IOW 2011 Magnificent opening to the Nat West Island Games

While it is too early to say, how it will all end, after all the trials and tribulations that the Falkland Islands team endured to get here, it is a relief to be able to report that the opening of the 2011 Nat West Island Games on the Isle of Wight went off in spectacular fashion.

In the morning it still looked as if the fresh and windy weather of the Falklands had followed us here and several of the yachts taking part in the annual round the island race suffered capsizes and dismasting, but by the afternoon, when the events leading up to the games’ opening ceremony took place in the seaside town of Ryde, the sun was shining on a colourful and vibrant carnival procession.

Involving some 1,600 of the Isle of Wight’s school children and many other members of the community, this procession of exotically costumed dancers illustrating various aspects of the island’s rich history was headed by a drum band, which would not have sounded out of place in Rio de Janeiro. Following in the wake of this spectacle and finally taking their allotted places in an improvised stadium on the sea front were the teams of the 24 islands competing in the games, a total of some three thousand athletes and team officials. As the teams entered they were introduced and it is not stretching the truth to say that the Falklands team, led by golfer Kevin Clapp, received probably the biggest cheer from the spectators.

Among the estimated 40,000 spectators was a very special guest, the former Olympic gold medallist, Lord Sebastian Coe, who now is in charge of the preparations for the Olympic Games to be held in London next year. Declaring the Games open, Lord Coe paid tribute to the organisers on the Isle of Wight and in particular to the carnival procession which he said set a standard for the London Olympics to aim for.

Appropriately enough for a swimmer, the youngest competitor on the Falklands team, Sorrel Pompert-Robertson, was involved in a traditional part of the Islands Games opening when each competing team brings a small sample of water from their island to mix with the waters of the other competitors.

The final piece of good news from today is that the injuries to footballers Aaron Franks ad Daniel Biggs do not appear to have been too serious.

Tomorrow sees the half-marathon team of Zoran Zuvic, Martin Collins and Rex Eagle in action first, followed through the day by the badminton and shooting teams. The football team play Guernsey tomorrow evening. Watch this space to see how they get on.