Author: Isla Wright

Guernsey-based Physiotherapist, Dan Guillemette, has worked in elite professional sport for 13 years.

He has previously competed as an athlete in the Island Games and has also been involved as a medical practitioner.

Dan talks about the next generation of aspirational athletes and the four key pillars of human performance – technical, tactical, physiological and mental.

The three-tiered approach of fit to train, fit to compete and fit to win is essential to Dan’s success.

Learn more from Dan here.

#TeamGuernsey #Guernsey2023  #UtmostGuernsey

Island Games veteran, Sam Herridge, tells us about her amazing experience representing Guernsey in swimming at the games in 2003.

In a video from our sponsors, Utmost International Guernsey, Sam talks about immense support from the home crowd and the electric atmosphere in the pool.

Over the next couple of months, we will be releasing a series of videos from physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches and nutritionists to help athletes with preparation for next year’s Island Games. First up, hear from Chairman at GIGA, Brian Allen, as we begin the countdown. Brian gives us insight into the preparation for the upcoming Island Games and the excitement of playing on home turf. #TeamGuernsey #Guernsey2023  #UtmostGuernsey

Up-and-coming swimmer Jemima Green is hoping to represent Guernsey at our home Games in 2023.

In our latest video, organised by our sponsors Utmost International Guernsey, Jemima tells us about her hopes and ambitions.

Meet the next athlete in our Utmost International Guernsey series.

Phil Ogier competed in his first Island Games in Gibraltar in 1995 and has been a formidable table tennis player for Guernsey, competing in a further seven games.

Here Phil talks about the pride felt when wearing your Guernsey kit and hopes the games next year will inspire a younger generation to show commitment to their chosen sport.

In the lead up to Guernsey 2023 our sponsor, Utmost International Guernsey, has put together some content with some of our sporting veterans and up-and-coming athletes. We’re excited to be able to share these with you over the coming weeks and months as we look ahead to our home Island Games next year.

The first video in our series is with Andy Torode. He tells us about his experience shooting in the Island Games in the Isle of Wight in 1993. He’s competed in several other Games and has made lifelong friendships.

Andy says the Island Games is a great introduction to competing at a national level.

But we’ll let Andy tell you more about it in his own words:

The International Island Games Association has voted Gozo in as a new member of the Games family at its AGM today.

Representatives from Gozo have been in Guernsey with the other member islands for the traditional pre-Games visit, with a year to go.

The 2023 Natwest International Island Games in Guernsey will run from the 8th to the 14th of July.

As part of this week’s visit, the representatives of the member islands have been able to see first-hand the venues and accommodation that will be used at the Games next year.

The IIGA AGM was held at Les Cotils today, Saturday 9th of July, where presentations were made by the Guernsey Organising Committee, Ynys Mon who will host in 2025 and Orkney who will host in 2027.

It was also there that the unanimous vote was taken to invite the island of Gozo to join the Games. Gozo is one of 21 islands that make up the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, with a population of 33,000.

Jorgen Pettersson, Chair of the IIGA is “delighted to welcome Gozo to the Island Games family. It’s the first time in almost 20 years that we welcome a new island and we’re looking forward to seeing their team in Guernsey next year.”

Kevin Azzopardi is the Technical Director for the Gozo Island Games Association. He says today’s vote is “great news for sports development in Gozo and we are really looking forward to our first appearance in the Games in Guernsey.”

Gozo is hoping to be able to field competitors in shooting, athletics, cycling, badminton, football, tennis and table tennis. Joining the Natwest International Island Games will see its athletes compete internationally under the Gozo flag for the first time ever, as normally they’d compete under the flag of Malta.

To mark the year-to-go countdown a special reception was held at Government House, hosted by the Bailiff, on Friday evening.

The 3 day visit to Guernsey ends following today’s AGM and we look forward to welcoming all the Member Islands to Guernsey in 2023.

The Guernsey Lawn Tennis Association and the Guernsey Golf Union are the latest lucky recipients of Utmost Guernsey International’s support for the Guernsey Island Games Association.

The two sports have received bursaries to put towards their preparations for the home games next year.

Tennis will use its money to have some expert coaching to improve player performance and help inspire the team. Golf, meanwhile, will put the funding towards athletes’ kit for 2023.

Utmost International Guernsey has consistently awarded bursaries on a rotational basis since 2018 and the aim is that each of Guernsey’s 18 sports will have had two rounds of funding ahead of the Natwest International Island Games XIX here in Guernsey in July 2023.

Leon Steyn, the Chief Executive Officer for Utmost International Guernsey says “sport is such a vital part of island life, so we’re proud to be able to support our teams with this important funding. We are always happy to hear how our bursaries help these teams and the positive impact they have on the wider sports community.”

Brian Allen, Chairman of the Guernsey Island Games Association, says the bursaries are crucial and “in addition to helping teams with kit and funding for coaching, the positive impact that they have on sports enthusiasts competing at every level is invaluable.”

Utmost International Guernsey has committed to sponsoring GIGA until 2023 when Guernsey will host the Natwest International Island Games XIX, which the company is also one of the sponsors for. The Games were rescheduled from 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.