20 December 2016
Grant funding of £32,500 is being provided to help cover the travel costs of Jersey competitors in the 2017 NatWest Island Games in Gotland.
The grant will be used to cover the cost of the deposit to secure charter flights for the Jersey team travelling to the Games and is largely funded by higher than expected events income from Fort Regent.
Currency fluctuations have raised the average cost of attending the Games to almost £1,400 per competitor and the grant provided by Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture will have the effect of reducing the cost of attendance by £300 per competitor.
The Assistant Minister for EDTSC with responsibility for Sport, Connétable Steve Pallett, said “Following the success of ‘Team Jersey’ at the 2015 NatWest Island Games in Jersey, it is important that the Island sends a strong team to represent Jersey in Gotland. This additional funding – largely arising from higher than anticipated events income at Fort Regent – will help improve the chances of more local competitors taking part and experiencing the positive benefits of top class international competition.”
Chairman of the Island Games Association of Jersey, Steve Jacobs, said “We are extremely grateful to the States and the Department for this increased level of support, which will come as a great boost to athletes, team officials and sports associations as they continue their extensive efforts to raise funding locally in order to send high calibre teams to compete in a wide variety of sports. With only six months left until the Games start, the news of this additional grant will provide a timely boost to the Jersey sporting community and help get the new sporting year off to a great start.”
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