Commonwealth Youth Games: Jersey pull out of 2021 bid

Jersey have competed in all but the very first Commonwealth Youth Games

Jersey have decided not to bid to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.

The island had said it would bid to host the event in April, but has pulled out after Northern Ireland and Botswana indicated they were bidding.

The event has previously been hosted by the Isle of Man and St Lucia.

"When you're up against opposition with a bigger population and totally different infrastructure you have to be realistic," said Jersey's Commonwealth Games Association head Paul du Feu.

"We have games in St Lucia, Samoa and the Isle of Man. They were all islands and all small nations, so it seemed that Jersey had a good chance.

"But with Northern Ireland and Botswana coming in, we felt we couldn't go down this route.

"To us it was just common sense when we looked at it."

Du Feu coached Jersey's only Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist, swimmer Daniel Halksworth, when he won gold in the 400m individual medley in 2004.

The island has sent athletes to the last there Commonwealth Youth Games and is hoping to send a team to Samoa this year.

"We would definitely like to host the Commonwealth Youth Games in Jersey at some stage," added Steve Pallett, the island's minister with responsibility for sport.

"By registering an intention to make a bid, the Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey have raised their profile and that of Jersey within the Commonwealth Games Federation."