Officials from the South Aegean island made the late decision to withdraw from the biennial event yesterday after failing to secure sufficient backing from the Greece government to send a team.
Twenty-six competitors, including Jersey 2015 triple jump gold medallist Savvas Diakonikolas, were signed up and ready to compete in seven sports from 24 June – 1 July.
‘Everyone is concerned and sad that they won’t be turning up, because they are a lively bunch,’ said Island Games Association of Jersey chairman Steve Jacobs.
Rhodes sent just six athletes to Jersey in 2015 as a direct result of the Greek financial crisis.
More in Thursday’s JEP.
