2019 Island Games Explained

2019 Island Games
Host: Gibraltar
Teams:24 islands
Athletes:≈2,000
Events:14 sports
Opening:6 July 2019
Closing:12 July 2019
Opened By:Ed Davis
Previous:2017

The XVIII Island Games (officially the 2019 NatWest Island Games) was held in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar between 6 and 12 July 2019. This was the second time that the territory has hosted the games, the first being in 1995.

The games did not include archery, cycling, football, or volleyball, which had been in all previous games since 1985, due to the lack of venues. They were replaced by tenpin bowling, judo, and squash. Gibraltar's sports facilities were greatly redeveloped throughout 2018. Cycling was subsequently included on the list of events on the Games official website, while the 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament was announced as a substitute for the lack of football.[1]

Host

The Faroe Islands were initially scheduled to stage the 2019 games, with the 2021 games taking place in Menorca, but in 2014 the hosts were swapped following issues with the Faroese facilities being ready in time.[2] Menorca then withdrew from hosting the 2019 games in July 2015 following a change in government.[3] After the Isle of Man and 2015 hosts Jersey confirmed that they would not apply as replacements,[4] Gibraltar announced in August their intention to host the games,[5] and were officially announced as hosts in April 2016.[6]

On 2 May 2018 it was announced that Ynys Môn would hold an unofficial football tournament to replace the absence of football in the Island Games. Islands that are regulars to the Games were expected to attend.[7]

Participating islands

22 island entities of the IIGA, from Europe, South Atlantic and the Caribbean area, competed in these Games. Both Rhodes and Frøya did not participate in this edition.

Sports

Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each sport.[8] [9] [10]

Venues

!Sport!Venue
ShootingRifle Shooting Range, IPSC Shooting Range
Basketball & TennisTercentenary Hall & Bayside Sports Complex
JudoDevils Tower Camp Gym
TriathlonEastern Beach
Ten Pin BowlingKings Bastion Leisure Centre
SailingRoyal Gibraltar Yacht Club
TennisSandpits Lawn Tennis Club
Table TennisSt Joseph's Middle School
ShootingClay Shooting Range
Athletics, Shooting & SwimmingLathbury Sports Complex
Beach VolleyballCamp Bay
Badminton & SquashEuropa Point Sports Complex
[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/16196372.Anglesey_given_green_light_to_host_2019_Inter_Games_Football_Tournament/ North Wales Chronicle article announcing tournament
  2. Web site: Guernsey to bid to host 2023 or 2025 Island Games. 10 July 2014. BBC Sport. BBC.
  3. Web site: Island Games: Menorca pull out of hosting 2019 event. James. Law. 6 July 2015. BBC Sport. BBC. 23 August 2016.
  4. Web site: Isle of Man not in running to step in and host 2019 Island Games. Isle of Man Today. Dave. Kneale. 10 July 2015. 23 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20150801230650/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/isle-of-man-not-in-running-to-step-in-and-host-2019-island-games-1-7350422. 1 August 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: Island Games: Gibraltar bid to host 2019 competition. 6 August 2015. BBC Sport. BBC. 23 August 2016.
  6. Web site: Gib set for 2019 NatWest Island Games. Gibraltar Chronicle. 11 April 2016. 23 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160605222444/http://chronicle.gi/2016/04/gib-set-for-2019-natwest-island-games/. 5 June 2016. dead.
  7. Web site: Ynys Mon to host unofficial 2019 'Island Games' football tournament. BBC. 2 May 2018. 11 May 2018.
  8. Web site: 2019 Island Games: Gibraltar axes football, cycling and volleyball . BBC . 20 October 2015.
  9. Web site: Guernsey to host the 2021 Island Games . IIGA.
  10. Web site: 2019 Island Games: Sports.
  11. Web site: Venues. Gibraltar 2019 Natwest International Island Games XVIII. en-GB. 2019-06-13.