THE countdown clock for the NatWest Island Games ticked down to double figures on Thursday with a little over three months to go before the biggest sporting event that Jersey has ever hosted.
At a presentation to mark 100 days on Thursday, a number of the Waitrose Games Makers, who will be providing a helping hand during the Games, were present to welcome guests.
- 2,710 competing athletes
- 769 Games officials
- 24 Islands
- 400 Waitrose Games makers
- 48 media companies confirmed to cover the Games
- 32 sporting venues
- 1,164 medals
The Games Makers programme is one addition which is hoped will help to invoke the spirit of the spectacular London 2012 Olympics.
A number of further details were announced at the event, including the full sporting schedule to allow spectators to map out their plans for the week for the first time.
As the opening ceremony at Howard Davis Park on Saturday 27 June edges closer, the message from the organising committee was clear – ‘we’re ready, are you?’
The Games
AMONG the details revealed on the 100 day milestone was the schedule, the publication of which allows Islanders to plot their week and what events they want to see.
Over the course of just six days this summer, more than 1,500 medals are due to be given given out, with hopes high that Jersey athletes will keep a good percentage of those on the Island.
The organising committee had the unenviable task of fitting around 900 events into the week-long programme.
Steve Bailey, Jersey 2015 Games director, said: ‘The schedule has been particularly difficult because there is so much going on.
‘We have been working with the individual sports who are experts in their discipline and have advised what rest is needed, but that is not always possible.’
Mr Bailey admitted that he is getting more nervous the closer the curtain-raising opening ceremony gets, but insisted that Jersey will shine when the competitors from the 24 participating islands arrive.
He added: ‘We are just under 100 days out and in a very good place. I am nervous because there will be big challenges creeping up but the excitement across the Island is palpable and the enthusiasm to see the Games is huge.’
JERSEY 2015 Games director Steve Bailey picked out some of his top sporting events from the week-long event.
100m men’s and women’s swimming freestyle final
Where and When: Les Quennevais Sports Centre – men’s final 6 pm on Wednesday 1 July, women’s final 6 pm on Thursday 2 July.
What Steve said: ‘As a former swimmer this is something I’m very excited about. The swimming is always very popular and will be again.’
Archery
Where and When: Jersey Rugby Club – four individual finals between 2 pm and 4 pm on Wednesday 1 July.
What Steve said: ‘I find archery very impressive. There is a huge amount of skill involved and watching someone hit the centre of the target three times in a row is fantastic.’
Shooting
Where and When: Crabbé shooting ranges with multiple events taking place throughout all six days of competition.
What Steve said: ‘I really want to see some of the shooting. The work done at Crabbé has been fantastic and we have over 312 medals being given out in shooting so there are plenty of finals to see.’
Sailing
Where and When: ‘St Aubin’s Fort, the last race in the laser class takes place at 10.30 am on Thursday 2 July.
What Steve said: ‘I think the sailing will be one of must-see events. There will be a great atmosphere and lots going on at St Aubin.’
Men’s football final
Where and When: Springfield Stadium at 2 pm on Friday 3 July.
What Steve said: ‘This will be big and will be one of the last events of the Games. It could be a Jersey v Guernsey final, which would be very noisy.’
Phil Austin, chairman of the organising committee, likened the wait until the opening ceremony to revising for an exam.
He said: ‘When you revise so much you get to the point where you just want to sit the exam tomorrow. That’s how we’re feeling at the moment.
‘We will be encouraging the schools to allow the children to come along to the sports. The pressure will mount as it gets nearer but we have to enjoy this.’
Helping out at the Games will be 400 Waitrose Games makers who are currently undergoing the same training programme that volunteers at the London 2012 Olympics took part in.
As a result volunteer involvement at Jersey 2015 will be far higher than at any previous Island Games.
Cliff Chipperfield, Jersey’s chief Games maker, said: ‘This will be the first time the Island Games will have a structured volunteer system.
‘It gives Jersey an edge when it comes to showcasing the Island and everybody around the Island will get the same reception. It is our job to make sure that everybody that comes gets the best possible experience.’
With the exception of the opening ceremony, all events at the Island Games will be free to enter, although Mr Bailey did admit that some venues, such as Les Quennevais where the swimming is taking place, will have limited space.
However, he encouraged Islanders to get behind the home team when the event starts.
Mr Bailey said: ‘We want the Island to get ready for it, plan for the week and make sure you don’t miss what is going to be the biggest sporting event Jersey has ever hosted.’
The Opening Ceremony
ONE of the hottest tickets for the whole of the Games is likely to be for the opening ceremony at Howard Davis Park.
Around 1,500 tickets will be made available to the public, with more than 3,000 competitors and officials also filling the park.
On Thursday it was announced that a 60-piece choir made up of primary school children will be performing Beautiful Jersey at the opening ceremony. Beautiful Jersey will be the official Team Jersey anthem at the Games.
There has been a lot of secrecy surrounding the opening ceremony so far, however, the organising committee have confirmed that Jersey-born stage director Suzie Foster will be charged with putting on the curtain raising event.
There will also be a large firework display costing almost £15,000.
It was also confirmed that the opening ceremony will be the only part of the week-long event that will have a cost for those attending, although the price of tickets has not yet been confirmed.
Artist in Residence
AS part of the cultural side of the Games, local artist Tim Schute (21) has been commissioned to produce a series of images to illustrate the event.
His work will feature on the official NatWest Island Games programme as well as on promotional material. Each sport will have a special design which will be on display at the Games venues.
Mr Schute is currently studying an illustration course in Bristol and has previously had artwork showcased at one of the world’s biggest tennis tournaments – Wimbledon.
After the Games his large original images, including one of Games mascot Indigo the gorilla, will be auctioned off with the money raised being put back into Island sport.
Legacy Times
THE Games organising committee has placed a large focus on establishing a lasting sporting legacy within the Island.
In preparation for the Games the majority of sports have improved their facilities, with Islanders getting a first glimpse of Springfield’s recently laid 3G turf earlier this month.
A large amount of foldable, bleacher-style seating has been purchased to allow spectators to watch the action. The seating, made by an American company, will remain in the Island after the NatWest Island Games and will be used for other sporting and cultural events – including possibly providing additional seating for the Battle of Flowers parade.
The chairs, which arrived in Jersey earlier this week, are due to be tested this weekend.
Mr Austin said: ‘The success of these Games is not just about how many medals Team Jersey wins.
‘Part of the legacy is trying to attract more people to take part in sport, as competitors, officials and coaches.
‘There will be an improvement to facilities in most, if not all, of the sports and something like the seating can be used for other important events.’
Among the other legacy items are upgraded flooring in both the table tennis and badminton arenas, an official timing system for archery and several scoreboards across multiple sports, all of which, it is hoped, will create a lasting improvement in Island sport.
Kelly Sotherton – Isle of Wight
KELLY Sotherton is an Olympic bronze medallist in the heptathlon who made her Island Games debut the last time Jersey hosted the event in 1997. On that occasion she won six gold medals before winning a further two golds two years later in Gotland. Sotherton’s international success culminated with a gold medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Mark Cavendish – Isle of Man
A FORMER winner of the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Mark Cavendish is a previous Island Games gold medallist having pipped Jersey cyclist Sam Firby on the line in the 2003 Island Games in Guernsey. The Manxman is widely recognised as one of the great British sprint cyclists and holds the record for the most stage wins at the Tour de France.
Elizabeth Cann – Jersey
JERSEY’S Elizabeth Cann has represented the Island at multiple Island Games, winning a number of medals in the process. She established herself as the British ladies number one and won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal while representing England.
Simon Militis – Jersey
THE Island’s most recent Olympian, Simon Militis swam for Team GB at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Representing England, Militis won a Commonwealth Games medal in 2002 and has previously held the British record for the 400m individual medley.
