Games Features

This time next year Jersey’s top sportsmen and women will be packing their rackets and running shoes and heading to the land of the midnight sun to represent their island at the ‘friendly games’.

BBC Jersey’s Island Games connoisseur Roger Bara (he’s covered every Games since 1993) has recently returned from a preview visit to the 2009 host island of Aland, an archipelago of islands that are Finnish in statute but Swedish in spirit.

He returned to excitedly report that not only would Aland be ready to host the Games tomorrow, but it boasts some of the best facilities he’s come across.

“The venues in Aland are without doubt the best I’ve seen in the last 15 years,” he said.

'Just about ready'

Having venues prepared in advance makes refreshing a change to last year’s Games in Rhodes, which were widely recognised to be disorganised and unprepared.

Wiklof athletics stadium has 1,600 spectator seats

“Everything is just about ready with a year to go, except sorting out accommodation, where there is still much work to do," Roger explained.

“In Rhodes accommodation was never a problem, but with a year to go very few facilities were ready and some never were completely ready.”

Accommodation shortage

When Aland bid for the 2009 Games four years ago they worked on the premise around 2,500 competitors would take part. However, the number of athlete registrations currently stands at 3,700.

Most hotels on the island are small, and with a total number of 2,400 beds for tourists it’s certainly accommodation which will provide the biggest headache for organisers.

Schools may become temporary athlete accommodation

It means Team Jersey may be divided between accommodation facilities, and competitors may be grouped by sport in hotels near the relevant venues.

The organisers state: “We are aware this is not ideal for team management, but there are advantages in competitors living close to their respective venues.

“Transport and catering costs will be minimized and the competitors will have the opportunity to mix with friends from other islands.”

There are also plans to turn school classrooms into dormitories using inflatable beds to provide the much needed extra accommodation.