Island Games: Manx government pledges £2.4m to improve facilities
- Published
Improvements to the National Sports Centre's track and grandstand are planned
The Manx government has pledged to spend £2.4m improving sports facilities if its bid to host the 2029 Island Games is successful.
Organisers visited the Isle of Man to inspect its suitability to hold the event, which involves thousands of athletes from 24 member countries.
Education Minister Julie Edge said upgrades to the track and grandstand at the National Sports Centre were needed.
The Isle of Man's host status is expected to be confirmed in July 2024.
Ms Edge said an investment bid had been approved by ministers for improvements that would "leave a legacy for our young people and inspire them to get involved in sport".
She also confirmed about 1,200 volunteers would be needed to host the games, which the government would stream online.
Island Games Association chairman Jörgen Pettersson said he was impressed by the island's sports venues after inspecting them with colleagues last week.
He said elements including facilities, travel and accommodation were all equally important to make the games a success.
"We're talking about an organisation that is of the size of the Winter Olympics, and we have 14 different international sports," Mr Pettersson said.
Organiser Jörgen Pettersson competed at the first Island Games in 1985
The biennial games was first hosted by the Isle of Man in 1985, with the next meeting set to be held in Orkney next year.
An official bid to host the 2029 event was made by a Manx delegation at the games in Guernsey earlier this year.
Mr Pettersson competed as a 20-year-old volleyball player at the inaugural games in 1985.
He praised the Manx government of the time for "actually making a difference by investing in young people".
"Investment is different to costs, every penny you invest in sport you will have it multiplied in future, and we saw that in 1985," he added.
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- Published7 July 2023
