P.E.I. submits bid to host Island Games
EDITORIAL STAFFThe Guardian
Prince Edward Island’s bid has been submitted to the International Island Games Association to host the NatWest Island Games in 2013.
Now that the Island Games Association of P.E.I. has the support of the Prince Edward Island government, the association will continue to promote the Island’s attributes to the member islands before the final vote takes place June 28.
Prince Edward Island would host 14 sports, over 3,000 athletes, more than the Olympic Winter Games, roughly 2,000 spectators and at least 30 international media organizations.
P.E.I. had its largest ever group of 60 athletes compete in the 2007 NatWest Island Games in Rhodes, Greece, and came home with four gold, five silver and seven bronze medals. The Island placed 13th in a group of 25 participating islands.
“Hosting these Games would be a tremendous boost to the athletic community on Prince Edward Island,” said Jeff Wilbert, judo coach and NatWest Games 2007 medal winner. “Having the Games on P.E.I. would mean many more Island athletes could participate with even greater results.”
Wilbert said the Island has a strong organizing committee that is “very committed to P.E.I. becoming a host, so I know we will have an excellent chance of winning and showing these islands our beautiful island.”
Alicia Wilbert, a gold- medal winner in 2007, was thrilled to have such an opportunity.
“I have won national competitions but the NatWest Games was special,” she said.
“I loved the cultural experience of meeting athletes from different parts of the world, the level of competition was more closely matched among the islands, everyone was so friendly and the Greek food was the best.”
Prince Edward Island is competing against Bermuda for the 2013 Games.
Even though Bermuda is well known, Prince Edward Island will have all the state-of-the-art athletic facilities that are required in place subsequent to the 2009 Canada Games.
P.E.I.’s proposed dates of June 29 to July 6, are at the end of the school year.
Bermuda is proposing April, which would be more challenging for member-island organizers.
Prince Edward Island was the first North American island to join the International Island Games Association.
Between now and June, the Island Games Association of P.E.I. plans to launch a sustained marketing campaign to educate the voting islands more about P.E.I.
www.islandgames.net
23/01/08
P.E.I. in the running to host 2013 NatWest Island Games
CHARLOTTETOWNThe Journal Pioneer
Prince Edward Island's bid has been submitted to the International Island Games Association to host the NatWest Island Games from June 29 to July 6 in 2013.
Now that the Island Games Association of P.E.I. has the support of the P.E.I. government, the association will continue to promote the Island's attributes to the member islands before the final vote takes place June 28.
P.E.I. had its largest ever group of 60 athletes compete in the 2007 NatWest Island Games in Rhodes, Greece, and came home with four gold medals, five silver and seven bronze medals.
The Island placed 13th in a group of 25 participating islands.
"The cultural experience is one that I will always remember," said Ashley Caulier of Brooklyn, who participated on the soccer team at the NatWest Island Games in Rhodes. "I am still in communication with many of the new friends that I met.
"The people that you meet are culturally different, but, in many ways, we share a common experience having grown up on an island. The competition was friendly and fun."
P.E.I. would host 14 sports, over 3,000 athletes, more than the Olympic Winter Games, roughly 2,000 spectators, and at least 30 international media organizations.
Caulier said it would be an honour to host the 2013 Games.
"I would be so proud to show them our beautiful Island," she said. "We have brand new turf fields and, after the 2009 Canada Games, everything will be in place to host this kind of competition.
"To hold an international event of this size would be a stepping stone for more international events."
P.E.I. is competing against Bermuda for the 2013 NatWest Island Games.
Even though Bermuda is very well known, P.E.I. will have all the state-of-the-art athletic facilities that are required in place subsequent to the '09 Canada Games and will offer more direct and cheaper air connections than Bermuda.
P.E.I.'s proposed dates are at the end of the school year.
Bermuda is proposing April, which would be more challenging for member-island organizers.
Between now and June, the Island Games Association of P.E.I. plans to launch a sustained marketing campaign to educate the voting islands more about P.E.I., highlighting organizational capabilities, facilities, scenery, food and culture.
The slogan for the campaign is 'An Island Of Memories Awaits Your Arrival.'
A look at the Island Games
The 2013 NatWest Games will be significant, as it will be the first time the NatWest Island Games is hosted outside Europe.
- - Currently there are 25 member islands in International Island Games Association and most of the islands are European.
- - Member islands must not exceed 150,000 in population, so Prince Edward Island is one of the larger Islands.
- - There is no age limit on athletic participation so other athletes like judo player Jeff Wilbert who is over 40 years of age can participate and win medals competing against younger athletes.
- - Prince Edward Island was the first North American island to become a member of the International Island Games Association.
- - The sports that P.E.I. would offer are: athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, football (soccer), golf, gymnastics, judo, lawn bowling, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, volleyball.
- - On the web: www.islandgames.net.
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