Association visit to Gotland ahead of island games

Two members of Shetland Island Games Association will visit the Swedish island of Gotland later this week, ahead of the 2017 NatWest Island Games.

Chairwoman Karen Woods and secretary Bob Kerr will be at the three-day event, that will include two days of visits to the venues followed by the annual general meeting of the International Island Games Association (IIGA).

Around 40 other delegates from the 24 member islands of the IIGA are expected to attend. They will hear details of the plans for the “Gotland 2017” games and inspect accommodation and training facilities for their own teams .

Woods said: “This is a key stage for the Gotland organising committee, just one year away from the games and we’ll hear how advanced their plans are.

“It’s also an opportunity for us to ask questions of their sports co-ordinators for our own competitors. Gotland previously hosted a memorable games in 1999 and they are regular games participants, so we have every hope they’ll deliver a successful games next year.”

The games will take place from 24th to 30th June 2017 and more than 3,000 sportsmen and women from 24 island teams are expected to take part.

Team Shetland hopes to compete in 12 sports – archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, football, golf, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, table tennis, triathlon and volleyball – with an expected team of around 140 competitors and officials.