ISLAND Games Association chairman Bo Frykenstam has defended the organisation’s decision to exclude netball, hockey and fencing - amongst other sports - from future Games.
In a letter to the Jersey Evening Post, he says that other islands are also missing out with their local sports.
But he warns that the inclusion of too many sports could ‘endanger the continuity’ of the Games.
Last week the JEP ran reaction stories to the news that, following a meeting of the IIGA in Shetland, a decision was made not to allow any new sports into the competition, despite proposals from both Jersey and Guernsey.
They also decided that a maximum of 14 and a minimum of 12 sports were allowed in any one Games and they had to be chosen from a core list of 18.
The decision effectively slammed the door in the face of hopeful sports, such as netball, hockey and fencing - sports in which Jersey has a promising future.
But in explaining that decision, Frykenstam says that Jersey and Guernsey were not the only islands to have missed out.
‘At the IIGA agm there was a lengthy debate on the number of sports on the approved list for a Games programme.
During the debate sports other than netball, hockey and fencing were discussed.
‘The sports that were suggested as additions to the approved list were all sports that are popular in only one particular island or a relatively small region of islands, e.g.
handball, orienteering and floorball, all very popular Scandinavian sports.
‘I believe that many island delegates felt that having too many sports on the approved list would endanger the continuity of sports at the Games, i.e.
a sport may be included at one Games but not at the next.
Also that sports on the approved list should be popular in the majority of the member islands.’ But Frykenstam sympathised with those sports which have been excluded: ‘I can well understand the disappointment expressed by representatives from netball, hockey and fencing in Jersey.
There is disappointment in other islands also that some of their sports are not included in the Games programme.
This is evidence of just how important the NatWest Island Games are to our island athletes.’ Confidence Speaking about next year’s Games, he said: ‘I have great confidence in the organisation of the NatWest Island Games in Shetland.
The organisers have done an excellent job ensuring that the eleventh Games will be a great experience for the sportspeople from the different member islands.’ Bids to be hosts of the Island Games to follow Rhodes in 2007 have been submitted from Aland, Ynys Mon and Saaremaa.
The Cayman Islands have declared their intention to host the 2011 Games.
During 2004 £13,000 has been paid to different member-islands from the NatWest Sports Development Programme.
Since 1998 over £70,000 has been allocated to schemes which have both introduced and developed Games sports in the member islands.
Bo Frykenstam’s letter is published in today’s JEP.
Article posted on 20th July, 2004 - 12.00am
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