Games director Steve Bailey says his varied job involves thinking of the logistics behind transporting 600 tonnes of sand to the Weighbridge for beach volleyball as well as ordering plenty of ponchos just in case of rain.
But despite the long days, he says that he and his team are more than determined to make sure that the Island puts it own stamp on what he has dubbed the Jersey Olympics.
Mr Bailey took on the job of Games director in 2013 shortly after being made redundant from Condor, where he was Jersey director.
‘I love sport and I have lots of connections in the Island, so I threw my hat into the ring,’ the 60-year-old said. ‘I was delighted when I got the job, and while I was on a planned holiday to Florida I went to Bermuda’s Island Games that summer to have a look at how it is done.
‘I learned exactly what the Island Games are all about and I saw the opening and closing ceremonies. Each island will have its own stamp on the Games and our intention in Jersey is not to be the biggest or better than the last one, but to showcase Jersey.
‘We live in a beautiful Island and we have great facilities. Bermuda was great, but it’s not about copying them or seeking to be better than them. I like to think we can do things differently.’
When it comes to the opening and closing ceremonies in Jersey, Mr Bailey said they would focus on traditionalism and symbolism. He said: ‘We have a great line-up of people. We didn’t want to import anyone, and although there are some Jersey artists who are based elsewhere who are coming over for it, they are all Jersey born and bred.’
Mr Bailey, who moved to Jersey in 1997 for the job with Condor Ferries, said that many people outside the organising team and volunteers had helped in some way towards the event.
He said: ‘The inmates at La Moye have built the rostrums where the winners will stand, and all the flowers for displays are also being grown there. Each Island team is bringing a litre of water from their island with them and we will mix them all together in a bachin used for black butter. Students from Highlands College have built us an oak stand for it to sit on, and it looks beautiful.’
As well as preparing for the ceremony and Games, Mr Bailey is also busy organising the supplies of food and water required by the 4,700 athletes and 500 family members, friends and supporters accompanying them.
To cut down on waste produced by hundreds of water bottles, all the athletes will be drinking Jersey tap water and Jersey Water will provide the 24 teams with refillable bottles.
‘As a sporting event, we also want to make sure we are putting on good food which is appropriate for the athletes. We want to make sure we are properly looking after their well-being during their time here and make sure they have a good diet. We have had tremendous support in this from the Jersey Hospitality Association and the hotels which are accommodating all the teams. I am very proud of what I have seen so far in terms of produce and menus.’
A team has also been put together to organise the logistical operation of thousands of people arriving by sea and air for the event, and even the basics have been thought through.
Mr Bailey, who lives with his partner Jenny Ellenger, said: ‘We are experts in toilets now, especially the portable type, and we have also cornered all the marquees in the Island, so I apologise to anyone who was planning to get married during that week and it ends up raining!’
With just 21 days to go to the opening ceremony, he and his team are putting in long days in a final push to ensure that Jersey is ready for the Games.
‘When I started this job we were all really relaxed, but now we are doing 60-hour weeks. People are totally committed and I love working with this team. I am amazed how people can take on such a big project.
‘The big challenges are yet to come, including taking in 600 tonnes of sand from a quarry in St Ouen and pouring it onto the Weighbridge for the beach volleyball, and then having it removed afterwards.’
Mr Bailey, who grew up in Winchester, said so far the planning had not run into any disasters and the only problems he anticipates are disruptions to traffic and bad weather.
‘We are aware that there will be some disruption to Islanders, but these are Jersey’s Olympics, and if we are all positive we can really showcase the Island,’ he said.
‘We don’t want to take Howard Davis Park away from the public so it will be open during the day, but from 6 pm it will become the Games Village for athletes to mix together.
‘We are just hoping that it doesn’t rain, but we have lots of ponchos in case it does. Hopefully we won’t need them. We have plans in place if air and sea travel is disrupted by bad weather, but that really is the blackest of scenarios.’
Mr Bailey, who previously worked for AirUK in Guernsey, said that in the final preparations, the commitment from the 400 Games Maker volunteers had been ‘outstanding’. ‘We only have two full-time members of staff, so without the volunteers the Games just would not be possible. We are drawing in so much support from so many people.’
When it comes to the sport itself, he will be mostly interested in the swimming, archery and badminton. ‘Everyone expects me to say beach volleyball, but I used to be part of a swimming club so I am passionate about the sport,’ he said.
