takes place outside its purview. This often consists of matches involving sub-national entities such as islands, colonies, or autonomous regions. Representative matches also occur involving states with limited international recognition who are unable to qualify for FIFA membership. There are also a limited number of states whose representative teams are not affiliated to FIFA. Historically, a number of competitions occurred outside FIFA's auspices. Member associations are national associations, usually affiliated to continental confederations which are subordinate to FIFA.

Football has been a regular event since 1989 at the Island Games, the biennial multi-sports event for island nations, territories and dependencies. A 5-a-side competition for under-16s was held at the inaugural event on the Isle of Man, and the success this minor competition brought to the games meant senior men's football was included on the itinerary for the first time in the Faroe Islands, in 1989. Women's football was included on the games' schedule for the first time in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Island Games</span>

The XIII Island Games were held in Åland, Finland, June 27-July 4, 2009. For the 13th edition of the Games, 25 teams competed in 14 different sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Island Games</span>

The XIV Island Games were a major international multi-sport event held from 25 June to 1 July 2011, in the Isle of Wight, England. A total of 2,306 athletes from 24 islands competed in 15 sports and 190 events. The 2011 Island Games were the second Island Games to be hosted by the Isle of Wight. Previously, the Isle of Wight hosted the 1993 Island Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Island Games</span>

The XV Island Games were held in Bermuda from 13 to 19 July 2013. Bermuda was selected to host the Games by default after Prince Edward Island withdrew from the International Island Games Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Island Games</span>

The XVI Island Games were held in Jersey, Channel Islands, from 27 June to 3 July 2015. This was the second time the island hosted the games, the first being in 1997.

The XVII Island Games were held in Gotland, Sweden, from 24 to 30 June 2017. This was the second time that the island hosted the Games, the first being in 1999.

Basketball is an event at the Island Games, the biennial multi-sports event for island nations, territories and dependencies.

Sailing is an event at the Island Games, the biennial multi-sports event for island nations, territories and dependencies.

Swimming is an event at the Island Games, the biennial multi-sports event for island nations, territories and dependencies. Swimming at the Island Games started in 1985 and has been a sport in the games on every occasion since then. Minimum age to compete is 13

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Island Games</span> 2019 sports competition

The XVIII 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Island Games</span> Multi-sports competition

The XIX Island Games were to have been held in Guernsey in 2021; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Games were postponed. This occasion will be the third time that the island would host the games, the first being in 1987, and the second in 2003.

The 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament was an association football tournament which was held between 15 and 22 June 2019 in Anglesey, Wales. It was organised due to the hosts of the 2019 Island Games, Gibraltar being unable to run a tournament due to lack of pitches. As football is one of the most popular sports at the games it was decided to hold the matches elsewhere, albeit with the results not officially part of the Island Games history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenland national football team results</span>

This is a list of Greenland national football team results from 1980 to present.

Sailing, for the 2023 Island Games, held in St Peter Port, Guernsey in July 2023

Triathlon, for the 2023 Island Games, was held at Rocquaine Bay, Guernsey on 9 July and St Peter Port, Guernsey on 14 July 2023.

Golf, for the 2023 Island Games, was held at L'Ancresse Golf Course, Guernsey on 11 to 14 July 2023.

Cycling, for the 2023 Island Games, held in various locations around Guernsey in July 2023.

Badminton, for the 2023 Island Games, held at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre and St Sampson’s High School, Guernsey in July 2023.

References

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  3. "Guernsey Island Games in 2021 the last to be sponsored by NatWest International". itv.com. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  4. "Bailiff of Guernsey McMahon opens Island Games on St Peter Port seafront". 8 July 2023.
  5. "NatWest Island Games - Rhodes 2007 June 30th - July 6th". Rhodes Results 2007. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  6. "2017 sports". Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  7. James Law. "BBC Sport - Island Games: Menorca pull out of hosting 2019 event". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  8. "BBC Sport - Island Games: Gibraltar bid to host 2019 competition". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
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  10. "2019 Island Games: Gibraltar axes football, cycling and volleyball". Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  11. "Guernsey NatWest International Island Games 2021 postponed". International Island Games Association. 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  12. "'Stability needed after Games postponement'". Jersey Evening Post. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  13. "Guernsey to host 2021 Island Games". BBC News. 2 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "2021 Island Games Postponed To 2023". 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  15. "Orkney to host 2023 Island Games". 7 July 2018. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  16. "Ynys Môn secure rights to host International Island Games". 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  17. "Island Games 2027 - New Hosts". 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  18. "Isle of Man confirmed as 2029 Island Games host". 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
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  20. "Dates for Orkney 2025 International Island Games Confirmed - News | VisitScotland.org". www.visitscotland.org. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  21. "Official bid to bring Games back to Manx soil". 11 July 2023.
  22. "Falklands wants to host the 2033 Island Games". 27 August 2018. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
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