THE Island Games Association boasts 25 member islands – the full complement – but with more islands wishing to join, the situation is now under review.

According to Brian Partington, chairman of the Island Games Association, the authorities of the Greek island of Lefkos have made enquiries about joining the association.

‘Their application has not been processed because island membership has reached the agreed number.

But the whole issue is under review and is on the agenda to be discussed at the agm in Rhodes later this year,’ he said.

He was in Jersey yesterday when the continuation of the NatWest sponsorship agreement, which has already been in place for eight years, was announced.

The agreement runs until 2009, with an option for NatWest to extend it until 2011 and, acknowledging the growing cost of hosting a Games, the finance has been restructured to allow the host island more than 50 per cent of the total money that is set aside for the Games.

No figures, however, have been released.

In a change from previous practice, the vote to decide the host Island for 2011 – five years hence – will be held this year.

Until now, the final decision has been made four years prior to the event.

‘I was the organiser of the Manx Games, in 2001, so I have every sympathy for the organisers of the event,’ Partington said.

‘It was decided that we make the decision a year earlier – to give the host island more time for organisation and, because the decision used to be taken in the year of a Games, to give the executive committee members more time to make a considered opinion.’ Bids for the 2011 Games have come from the Isle of Wight, who hosted them in 1993, and newcomers to the association, Bermuda.

IGA committee representatives have just returned from visiting both so they can see what the islands can offer in the way of facilities and accommodation.

They will make their reports to the rest of the executive committee later this month, with the final decision being made, by the membership, by July.

‘It’s a democratic process,’ Partington said.

‘The membership is very independent and doesn’t always agree with us – but we are a friendly association, but friends don’t always agree!’ The membership went against the executive’s backing of Ynys Mon for 2009, plumping instead for Baltic island Aland.

Asked whether drug testing has been carried out on Island Games athletes, Partington said he hadn’t heard of any so far.

‘The Jersey and Guernsey associations signed up to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) agreement last year – every island is expected to comply – so we anticipate there will be more testing, but it depends on the national drug enforcement agencies of the countries concerned.

It’s up to them whether they send in the testers, but we are open and ready for it and will do our part in providing drugs education for the members.’ NatWest also provides funding for sport development and has donated £85,000 over the last eight years.

Any member island can apply, indeed, Jersey received money last year towards the development of football – despite not attending the last games – while Orkney athletes, Aland gymnasts and the volleyballers of Gotland have also benefited recently.

Meanwhile, NatWest are celebrating their shortlisting for the 2006 Hollis Awards, the UK’s major sponsorship awards, in the sponsorship continuity category, with fellow nominees including Flora (for the London marathon); Unilever (for the Art series of the same name) – and NatWest UK for their 25 years of cricket sponsorship.

Ian Henderson, chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland International, of which NatWest is a part, said that when he first moved to Jersey he became immediately aware of the importance of sport in the community.

‘It’s at the heart of it.

My first experience of the Games was in Shetland last year, and until you’ve experienced it you have no idea of its importance to the community – I know now!’