Extra cash gives athletes a flying start

Saturday 31 December 2016

It’s going to cost NatWest Island Games competitors less to fly to this year’s competition in the Scandinavian island of Gotland than they at first feared.

The States has found an extra £32,500 to help subsidise travel costs.

The money’s going to be used as a deposit to secure charter flights from the Island to the games.

Travel and accommodation costs to the Swedish island have always been high, but Brexit and the resulting drop in the value of sterling against the krone have made the situation even worse.

At one time it was feared the average cost for competitors going to the games was going to be around £1,400, the grant has now cut that by £300. Still, many competitors say it’s still too expensive and have announced they wont be going.

Commenting on the additional funding, Connétable Steve Pallett, EDTSC Assistant Minister with responsibility for Sport, said: “Following the success of ‘Team Jersey’ at the 2015 NatWest Island Games in Jersey, it is important that the Island sends a strong team to represent Jersey in Gotland. This additional funding – largely arising from higher than anticipated events income at Fort Regent – will help improve the chances of more local competitors taking part and experiencing the positive benefits of top class international competition.”

Steve Jacobs, Chairman of the Island Games Association of Jersey, said: “We are extremely grateful to the States and the Department for this increased level of support, which will come as a great boost to athletes, team officials and sports associations as they continue their extensive efforts to raise funding locally in order to send high calibre teams to compete in a wide variety of sports.”

The games start on 24 June and run for a week, there are 14 sports.