Athletes concerned over cost of 2025 Island Games

More than 2,000 athletes attended the last Island Games in Guernsey

Some Channel Islands athletes may not travel to the 2025 Island Games in Orkney due to travel costs of around £2,000 and accommodation standards.

Orkney is one of the smallest islands in terms of population to have ever hosted the games in its 39-year history and does not have the hotel infrastructure to accommodate everyone attending.

It means some athletes will stay in dormitories set up in schools while others will be in self-catering accommodation or hostels.

Organisers admit that athletes "won’t be staying in a five-star hotel" but insist they have enough beds for 2,000 people.

“The impression we've been given about the accommodation is pretty basic," said Guernsey Squash Association's Martin Watts.

"So when you weigh that up with the costs and the logistics of travelling, there were quite a few players – some who have been to two or three Island Games who were really looking forward to going - that decided this wasn't the best event for them.”

Some athletes will stay in dormitories set up in schools

The Games take place 12-18 July in 2025, with athletes from up to 24 island groups from across the world competing.

Kirsty Talbot, Games Director for Orkney 2025, said: “We were fairly upfront at the beginning that if you're going to a school, you'll be sleeping in a dormitory that we've made up.

“It's not a hotel but you pay a decent price for it. You get your breakfast and dinner included if you stay in any of the schools.

“As it's a smaller island, you have to think outside the box in terms of what you're doing with accommodation. This was something that was addressed back at the bids stage.

“School dormitories was always going to be the principle offering when it comes to accommodation, then in addition to that self-catering, few hotels and halls of residence as well as hostels, so a bit of a mixed bag."

Jersey won their fourth men's football gold at Guernsey 2023

Jersey's Football Association has already put down a deposit of £23,000 to send men's and women's teams to Orkney.

The men's side are the reigning gold medallists while Jersey's women were eliminated after a coin toss in 2023 and are desperate to show they are good enough to win a medal.

Sponsorship means the women's team will only have to pay £750 each, but there is no shirt sponsor for the men's team, meaning at the moment they will have to pay around £1,100 per player.

"Players have different financial situations," Jersey Football Association chief executive Tim Pryor told BBC Radio Jersey.

"Some will go no matter what the costs, there just want to proudly represent the island and put on that Jersey shirt.

"Some will say 'actually my financial situation means if it was £500 I'd go, but at £1,100 I cant'.

"I don't want cost to be a barrier to anyone representing Jersey ever, so we'll do all we can - if there's a player that's good enough we'll do all we can to make sure they get there."

Abi Galpin dominated the sprint events at Guernsey 2023

Meanwhile other athletes will do all they can to ensure they are there to represent their island.

Guernsey sprinter Abi Galpin won three gold medals and on her home track last year and the 24-year-old is ‘willing to pay’ the prices to have another shot at glory – as long as accommodation standards are met.

“I want to go there and win some medals, so I'm willing to pay," she told BBC Radio Guernsey.

“I know that athletics have said we want to stay in a hotel or an Airbnb.

“In terms of performance, we do want the better standard of accommodation so you can get the best recovery, the best night's sleep and hopefully then the best performance.

“You can't always put a price on experience and you never know what's going to come from it.

“It's also a great stepping-stone for younger athletes to take them to the next level.

“For me, going to the Commonwealth Games in 2022, having been to previous Island Games before that was really important in terms of feeling comfortable on that stage.

“Yes, there's a price on it but there's also an experience that could be invaluable.”