Isle of Wight athletes set for Island Games

Team Isle of Wight are hoping for medal success in Orkney

Almost 100 athletes from the Isle of Wight are heading to Orkney to take part in the 20th Island Games.

The bi-annual event sees sportsmen and women from 24 island groups compete in 12 sports over seven days.

Team Isle of Wight are hoping for medal success in swimming, sailing, golf, athletics, cycling, women's football and triathlon.

The team face an 800-mile journey by ferry and by coach to get to Orkney before the games begin on Saturday.

The journey involves a taking a ferry from Cowes to Southampton and then a coach to Scrabster near John O'Groats, before boarding another ferry to Stromness on Orkney.

Two years ago, the island finished fifth in the medal table coming home from Guernsey with 38 medals.

This year the team is sending fewer athletes as there are fewer events at this year's games.

Kevin Winchcombe says it is difficult for island sports people to compete at an elite level

About 2,000 athletes from islands and archipelagos - including Falkland Islands, Greenland, Shetland and the Western Isles - will be competing in 12 sports including football, athletics, archery and swimming.

Kevin Winchcombe, chairman of the Isle of Wight Island Games Association, said: "The whole purpose of the Island Games is to acknowledge the difficulties for islands to compete at an elite level.

"Going to the International Island Games means our athletes are competing against the best athletes, not just from the British Isles but from Islands around the world," he added.

Golfer George Foreman said he was "absolutely buzzing" at the prospect of competing.

"It's the best thing ever. I'm really looking forward to it."

Footballer Sammie Mumford will carry the Isle of Wight flag at the opening ceremony

For Sammie Mumford, Orkney will be her ninth and final Island Games representing her island in women's football.

She has the honour of being flag bearer for Team Isle of Wight at the opening ceremony in Kirkwall on Saturday.

"What a way to end my playing days on the Isle of Wight team by leading the team out in Orkney. I can't wait, I'm super excited," she said.

Skyler will be competing for the island in the athletics for the first time.

"It's a mixed feeling of nervousness and excitement to experience a competition we've never experienced before," she said.

As well as competing in the pool, brother-and-sister swimming duo, Grace and Harry Poynter, will be the Islands water carriers at the Orkney games.

"Every Island will bring water from their homeland to the games, and it gets poured into a water fountain as a symbol of unity amongst all the islands," Ms Poynter explained.

The Princess Royal will officially open the week-long games on Saturday.

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, will be hosting the ceremony in her role as games ambassador.

Speaking on the Orkney 2025 website, she said it would be "a fantastic spectacle".

"I can't wait to be there seeing all of the sporting action and meeting islanders from across the globe. It's going to be great."