HUGE cheers marked Jerseys entrance into Alands athletics stadium on Saturday night with their 197-strong team by far the biggest contingent of athletes sent by any one nation to this years Island Games.
Confirming their prowess on this stage, fellow competitors and spectators were warned by the evening’s compère: ‘Jersey were winners of the last Island Games in Rhodes, and they usually tend to win a lot of medals!’
Spirits flew high for our squad, who proudly whooped and waved their way into the arena, led by veteran Island Games shooter and this year’s flag bearer, Dave Ward.
The ceremony marked an evening full of promise for the 3,100 competitors, and many hundreds more spectators, but the audience was divided as to the evening’s entertainment – a young dance squad showed great energy and enthusiasm, cleverly recreating the recognised emblem of the Island Games Association, but an interesting Queen medley, a karate demonstration to music and a brash comedian prone to an inappropriate swear word or two were some of the more bizarre compositions.
Still, Jersey sprinter Ben Silva was impressed: ‘It’s a lot better than Rhodes,’ he said. ‘In Rhodes no-one spoke any English. At least we could understand it this time.’
And most team members were more than happy to endure the two-hour festival in warm sunshine, boosted, no doubt, by some comfy cushions, a fantastic firework finale, and few words of encouragement from Aland organiser Dick Eckstrom.
‘When sportspeople perform well it inspires others. Although we compete for medals, everyone here is already a winner. You are all winners,’ he said.
• Pictures by Jon Guegan and Rob Currie
• Picture sales: Click here
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