Although the Jeux des Iles opening ceremony in the Greek theatre in Syracuse provided rich colour and was blissfully short, the logistical problems of the previous night again resurfaced, leaving many team leaders literally hot under the collar.
With temperatures rising to the high 30s, teams and spectators were forced to wait in the open air theatre as teams, picked up late by the coach operators, squeezed past the crowds attending a festival of Greek tragedies, a huge annual event in itself which added to an already large fleet of coaches in the traffic-choked city.
The Jersey team, six sports split into seven widely dispersed hotels, suffered no more than any other island, but complaints over the organisation were once again rife.
The organisers are suffering badly in comparison with previous games, which have been praised for their organisation and efficiency.
This is the tenth Jeux des Isles but the problems, according to the organisers, have been caused by the unexpected arrival of extra competitors.
Perhaps a more likely explanation would be the huge distances between venues and the split of responsibility between Palermo and Syracuse, which has led to almost inevitable confusion – confusion not easily alleviated when there are so many different languages being used and so few interpreters.
The start of the competitions today should see a big improvement in morale, with Jersey’s sailors eventually managing to find transport to take them to their north-coast base near Palermo.
Yesterday’s ceremony featured just ten competitors from each island parading in the amphitheatre in front of a colourful and appreciative audience of 1,700.
Swimmer Henry Perkins carried the Jersey flag alongside tennis player Charlie Cohen and athlete Emma Wilton, while performers on stilts, dressed as historical characters, shot coloured smoke cylinders into the air which were carried higher and higher by hydrogen balloons.
Each one represented one of the entries, with flags and island shapes being carried far into the heart of Syracuse.
It was an excellent touch – and hopefully a taste of excellence to come.
