OIC pledge continued support for delayed Island Games

Orkney Islands Councillors have agreed to continue to financially support Orkney hosting the International Island Games despite their postponement to 2025.

At today’s General Meeting of the Council, elected members pledged their ongoing commitment of up to £1 million from the Strategic Reserve Fund towards the bid from the Orkney Island Games Organising Company to host the Games.

Members were advised that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Island Games Association announced that there would be no Island Games in 2021 – with one of the options mooted that Guernsey move to 2023 and Orkney to 2025.

Members also noted that the Scottish Government is content, in principle, to move its award of £500,000 to fund the Island Games in Orkney in 2025.

Orkney Islands Council’s Sport and Leisure Service Manager, Garry Burton, informed Councillors that the Council had received a request from the Orkney Island Games 2023 Organising Company for the Council to extend its financial commitment of up to £1m for a 2023 event to a 2025 event.

When Council funding was initially approved in 2017 the total cost of Orkney hosting the 2023 Games was estimated at £1.279 million and while this figure may increase given the additional timeframe, it was also acknowledged that the additional two years will also afford the Organising Company a longer period for fundraising and to secure sponsorship for the games.

Councillors further agreed that OIC officials review the Orkney Island Games 2023 Organising Company’s financial projections for an event to be held in 2025 and, where necessary, update the Grant Funding Conditions agreement between the Council and the Orkney Island Games 2023 Organising Company based on an event to be held in 2025.