Record-breaking 3,500 athletes for Island Games

A record-breaking 3,500 participants are scheduled to take part in the Games and this does not include the hundreds of volunteers from the Isle of Wight that are needed to run the competition.

Bermuda has 106 athletes and 24 coaches confirmed for the Games. The total number of residents includes approximately 25 officials, representatives from Government and the National Sports Centre.

The top five islands with the largest number of participants are: host Isle of Wight (316), Guernsey (296), Jersey (282), Isle of Man (236) and Åland (221).

Only 24 of the 25 member islands will be participating as Prince Edward Island will not be sending its basketball and football teams due to funding problems.

David Bell, chairman for the Isle of Wight’s organizing committee, said his group “is delighted at the level of entries and support for the Games due to commence here in a few short weeks.

“We have worked hard to try and provide the Islands with good facilities both in and out of the competition arenas and we look forward to hosting a great week of keen but ever friendly competition in the true spirit of the NatWest Island Games.”

By the numbers

Archery (4 athletes, 1 coach), athletics (8, 3), badminton (4, 1) basketball (24, 7), cycling (5, 1), Golf (8, 1) Gymnastics (no numbers confirmed yet), sailing (4, 0), shooting (11, 2), Squash (4, 1), tennis (8, 1), volleyball (22, 6), windsurfing (4, 0).