Island Games group tries to save bid

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=134867&sc=98

Island Games group tries to save bid

TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian

The Island Games Association has made another move to try to salvage its bid to host the NatWest International Island Games in 2013.
Members of the association have begun circulating a petition to local tourism operators, businesses and citizens it believes will benefit from having the games come to P.E.I.
“It would be an infusion of cash into the province,” said Island Games Association chair Alfred Groom.
“It’s a risk of $2 million, but it’s a potential return investment of $10 million if you do it right, and we have the right people to do it.”
Last week, the association announced it had withdrawn its bid to host the Island Games in 2013 after the provincial government told the volunteer board it would not continue to offer its support for the bid.
Communities and Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram said last week government pulled its support for the bid because the association would not meet the conditions set out by the province.
Those conditions were outlined in a memorandum of understanding.
Groom said the association did not want to sign the memorandum.
Government was trying to “take over” the bid committee, Groom said.
“They wanted all our people to step off the (bid) committee and put their own people in there.”
The province expressed concern over finances when funding for Island athletes attending the games in Greece last year got confused.
The original agreement had the province assuming half the cost of their trip and the federal government footing the other $75,000.
But at the last minute, funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) did not come through.
To ease the province’s concern over future mixups, a feasibility study was done on how much the games were going to cost taxpayers to host. Also, Groom said he invited Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan to sit on the bid committee.
“When the concern came up from the province about the finances, I said ‘Let’s solve that and put the minister of finance on the committee’,” Groom said. “I met with him on several occasions and talked to him on the phone a few times, and he agreed to do that.”
But when Opposition member Jim Bagnall asked about this in the legislature last Thursday night, Sheridan denied it.
“He met with Mr. Groom and he was asked by Mr. Groom if he would sit on the board, and he said yes, he would,” Bagnall charged.
“You’re wrong, as usual,” Sheridan replied after much debate on the issue.
Despite all this, the association is making a last-ditch effort to save the bid for the games to come to P.E.I. with its petition.
The topic will be also questioned by the Opposition, as it plans to discuss a motion it tabled this week urging government to honour its initial letter of support in late December for the Island Games.
The potential revenue for Islanders, the opportunities for Island athletes and the international attention P.E.I. would receive are driving proponents to try again to get support.
If the province reinstates its support, members of the Island Games Association bid committee can go to ACOA for funding for the bid itself.
The bid would cost between $200,000 and $300,000, Groom said.
“We can’t go to ACOA and ask them to financially support the bid if the province won’t host them when they come here.”
Groom plans to give the signed petitions to government Thursday at the legislature.
“If we don’t get the support back from the province within the next couple of days, it’s going to be too late,” he said.

P.E.I. bid for International Island Games pulled

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/05/05/islandgames-out.html?ref=rss

P.E.I. bid for International Island Games pulled

Citing a lack of co-operation from the provincial government, the Island Games Association of P.E.I. has pulled its bid to host the games in 2013.

The International Island Games Association has 25 members, mostly in Europe. The 2007 games in Rhodes attracted 2,000 competitors.

Alfred Groom, president of the Island Games Association of P.E.I., told CBC News Monday the province wants too much representation on the bid committee.

The IGA suggested having two government members and three association members on the committee, while the government wanted two IGA members and six of its own representatives.

"The Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island is a member of the IGA, not the province of Prince Edward Island," said Groom.

"The province acknowledged that, but still insisted that they would have to be in control, so therefore we had no choice but to withdraw our bid given the lack of support of the government of Prince Edward Island."

P.E.I. was in competition with Bermuda for the games, which would be the first held in North America. Carolyn Bertram, the minister responsible for sport, made one of her first trips as a minister to Rhodes for the Island Games last June.

Groom sent a letter to the head of the International Games Association Sunday night. Jorgan Petterson said he was disappointed to hear the decision. He said the Island has one big advantage over Bermuda.

"It's easier to get to P.E.I. than it is to get to Bermuda," said Petterson.

The committee said the games would have brought 4,000 athletes and visitors to the province, and revenues would have topped $10 million.

The province has told CBC News there will be no one available to comment on the issue Monday.

UPDATE: May 5:

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=132223&sc=118

Bid to host Island Games scrubbed

SUMMERSIDE
MIKE CARSON
Transcontinental Media

P.E.I.'s bid to host the 2013 NatWest International Island Games is dead and organizing committee members are pointing the finger at government as the reason.

Alfred Groom, president of the Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island Inc. announced Monday, the association has, after two years of effort and expense, withdrawn its bid.

He said the province wanted too much control over the bidding process. The association refused and the province withdrew its support.

"We are the only body that can submit the bid and win the bid," Groom said. "The Province, at this time, said they wanted our committee to step aside and they were going to replace them with their people."

Asked why, Deputy Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs Tracey Cutcliffe, said "it's confidential," according to Groom.

Last fall, the association had sought a letter of commitment from the Province to allow work to begin on accessing funds for the games from The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The bid package was to be presented to the International Games Association by Dec. 28, 2007.

That letter of commitment came from Premier Robert Ghiz on Dec. 24, 2007. But despite the premier's letter, Cutcliffe ended all hopes for the games coming to P.E.I. when she wrote to Groom on Feb. 19, 2008.

The deputy minister made it clear that since the association would not go along with the memorandum of understanding from the province on the bid committee structure "the Province of Prince Edward Island no longer supports the P.E.I. Games Association bid ... financial or in any other regard."

Groom said the association had a high degree of confidence that P.E.I. would have won these games in 2013.

Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs and Labour Carolyn Bertram said it was important the province be a part of the bid process.

"We are trying to be respectful of the taxpayers' dollars for the future," the minister said.

Bertram said the province was willing to work with the association but it needed to be involved in the entire process to ensure Islanders' best interests were protected.

As for the loss of the games, the minister said, "It wasn't the government who pulled the bid, it was the association."

UPDATE: May 6:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/05/06/games-ghiz.html

Province needed more input on games: Ghiz

The issue of control caused a bid to bring the International Island Games to P.E.I., Premier Robert Ghiz confirmed on Monday.

The Island Games Association of P.E.I. was unwilling to give the province the control it needed on a bid to host the International Island Games, Ghiz told CBC News.

When the P.E.I. group pulled its bid to host the 2013 Island Games on Sunday, it said the province wanted too much control.

The province wanted six seats on the bid committee while the IGA would have two. The IGA suggested two government representatives and three from the association.

"When a bid is put together and the province is on the hook for it, if we're not involved in what the province is actually promising, how do we know what the dollar figures are?" Ghiz said.

"That's why the province has to be involved in an endeavour such as this. And unfortunately this situation didn't turn out."

Local IGA president Alfred Groom said the province was missing out on a potential $10 million economic impact. The International Island Games Association has 25 members, and the last games in Rhodes in June attracted 2,000 athletes.

There's still a chance the bid could be resurrected if a bid committee can be formed by next month.

UPDATE: May 7:

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=132532&sc=118

Island Games chair says didn’t ask for provincial money

MIKE CARSON
Transcontinental Media

SUMMERSIDE — Claims by the Province that they need to control the bid process for the NatWest International Island Games to protect Island taxpayers are groundless, says the P.E.I. games readiness chair.

The Island Games Association withdrew its bid to host the 2013 NatWest International Games, an event that would have drawn over 4,000 athletes and visitors, generated an estimated $10 million in revenue and cost $2.1 million.

The association decided to pull out after the Province gave them an ultimatum — give the Province control over the bid process or get no government support of any kind.

Premier Robert Ghiz and Community Development and Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram claimed government needs the control to protect taxpayers’ dollars.

P.E.I. games readiness chair, Lorraine Robinson, said the bid process does not involve provincial taxpayers’ dollars. “We did not ask the Province for any money for this bid,” she said.

The association was going to ACOA for assistance.

“Based on the structure they (provincial government) were proposing, we would have had no control over where those funds went,” she said.

“We were looking at $100,000 for the types of things we would have needed to do. So they wanted us to go to ACOA, get the money and turn it over to them.”

Robinson said Bertram and all the key Island ministers were given detailed financial reports and a feasibility study.

“There were no questions on the financials that we gave them,” Robinson said.

“They reviewed them twice, and if there were any questions they should have been asked then (in September or November 2007) and not taken us down this road this far and pull out at the end when they didn’t get bid control.”

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=132528&sc=98

Opposition demands answers on failed bid to host Island Games

WAYNE THIBODEAU
The Guardian

A competition on who’s to blame for P.E.I.’s failed bid to host the 2013 Island Games had the province running up 35 pages of documents supporting its case while the Opposition fought back with 40 pages to make its case.
Islanders were told Monday that the Island Games Association had to withdraw its bid to host the 2013 NatWest International Island Games. The association says the provincial government told the volunteer board it would not continue to offer its support for the bid.
Opposition MLA Jim Bagnall used most of question period Tuesday searching for answers on why the provincial government pulled its support.
Reading from a registered letter sent to the association by Tracey Cutcliffe, deputy minister of Cultural Affairs, Bagnall said it was the provincial government, not the association, that pulled the Island’s bid.
“This is a letter that you wrote, you sent to the volunteer committee on Feb. 19 telling them that you were pulling their support,” Bagnall said during question period.
“Why did your deputy minister undermine the volunteer group for her own personal power struggle?”
Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram maintains it was the association, not the provincial government, that pulled the bid.
But Bertram admits the government did pull its support for the bid because the association would not meet the conditions set out by the province. Those conditions were outlined in a memorandum of understanding.
Bertram said the province raised red flags as did other funding partners, including ACOA, about how much these games were going to cost taxpayers to host. She said the original bid was supposed to cost $40,000. Those costs, she added, came in at $200,000.
“Our department tried our very best to work with the Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island,” Bertram said, as she presented 35 pages of documents, including cancelled cheques, to support her side of the fight.
“We wanted this to work for Prince Edward Island.”
Island Games is more than child’s play. It was estimated the games would have generated more than $10 million in revenues.
In an interview with The Guardian, Premier Robert Ghiz said the province had a role to play in protecting taxpayers’ dollars.
Ghiz came under personal attack in a letter from Alfred Groom, president of the Island Games Association. The letter was contained in a package of 40 pages of supporting documents made public by the opposition.
In the letter, dated May 1, Groom writes: “Even though you, as premier on April 21, 2008, stated that you did not think we could win this bid, the Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island had a high degree of confidence.”
Groom went on to say it was “truly unfortunate that as premier of this province, you have allowed this to completely fall apart.”
Ghiz said the province simply wasn’t comfortable with how the association was working.
“This is an unfortunate situation but better now than perhaps later on, who knows, in five years time when it ends up that we promised more than we can deliver,” the premier said. “You’d rather exercise due diligence now than get yourself into trouble later on.”
The association has said it did not want to sign a memorandum of understanding “dictated” by the deputy minister, Tracey Cutcliffe, adding it did not agree to her “threat” that if it did not agree to the terms presented the province would pull its support of the bid.
Bagnall said the association made several attempts to meet with the province, in an attempt to get the matter settled, but they failed to even get a meeting with Bertram.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/05/07/bagnall-islandgames.html

P.E.I. government accused of

betraying athletes

The Opposition wants to know why the Ghiz government pulled its support for a bid to host the International Island Games in 2013.

The Island Games Association of P.E.I. had been working for more than a year putting together a formal bid, but dropped its bid on Sunday saying the government was trying to take over the process. The province wanted to fill six seats of a proposed eight-member bid committee. The association offered two seats on a five-member committee.

The issue dominated question period Tuesday.

"Why did you betray every Island athlete on Prince Edward Island by withdrawing your support for the bid?" asked Progressive Conservative MLA Jim Bagnall.

Carolyn Bertram, the minister responsible for sport, said the government had tried to work with the volunteer committee. She noted she travelled to the last Island Games, held in Rhodes last June, to announce that P.E.I. would be bidding on the games. She said the issue came down to ensuring taxpayer's money was spent wisely.

"We had serious concerns. Yes we wanted this to work, but Madame Speaker, we wanted to make sure that the province of Prince Edward Island and taxpayers' dollars were well protected and we wanted to be involved in the bid process," said Bertram.

The Rhodes event attracted 2,000 athletes from the association's 25 member Islands, and the opposition said the province had killed the opportunity to host it on P.E.I. to host the 2013 games on Prince Edward Island.

There's still a chance the bid could be resurrected, if another committee can be formed to put a bid together by the end of next month.

Athletes disappointed

Athletes looking ahead to the Games are disappointed they've lost a chance to perform before a hometown crowd.

Stan Chaisson is an Island runner who won medals in Rhodes.

"It was a great event for not only the athletes but I think the Island in general," said Chaisson.

"These are elite athletes, and to have had them here on P.E.I. from all across the world is just amazing. As an athlete there's no better way to compete than at home and to have hopefully fans that are there to cheer you on. It would be great, and I'm going to miss out on this."

Chaisson won two of the 16 medals Prince Edward Islanders brought home from the Island Games.

UPDATE: May 8:

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=132938&sc=103

In this case, let the games cease
P.E.I. appears to be passing up a golden opportunity by not bidding
for the NatWest International Island Games

EDITORIAL STAFF
The Guardian

An apparent misunderstanding between the provincial government and the committee that was formed to bid for the 2013 NatWest International Island Games can only be described as unfortunate and disappointing. It’s not clear who did what to whom, but because the parties don’t see eye to eye, Prince Edward Island stands to lose the opportunity to bid for this event and the multi-million economic spinoffs it potentially could create for the provincial economy.
The Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island stunned Islanders early this week when it announced it has withdrawn its bid to host the Games. Despite the many months of volunteer work and a commitment from the premier secured earlier, the committee said the province apparently wanted too much control over the bidding process. The province, of course, has its side of the story. Carolyn Bertram, minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, said the province was willing to work with the committee, but that it wanted to be involved in the entire process to ensure Islanders’ interests were protected.
This story was confusing when it broke early this week, but it’s become even murkier as each day passes. In the legislature this week, for instance, questions from the Opposition and the responses from government did nothing to enlighten Islanders about the disagreement between the province and the bid committee. Some things should be a matter of fact, not spin. Is the province expected to cough up cash for the bid process or not? What specific control does the province want before it would support the bid, and which is so objectionable to the committee? What control is the bid committee insisting on that is unacceptable to the province?
We say: let the games, specifically the ones being played by the disputing parties, cease. Both sides of this dispute — that is, the bid committee and the province — need a time-out here so they can regain perspective.
The 2013 NatWest International Island Games, if awarded to P.E.I., were expected to bring 4,000 international athletes and visitors to the province and generate $10 million in revenue. That would have translated into a significant injection into the local economy.
Are the disagreements between the committee and government really that irreconcilable? Could not some compromise have been worked out to satisfy both sides?
It’s unclear whether it’s too late to resolve the dispute, but if it’s not, both parties should try again to put their differences to rest. If it is too late, then Islanders have no choice but to learn from the experience and move on. The specific lesson would be that sometimes in trying to win the turf battle, you lose the war. P.E.I. appears to be passing up a golden opportunity here to compete for an international games, which, if won by the province, would have attracted thousands of visitors from across the globe to our shores. For a province whose second major industry is tourism and which needs all the exposure it can get, winning the Games would have been a big coup. The news that the province now won’t even be trying to get them amounts to a big loss.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/03/11/guernsey-games.html

P.E.I. too big for Island Games, says Guernsey

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Prince Edward Island has lost the support of Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, in its bid to host the 2013 Island Games, because it is too big.

Jon Marley, the Island Games liaison for Guernsey, said there were problems with last year's games in Rhodes because of the size of the Island, and the time it took to travel between venues. For that reason, Guernsey has decided to support Bermuda's bid to host the games.

"Compared to Guernsey, you're a very, very large place," said Marley.

"There is no strict, 'The island is too big, too small.' It's purely because Rhodes is in everybody's minds and there was issues with that. Unfortunately it just came around at the wrong time for us."

P.E.I. is about 100 times the size of Bermuda.

The Island Games were established in 1985 and are held every two years. The Rhodes event attracted 2,000 competitors from 25 islands.

Come play on our Island - PEI in the running to host 2013 NatWest Island Games

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=106722&sc=118
PEI in the running to host 2013 NatWest Island Games

08/02/08
CHARLOTTETOWN
The Journal Pioneer

Prince Edward Island's bid has been submitted to the International Island Games Association to host the NatWest Island Games, June 29 to July 6 in 2013. Now that the Island Games Association of PEI has the support of the Government of Prince Edward Island, the association will continue to promote our 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.

PEI 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.

Ashley Caulier of Brooklyn participated on the soccer team in Rhodes last year and can't say enough about the experience.

"The cultural experience is one that I will always remember. I am still in communications with many of the new friends that I met.

"It would be an honour to host the Games in 2013 and have these athletes from the other 24 islands see Prince Edward Island. I would be so proud to show them our beautiful Island."

Prince Edward Island is competing against Bermuda for the 2013 NatWest Island Games. Even though Bermuda is very 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 and will offer more direct and cheaper air connections than Bermuda. Also, proposed dates are at the end of the school year, whereas 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 PEI plans to launch a sustained marketing campaign to educate the voting islands more about Prince Edward Island, highlighting our organizational capabilities, our facilities, scenery, food and culture. The slogan for the campaign is "An Island of memories awaits your arrival."

~*~

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=106728&sc=120
Come play on our Island

EDITORIALS
08/02/08
The Journal Pioneer

Islanders tend to have many similar traits, no matter what hemisphere those islanders might hail from. So having over 2,000 of them from all over the world converge on our Island would surely mean plenty of fun and games, plus a lot of camaraderie.

The Island Games Association of P.E.I. is working to make this happen.

The group responsible for putting in a bid for the 2013 International Island Games met in Summerside earlier this week to review their progress thus far and plan their next course of action. The P.E.I. contingent is competing against Bermuda for the chance to host the games five years from now.

The Island Games take place every two years on one of 25 member islands worldwide. Since the first games in 1985, the event has grown significantly in stature and popularity, especially on our Island.

Last year, the P.E.I. team sent 64 participants. They brought home 16 medals, ranking them 11th in medal totals. Josh Ballem even set an International Island Games record in swimming.

The games offer an opportunity for young sportsmen from small island communities to get a taste of international competition against other athletes of similar calibre. Being from a small province, like other small islands globally, it is difficult for P.E.I. athletes to compete with other provinces with larger populations and larger pools of funding from which to draw.

Besides giving these non-elite athletes a chance to compete internationally, the Island Games also involve a festival aspect. The Games are a venue for cultural exchange and social interaction between young people as well as the maybe not-so-young organizers. Friendships are formed between the fellow islanders.

The participants also have the opportunity to travel the globe, with last year's participants getting to spend a week or so on the Greek island of Rhodes.

Guernsey and the Isle of Man have both hosted the games twice. In order to ensure the Island Games remain truly international, they've got to go around the globe. P.E.I. would bring the games to North America for the first time. Bringing over 2,000 people would certianly be a boost to tourism, too.

With new facilities and improvements being made to prepare P.E.I. for hosting the Canada Games in 2009, these Island Games would put these facilities to good use. If the local committee is successful in their bid, it would enhance Summerside's reputation for being "the sports hosting capital of the world".

P.E.I. submits bid to host Island Games

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=100386&sc=99

22/01/08

P.E.I. submits bid to host Island Games

EDITORIAL STAFF
The 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

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=100904&sc=119

23/01/08

P.E.I. in the running to host 2013 NatWest Island Games

CHARLOTTETOWN
The 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.

Playing the game

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=69625&sc=103

09/10/07

Playing the game

Prince Edward Island is prudent to bid for the 2013 XV Island Games. By that date, the province will have played host to the 2009 Canada Summer Games, and would have the facilities and the experience to play host to the Island Games. P.E.I. would be an ideal choice.

Winning the Games would be a big plus for the Island. It would draw athletes, organizers, sponsors and spectators from across the world and give the Island added international exposure. For a province that prides itself as a prime tourism destination, this would be an important marketing advantage. Name recognition is key to success in the tourism industry, and playing host to the 2013 Island Games would be one more way of keeping Prince Edward Island in the forefront.

Bermuda, P.E.I. bid to host 2013 Games

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=67027&sc=98

Bermuda, P.E.I. bid to host 2013 Games

Chair of international association pleased with competition

EDITORIAL STAFF
The Guardian

Two member islands — Bermuda and Prince Edward Island — have formally presented their intentions to bid for the hosting rights of the XV Island Games in 2013.

Jörgen Pettersson, chairman of the International Island Games Association, said he is pleased with the competition between the two islands.

“We are delighted to have two alternatives for our members to choose between. Both Bermuda and Prince Edward Island have, by submitting their intentions to bid, shown the other member islands that they are prepared to take on the huge responsibility and the challenge to host the XV Island Games.”

Pettersson says the Games in 2013 will be the first Island Games ever held on the other side of the Atlantic.
The bidding islands now have until Dec. 28 to present their bid documents.

Following a spring meeting in 2008, IGA will make a recommendation to the membership regarding the choice of host for 2013.

The final decision will be taken by the membership at the IGA annual general meeting in Aland on June 28, 2008.

Aland is the host for the NatWest Island Games XIII in 2009, while the Isle of Wight will take on the task in 2011.

Jon Beard, chairman of the Bermuda Island Games Association, says they are presently meeting with their government’s Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation, as well as the Ministry of Tourism in preparation for a strong bid to the IGA executive and the IGA’s member islands.

Alfred Groom, president of the Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island, says they have the support of the government of Prince Edward Island for their intent to bid and the provincial sports organizations to host the 2013 Games.

P.E.I. hosts international games committee

(click article to enlarge & read)

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2007/09/11/games-host.html?ref=rss

P.E.I. hosts international games committee

Last Updated: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 | 9:52 AM AT

CBC News

P.E.I. sports officials spent the weekend showing off the Island to International Island Games committee members in a bid to host the games in 2013.

'You're used to dealing with huge numbers of visitors.'
— Jorgen Petterson, Island Games chair

Prince Edward Island is facing off against Bermuda in its bid to host the event.

The Games feature small islands from around the world but have never been held on this side of the Atlantic.

Two members of the international executive toured sports venues and accommodations across P.E.I.

They will also be visiting Bermuda, which lost the bid to host the Games in 2011 and is trying again.

Association chair Jorgen Pettersson, visiting from his home in Aland, an archipelago in the Baltic Sea and an autonomous province of Finland, said P.E.I. is not as well-known within the Island Games membership as Bermuda, but may have the edge in other areas.

"Accommodation and transportation. You're a tourist resort. You're used to dealing with huge numbers of visitors," said Pettersson.

"You have your sports venues, which are there. They are in shape," he said, noting the Island doesn't need many capital investments.

P.E.I. and Bermuda have until December to finalize their bid packages. They will then try to win the votes of the 25 member islands. That vote will be held in June 2008.

The Island Games are held every two years. The last games on the Greek island of Rhodes featured more than 3,000 athletes.

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PEI at The Island Games in Greece:

• Help Get Stanley Chaisson to the Island Games in Greece
  

• The Island Games - Stanley in the 5000m
  

• The Island Games - Another Medal for Stan in the 10,000m

The Island Games - Another Medal for Stan in the 10,000m

Congratulations Stanley!

Two bronze medals in long distance running at Island Games in Rhodes, Greece and climate extreme around 30 degrees or more. I hope you drank alot.

Women sport teams also get silver medal at basketball and soccer on final day.

Stanley at Team UPEI make proud I hope we get the Island Games on PEI.

See you at Run UPEI Tuesday night Stan! Bring The Medals!

Prince Edward Island Medal Winners at the 2007 Island Games



"The Island Games - Stanley in the 5,000m" (Posted July 3rd, 2007)
"Help Get Stanley to the Island Games in Greece" (Posted June 15th, 2007)

Island Games Links:

Islands Participating in the Island Games
General Information
NatWest Island Games Athletics
Athletics Sports Guide

10,000m Results

(click to enlarge)

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=42941&sc=99

P.E.I. grabs more medals
Silvers in women's soccer and women's basketball and a bronze in athletics
The Guardian

Prince Edward Island captured three more medals at the NatWest Island Games in Rhodes, Greece, on Friday.

The P.E.I. women’s soccer and women’s basketball teams each won a silver while Islander Stanley Chaisson claimed a bronze in athletics on the final day of competition.

P.E.I. finished the 25-island Games with 16 medals, including four gold, five silver and seven bronze.

Jersey finished first in the medal standings with 30 gold, 35 silver and 27 bronze while the Faroe Islands were second with 24 gold, 19 silver and 12 bronze.

Finishing third was Guernsey with 23 gold, 23 silver and 29 bronze.

In the women’s soccer final, Aland handed P.E.I. its first loss of the Games with a 3-0 decision. Aland led 1-0 at halftime.

P.E.I. lost 62-58 to Menorca in the women’s basketball final.

Chaisson finished third in the 10,000-metre men’s final with a time of 33 minutes, 54.29 seconds.

Kim Godtfredson of Greenland won the gold with a time of 33.27.60 while John Halligan from the Island of Man had a 33:44.54 clocking for the silver.

In the men’s triathlon, P.E.I.’s Tyler Read finished 32nd with a time of two hours, 24 minutes, 34 seconds.

Paul Clements led a Jersey sweep of the medals with a winning time of 2:01:08.

Swimmer Josh Ballem led P.E.I. at the Games, winning a total of four medals and setting a Games record.

Eighty athletes and coaches represented P.E.I. at the Games in triathlon, women’s basketball, swimming, men’s golf, judo, women’s soccer, men’s athletics and men’s tennis.

The P.E.I. Island Games Association is looking to host the Games in 2013.

The Island Games - Stanley in the 5000m

Hopefully to medal podium and 5km track time personal best. His personal best is 15:07 set at Deltaware in 2006.

The record at The Island Games was set in 1991 by Mikael Nordblom from the Island of Aland.

This race time is 8:15pm Rhodes Time.

The temperature was been 30-35 degrees C in the day time.

That Stan like to run on flat track.

I will post the result later. Good Luck Stan!

Stanley's competition (click to enlarge)

Background - "Help Get Stanley to the Island Games in Greece" (Posted June 15th, 2007)

Prince Edward Island Medal Winners at the 2007 Island Games

Results of the 5000m - CONGRATULATIONS STAN ON YOUR BRONZE MEDAL!!!

DeltaWare Systems Inc. 5K Fun Run

Saturday, June 23, 2007
"A nice run for all abilities through the streets of Charlottetown"


This Saturday it was cloudy and drizzle before the race and 13 degrees. Gord from UFit lead a warm up with music.

5km loop course around Charlottetown.

I finish in 20:13 at 22nd out of 140 runners.
22nd in 3 races in the row!

Scott Clark won in 16:46 and Rachael McCalvill for top female in 18:14.

Official Result: 22nd out of 140
5K in 20 minutes, 13 seconds
2006 Deltaware
2005 Deltaware
2004 Deltaware




Stan is going to the Island Games. Brian McKenna organized a fundraiser for Stan and raised over $1200. to get Stan to the Island Games in Greece. Good Luck Stan! Have Fun!

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Help Get Stanley Chaisson to the Island Games in Greece

Our man Stan has been asked to represent Prince Edward Island at the Island Games on the Island of Rhodes in Greece June 30th - July 6th 2007.

Stan will be running the 10,000 Metre (10Km) track event at the beautiful new Kalipatira Sports Complex.


Anyone who knows Stanley can attest to the fine choice this Bear River native is to represent PEI. One doesn't have to be in his running group, or even a runner to know Stanley's enthusiasm, support and encouragement. I experienced it first hand last fall when we were both speakers at the PEI Marathon Speaker Series and were both a bit nervous about our presentations. Stanley was my support and encouragement beforehand and I remember well how, every time I looked up during that presentation, I saw Stanley, smiling, looking interested in what I was saying, and making it easy to relax and carry on. Alex and his fellow runners know Stan's encouragement all too well - with Stan's blazing times and top finishes he has plenty of time to go back and cheer on the rest of the field, "Stanley cheers at last few meters after winning in 15:34" Alex wrote after the Proude's Shoes Run in May. I've heard other runners comment on how Stan's cheers encouraged them to pour it on at the end of a run as well. He has an easy rapport with Alex and my observation leads me to believe he really enjoys and takes great interest in each and every member of his very diverse running groups.

For Stanley, the total cost of the trip is $4,000.00. While the Province has agreed to cover $3,000.00 of this , Stanley has to come up with an additional $1,000.00 on his own in very short order. Stanley's beginner group at Run UPEI have sprung into action to help him fundraise that $1000.00. Many from this group, thanks to Stanley's encouragement & support, will be running in their first 5K race Saturday, June 23rd at the Deltaware 5K Run in Charlottetown and a collection will be taken following the Run for Stan. This race is where Stan has run his personal best 5K time, running it last year in 15:07.

For all who will be participating in the Deltaware 5K, please bring along a donation for Stanley. If you'de like to donate but won't be there on the 23rd I have a couple of suggestions.... You can send a cheque, made out to "Stanley Chaisson" to Brian McKenna, 18 Johnson Ave. Charlottetown C1A 3H9, before June 27th (you can contact Brian at ). Alex & I will be at the PEI Parks Trail Run in Milton Saturday June 16th and The Michael Thomas-Barney Francis Memorial Run on Lennox Island on Thursday June 21st and would be happy to take any donations (cash or cheques) along to Stanley at the Deltaware Run June 23rd. If you can't spare a dime but can spare a word of encouragement, drop Stanley a line and wish him well, he can be reached at

Stanley Chaisson, BSc Kinesiology.

• Kinesiologist & Personal Trainer
• Program Facilitator, RUN UPEI
• Five-year varsity Cross Country and Track & Field member at Dalhousie University
• Wealth of experience: competed in numerous National competitions
• Former CIS All Canadian
• Broad knowledge of the science behind health and exercise
• Several years of training experience
• Active runner and sports enthusiast

The sport of Athletics has had its roots since ancient times on the Island of Rhodes. All participants will have the opportunity to visit the islands Ancient Stadium. As a very popular sport on the island many athletes participate in international events, the Olympic Games and have even won medals in IAAF World Championships.

Athletics has a well-organised local association supported by the National Federation of Athletics, with vast experience in organising events at the National level having participants in all athletic events.

The athletic events will be hosted in the newly constructed, 400m 8 lane, Track and Field of the "Kalipatira Sports Complex" located close to the accommodation area. The half marathon will be held in the City of Rhodes starting from the Ancient Stadium. Athletes will also have the option to train in the newly constructed track and field of "Agios Silas".

Links:

• Islands Participating in the Island Games
• General Information
• NatWest Island Games Athletics
• Athletics Sports Guide

The P.E.I. government says it will help pay to send athletes to the
International Island Games this year in Rhodes, Greece.

Nelson Hagerman, vice-president and fundraiser for the local island games association, said athletes are also looking ahead to 2009, when the Games are due to be held on the Baltic Sea island of Aland. Hagerman said that event will be a good warmup for the Canada Summer Games, which will be held in P.E.I. in 2009.

"We hope to send a good contingent of athletes, because what it would do is give them an initial training or competition process before...the Canada Games in 2009," said Hagerman.

In all, 82 athletes, coaches and officials will travel to the Games in Greece this summer. The provincial government will contribute $75,000 to the cost. P.E.I. sent its first athletes to the International Island Games, which are held every two years, in 1991. It is the only North American member of the International Island Games Association.

P.E.I. is also looking into becoming the first North American host for the Games, launching a bid for 2013. A successful bid could bring as many as 4,000 visitors to P.E.I., said Hagerman.

The games in Rhodes are the first to be held outside the British Isles and Scandinavia. The inaugural Games were held on the Isle of Man in 1985.