2027 Island Games: Faroe Islands to host after Ynys Mon pull out
- Published
The Island Games is held every two years for small islands from around the world
Faroe Islands will host the 2027 Island Games after Ynys Mon pulled out due to the costs of hosting the event.
The Welsh island, also known as Anglesey, has cited financial pressures after the Covid-19 pandemic for its decision to end their plans to host the bi-annual multi-sport event.
The Faroes had been named as the preferred bidder for the 2031 games.
Guernsey hosted the event this summer with more than 2,000 people taking part from 23 islands across 14 sports.
"We are extremely disappointed to have come to the difficult decision that we are not in a position to host the Island Games in 2027," said Gareth Parry, the chair of the Ynys Mon organising committee.
"The impact of the pandemic and other incidents across the world over recent years have had a devastating effect on the current financial climate in Ynys Mon and Wales.
"We had secured enough funding when submitting our bid prior to Covid with support from the Local Authority, the Charitable Trust and Welsh Government, but a recent review of the budget highlighted a significant funding gap that we are unable to meet in the current financial climate.
"Over seven years of hard work has gone into getting us to this position, and though we are extremely disappointed, the risks involved with continuing at this present time are too high.
"However, we and our partners are as committed as ever to bring these fantastic Games to Ynys Mon and will review our position on an annual basis with a view of putting ourselves forward again as soon as is practicable."
People lined the streets for the opening ceremony of the 2023 Island Games in Guernsey
The games were postponed in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will be staged in Orkney in 2025 and the Isle of Man in 2029.
"The world has changed since Ynys Mon made its original bid in 2018," International island Games Association (IIGA) chair Jorgen Pettersson said.
"Rising costs and general cutbacks are challenging for everyone.
"The IIGA appreciates the openness of the Ynys Mon team and their approach to allowing the executive to seek a replacement host and providing sufficient time to achieve this.
"The IIGA looks forward to Ynys Mon coming forward with a new bid at a future date."
It will be the second time the Faroe Islands - an autonomous territory of Denmark to the north of the Shetland Islands - has hosted the games having had them in 1989.
"On behalf of the member islands we thank the Faroe Islands for offering to bring forward their bid for 2031 in order to host the competition in 2027 which will be the 21st Island Games," Pettersson added.
"This is the way the Island Games family works. We share success, and we share challenges."