Island Games: General Information

Here're a few facts about the Island Games:

The Island Games started in 1985 in the Isle of Man with 600 competitors from 15 islands, including Jersey, participating in seven sports. Since then, the Games have taken place every two years:

1985	Isle of Man
1987	Guernsey
1989	Faroes
1991	Aland
1993	Isle of Wight
1995	Gibraltar
1997	Jersey
1999	Gotland
2001	Isle of Man
2003	Guernsey
2005	Shetlands
2007	Rhodes

The 2005 Games involved 2,000 competitors from 24 islands in fifteen sports: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Indoor Bowls, Sailing, Squash, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Sailboarding and Volleyball.

There are 25 member islands at present and the constitution allows for a maximum of 25. They are, with approximate populations:

Aland 24,000 Alderney 2,000 Bermuda 60,000 Cayman 31,000 Falklands 2,000 Faroes 48,000 Froya 4,500 Gibraltar 30,000 Gotland 58,000 Greenland 55,000 Guernsey 60,000 Hitra 4,500 Isle of Man 72,000

Isle of Wight 120,000 Jersey 88,000 Menorca 80,000 Orkneys 19,000 Prince Edward Island 123,000 Rhodes 100,000 Sark 600 Saaramaa 40,000 Shetland 23,500 St. Helena 5,500 Western Isles 21,000 Ynys Mon 71,000

The 2007 Games, taking place in Rhodes will embrace fourteen sports: Archery, Athletics, Basketball, Cycling, Football, Golf, Judo, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon and Volleyball (including beach volleyball).