Sports to miss out on Gibraltar 2019

Wednesday 21 October 2015

Jersey’s medal-winning cyclists, footballers, volleyball players and golfers will all miss out on the action at the NatWest Island Games in four years' time.

Gibraltar have put in a bid to host a scaled-down version of the Games in 2019 after Menorca pulled out this summer.

In this year’s NatWest Island Games, which was convincingly won by Jersey in terms of gold and silver medals, the Island did well in cycling, football and volleyball.

The Jersey women’s football team took the gold medal (the Guernsey team won gold in the men’s tournament) and Jersey’s men took an unexpected bronze in the men’s beach volleyball competition and it was a chance for many local athletes to shine including cyclist Kim Ashton who picked up six gold medals.

Flora Keites, Gavin O'Neill and Jenny Deeley took medals in the individual golf competitions, and Jersey won gold in the team event.

Many will be disappointed at not being given the chance to compete in Gibraltar, the only Island to put in a bid after Menorca pulled out. The 12 sports will be athletics, badminton, basketball, judo, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling and triathlon.

The Island's "Sports Minister" Constable Steve Pallet said he doesn't know any of the details yet or what it will mean for these local sporting teams but says he's meeting with the Sports department tomorrow to discuss the Games in Gibraltar.

The event here this summer drew an estimated 5,000 visitors to the Island and is thought to have given the economy – in terms of extra business in hotels, restaurants and bars – a boost worth millions of pounds.

Gotland is preparing to host the next Games in June 2017.