- IGAJ chief speaks out after external consultation appears to undermine future ‘value’ of Island Games.
- Steve Jacobs acknowledges the need for change, but says organisation of Games matters should be left alone.
THE chairman of Jersey’s Island Games Association does not believe a States-backed consultation suggesting changes to the structure of sport should have included reference to the biennial event.
Following the release of an independent report last week which outlined plans to centralise control of sport in the Island – while appearing to question the ‘value’ of the Games in an ‘increasingly crowded calendar’ – Steve Jacobs has highlighted concerns that sport-specific funding may be lost and argues that organisation of Jersey’s Island Games affairs does not need altering.
‘I am in agreement that the whole system wants looking at, but I’m quite surprised the Island Games came into the picture,’ he said.
‘We’re not naïve enough to want no change, but I’m not sure about putting the Island Games organisation under a CEO. And the other thing I’m worried about is losing individual sponsorship as a lot of the sponsors have vested interest in some of the Games sports. If the money goes to a central fund they may not put anything in to those specific sports.
‘We all know funding will be cut, so we will be assisting in getting value for money while outlining the benefits it has to the Island.’
