Most members of Team Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, will be visiting Orkney for the first time this week, ahead of the 2025 Island Games which are taking place on the Scottish island.
Team Guernsey’s Team Manager, Karen Archenoul is one of the few members of the Sarnian side who had already seen the sporting venues before Games week though, having travelled up on a recce last year.
This isn’t her first Island Games though – having been involved in the bi-annual competition for decades – as a competitor and then as a board member of the Guernsey Island Games Association.
“I’ve been on the Board since 2016 and I’ve done two games involved with the logistics. This is my first one as Team Manager, and it’s really exciting. I’m really nervous, and hoping that all goes well, but we’ve had a lot of planning. It’s been months and months of planning, finalising some of these details so yes, it should all be all be set and ready to go without any problems.”
Stepping up to Team Manager for the 2025 Island Games was a big decision for Ms Archenoul, but she’s confident she’ll be able to guide the Sarnian side through the very busy week.
“It was a natural progression for me,” she said. “I like organising. That’s what I do, I’m quite good at it, so I think it was a natural progression to go from logistics to Team Manager.
“I’ve had a lot of years competing at 11 games as well,” she added.
“My first Games was in 95 in Gibraltar and I then did eight games as a competitor. So, I’ve got both sets of backgrounds, and I think that’ll work really, really well for the Team Manager role.”
As Team Manager, Archenoul will be responsible for the whole of Team Guernsey over the Games week.
Guernsey is one of the largest teams travelling to Orkney for the Games, with athletes competing in 11 sports.
Competing in an Island Games can be very expensive with travel costs often falling to the individual athlete to cover.
A lot of Team Guernsey’s overall costs have been covered by Healthspan as principal sponsor this year.
Sophia Catton, Head of Brand Marketing at Healthspan, said for them it was an easy decision to get involved.
“We’re a Guernsey based company. Our roots are in Guernsey, we’ve been here for almost 30 years now, so it made sense to help with the sponsorship, but also providing the sports nutrition for all of the athletes. So we’re providing a selection of sports nutrition for all of the different athletes depending on their different needs.”
Ms Catton said Healthspan is particularly keen to encourage healthy lifestyles which the Island Games athletes embody through their own efforts.
“Wellbeing is core, and we’ve seen in Guernseythe up and coming talent is absolutely fantastic. So, yes, we’re looking forward to seeing how everyone enjoys it, and hope everyone hits their peak for what they’re aiming to do.”
Both Ms Archenoul and Ms Catton agreed that the Island Games ethos about friendship is one of the most important aspects they are looking to support and encourage during Games week in Orkney this year.
“I think it is all about us performing well as a team, supporting Sark and Alderney as well, because we do that,” said Ms Archenoul.
“Sark are the smallest island competing with just two competitors this time, and unfortunately, Alderney have had to really peel down their team as well. But I think it’s all about making new friends,” she said.
“It’s all about that community, which Sophia said it’s about that community and those island roots, and it’s all about coming together with old friends and making new friends. The competition is always there, and you want to go out there and compete well, but I think as important is that community spirit of making friends and taking that forward to future Games.”