Latest News (May 2001)

Update 3

THE Earl and Countess of Wessex will attend the 2001 NatWest Island Games in the Isle of Man, it was announced on Wednesday.

Edward, the Queen's youngest son, and Sophie Wessex will visit from July 6-8. The couple hit controversy over their business dealings after PR firm boss Sophie, 36, was secretly taped by a Sunday newspaper making comment about fellow royals and high-profile politicians.

The Games open on July 7 and run until July 13. Details of the visit are still being finalised and it's not known whether the couple will open the games, a government spokesman said.

The former Prince Edward, 37, was last in the Island in 1986, when he presided over Tynwald. Older brother Prince Charles unveiled the Games' countdown clock at Ronaldsway Airport during a visit last year. A keen sportsman, His Royal Highness is president of the Commonwealth Games Federation and opened the Auckland games in 1990.

Update 2

THE ninth biennial NatWest Island Games received a boost recently when one of the Isle of Man's leading dot com companies, betinternet.com Plc, agreed a sponsorship deal with Manx Radio for the Games Station.

The Games Station will take to the air at 7pm on Saturday, July 7, for the opening ceremony. This dedicated station will broadcast for the entire event, covering every sport from locations throughout the Island, with a half-hourly results service and eight commentators bringing live reports and interviews along with live music programmes from the National Sports Centre.

The Games Station will be broadcasting on 1368kHz medium wave, with all daytime programming coming from a purpose-built studio at the NSC, giving as much coverage as possible of all the events throughout the Island.

Chairman and CEO of betinternet.com Plc, Vincent Caldwell, says 'betinternet is delighted to be able to contribute to what will be an extremely successful event for the Island. Being involved in the largest multi-sports event in the western world this year gives betinternet a unique opportunity. The global coverage through Manx Radio and via the internet is a perfect vehicle for the company.'

Sales and marketing manager of Manx Radio, George Ferguson, says 'We are adept at covering events such as this, having run Radio TT and Commonwealth Games coverage for many years, but the need for sponsorship is always present and betinternet have shown a commitment that will enable the Games Station to cover every sport throughout the Games.'

Executive chairman of the organising committee, Archdeacon Brian Partington, says: 'I am delighted to see two companies with such commitment to the NatWest Island Games. This partnership will produce the perfect daily information service for every Island taking part and the technology will convey all the news and information far and wide.'

Games administrator Gary Jakeman says: 'This alliance is one of the major pieces in the jigsaw for the daily reporting of the event and I am thrilled that we in the Isle of Man are going to have a dedicated service for the entire week.'

Update 1

Calling all media people - the deadline for accreditation has been extended until the end of this month (May). So if you intend joining us for the Island Games and haven't yet sent in an accreditation application please do so as soon as possible. Click here to access the form.

Today (May 1st) leaves us with only 67days to go to the start of the 9th NatWest Island Games! The grand Opening Ceremony (and it should be quite something to remember!) takes place at our National Sports Centre at 9.00pm on Saturday July 7th. Will you be there?

Now that the Games have been given the final go-ahead (see the statement below from the Games Director, Mike Ball) it's all systems go as we get down to the many many final detailed preparations.

"The Organising Committee of the 2001 Games have confirmed that the event will be going ahead as planned from 7 to 13 July. The Open Letter dated 20 March from the Gam es Director (Mike Ball) which confirmed that the Games will be going ahead was written after consultation with the Island's Dept of Agriculture. The cancellation of the TT Races have absolutely no bearing on the Island Games. The TT Races as an event are very different from the Island Games in that:-

Visiting fans would travel on motorcycles to ports in the UK through some of the infected areas and any debris containing virus could attach itself to their leather clothing; and in order to watch the races they stand in fields in the countryside and would come into contact with animals.

Neither of these peculiar risks apply to the Island Games which are held in dedicated sports venues and will not involve competitors and spectators on farm land.  In his Press Conference (on the TT Races) the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man reaffirmed that the Island Games were going ahead.

It is confirmed that the Isle of Man does not have Foot and Mouth Disease and the cancellation of the TT Races was a precautionary measure to protect against its introduction""

Monday May 7th is the deadline for the submission of individual entries. Once they have all been collated we can set about completing all the draws for the different sports - watch this space!
John Christal


ISLAND GAMES COMPETITION !!
With the start of this year's NatWest Island Games only 4 months away the Executive Committee is launching a monthly web-site-based competition aimed at enhancing awareness of the Games.
Each month, starting on March 5th, 5 questions will appear in the 'Latest News' section of the Island Games web-site. The answers to these questions are to be found within the pages of the Island Games web-site.
The first correct set of answers to be drawn at the end of the month from email entries (sent to tjones@datacentre.com) or postal entries ( sent to Tony Jones, c/o Data Centre, Tromode, Douglas, Isle of Man IM4 4QD ) will win some attractive and stylish Island Games commemorative clothing.

At the end of the 4 competitions (March, April, May, and June) the 4 monthly winners will be entered into a draw with the winning 'winner' receiving 2 VIP tickets to the grand Opening Ceremony on Saturday July 7th and the Closing Ceremony on Friday July 13th.

The 5 questions for this month (May) are:

1.
 On what date will the Opening Ceremony for the 2001 Games take place?
2.
 Which company is sponsoring and running the 2001 Games Results Service?
3.
 In which month was Newsletter number 7 published?
4.
 Where will the Volleyball events for the 2001 Games take place? (2 venues)
5.
 Who is the co-ordinator for the golfing events for the 2001 Games?

Entry Form Island Games Web-site Competition (May)

Name ……………………………………………. Postal Address……………………………………
Male or female…………….Age ……… …………………………………………………..

Clothing size Large/medium/small

Email address……………………………………………..

Answers:
1………………………………………………
2………………………………………………
3………………………………………………
4………………………………………………
5………………………………………………


John Christal (2001 Results Co-ordinator)

If you have any views or comments about this site lets us know by clicking here.