The news – confirmed at the general meeting of the International Island Games exectuive in Sheltand yesterday – comes as a massive boost to the Jersey Judo Club, who were on the brink of closure late last year.
When the sport was withdrawn after the Gibraltar Games in 1995 it had a devastating effect on the club, according to instructor Jim Caulfield.
But now they are back and have seen an influx of fresh faces since people got wind of the fact that Judo was likely to be included in the Rhodes Games in 2007.
‘I can’t tell you how delighted I am,’ said Caulfield who has dedicated 30 years of his life to the club.
‘When the news broke and we were dropped from the Games it had a devastating impact – almost overnight.
Pinnacle ‘I was ready to retire in 1995 and a lot of the young lads were ready to take over as instructors.
But they lost their enthusiasm and felt they had no incentive.
To march with the Jersey flag and represent the Island was the pinnacle of their training – but they lost interest and here I am ten years later.
‘Once the Games were gone numbers fell and led to the closure of the club at Fort Regent – and we were left hanging by a thread.
I fully intended to close the club by Christmas last year because some nights I was only teaching two children.
‘I thought the concept of the Island Games was to include minority sports like Judo.
We need Judo in the Games and as I am very optimistic about the future providing Judo remains in future Games.
‘Since the news broke we have seen an influx of new faces and old members returning.
It can only get better from here.
At the moment we receive no funding or subsidies from Education, Sport and Culture and the club is struggling financially.
But I am hopeful for the future and we can only see what happens.’
