Jon Beard, chairman of the Bermuda Island Games Association, and secretary Juanita Blee were recently in Guernsey for the annual general meeting of the International Island Games Association.

The trip, which involved officials from the 23 member islands, served as a preview for the 2023 NatWest Island Games which will be held in Guernsey from July 8 to 14.

The officials visited the facilities that will be hosting the various sports events, with Beard and Blee also looking at suitable accommodations for the Bermuda athletes. Bermuda is expected to have a 100-strong team at the Island Games.

Ironically, Beard led the Bermuda team in 2003 in Guernsey, which was the island’s first appearance at the Games, while Blee was still an athlete that year, competing as a member of the volleyball team.

“I’m sure that those who competed in 2003 have great memories of the competition,” Beard said.

“The facilities then were excellent, they still are. Guernsey is a beautiful island with friendly people – very much like Bermuda! The organisers will indeed put on a tremendous Games.”

At the AGM, the Maltese island of Gozo made their bid for application to join the asssociation. The bid was accepted by the Island Games membership and Gozo will now join in the NatWest competition in 2023.

Gozo’s landmass (26 square miles) is slightly larger than Bermuda’s 20.5 square miles, but it has a population of just 30,000. Gozo has a strong sports culture and is completing a large complex with a 50-metre pool and a sports hall.