- Island Games organisers have revealed plans for opening and closing ceremonies
- Dozens of local musicians and singers are involved in the events
- Tickets for the opening ceremony – the only tickets event – go on sale tomorrow
- Will you be taking time off work to watch the Island Games? Take our poll below
THE entertainment for the opening and closing ceremonies of this summer’s NatWest Island Games has been revealed, with local talent the theme of the show.
The Games start in 45 days’ time with the opening ceremony in Howard Davis Park on Saturday 27 June.
Tickets for the ceremony – the only ticketed event of the Games – go on sale tomorrow priced £25 for seated and £15 for standing entrance.
Owing to the small number of tickets available to the public, they have been limited to just two per person.
Hosted by Channel TV presenters Jess Dunsdon and Mark McQuillan and St Brelade Deputy and former BBC Jersey presenter Murray Norton, the ceremony promises to focus on what makes Jersey unique and will provide the curtain-raiser for a week of sporting action.
The opening ceremony will start at at 7 pm and finish at 10 pm with a firework display.
Among the musical entertainment for the opening ceremony will be a performance from the Band of the Island of Jersey, local singer-songwriter Michelle Roswell, Jèrriais band Badlabecques and teenage musician Monty Taft.
It has previously been revealed that the Jersey Youth Choir and the Jersey Youth Orchestra will be performing Beautiful Jersey, which has been adopted as the official Island anthem for the Games.
Suzie Foster, manager of ceremonies for Jersey 2015, said: ‘It has been pretty easy finding the entertainment. The Island is full of very talented people – the main problem was fitting everyone in.
‘We have worked hard to ensure we can sell as many tickets to the public as possible, but obviously there is limited space at the park.
‘There will also be big screens at St Aubin and in Liberation Square which will be showing the opening ceremony live.’
The closing ceremony, which will be hosted by Deputy Norton and former Channel 103 presenter Katy Ringsdore, will feature performances from Samuel Walwyn, who was recently crowned Jersey’s Young Musician of the Year, singer songwriters Tallia Storm, Chaz Chapman, Kelly McKenzie, Jaime Boylan, as well as The Jersey Bounce jazz band.
The organising committee has also promised that there will be a few surprises in both ceremonies.
The closing ceremony is not open to the public – those invited will be athletes, those with accreditation and Games volunteers.
As well as hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, Howard Davis Park will also act as the Games village throughout the week with entertainment taking place throughout the duration of the Games, including a Genuine Jersey Market.
The park will be open during the day throughout the week, before closing to the public in the evenings, allowing athletes to meet outside of the competitive arenas.
Tickets will be available from 2.30 pm on Thursday via the Jersey 2015 website.
