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Article published 11/07/2024

This week marks the official one-year countdown to the highly anticipated Orkney 2025 International Island Games.

Throughout the week, over 60 international delegates of the games are travelling from as far as Bermuda and the Falkland Islands to join event organisers on Orkney to mark the momentous occasion.

The week-long island games will take place on Orkney in July next year. Marking a milestone 40th year since the games first began, it will be one of the largest multi-sport events taking place in Europe in 2025.

The games in numbers

2,000

competitors and officials partaking

24

islands participating

12

sports included

7

days long

The year-to-go event is the perfect opportunity for Orkney to showcase the exceptional facilities, vibrant atmosphere and welcoming community the 2025 Games will behold.

Over the course of the year-to-go event, representatives from more than 20 participating island groups will embark on a three-day itinerary packed full of sporting venue tours, workshops, talks, and celebrations.

This will include a formal dinner marking the start of the official countdown on Friday 12 July.

The Games will not only be a sporting spectacle, but also a catalyst for promoting the cultural and economic vitality of the Orkney Islands.

Orkney representatives from each of the 12 sports gathered at the Standing Stones of Stenness to mark the momentous occasion.

Find more information on orkney2025.com.

Scotland is the perfect stage for events. We are looking forward to welcoming athletes, officials, and supporters to Orkney in one year’s time for the 2025 International Island Games.

Today is the start of many exciting milestones as we countdown to Orkney 2025.

We look forward to working with the organisers, partners and the people of Orkney over the next 12 months to deliver a unique and memorable event for everyone.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, will also be in attendance to show her support for the games, the biggest event Orkney has ever hosted.

Ms Gougeon is to see first-hand how preparations are progressing and will be delivering a speech to attending delegates. She'll be discussing the significance of the games, both locally and nationally, and why she’s so pleased that the Scottish Government is supporting this event.

I am delighted to be able to join so many international delegates and Orcadians to start the countdown to Games.

This is an opportunity to showcase, not just Orkney, but also for Shetland and the Western Isles who will compete in 2025.

The next 12 months will so exciting as Orkney prepares to host competitors, coaches, officials, spectators and tourists from across the globe and show them a wonderful Scottish welcome.

I look forward to us all working to make Orkney 2025 a huge success.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

We are thrilled to welcome delegates from so many of the island groups here to Orkney to help us celebrate the one-year countdown to the games.

The anticipation is ramping us as local businesses, tourism, and community groups are preparing to showcase the vibrant spirit and culture of Orkney.

Our community is eagerly preparing to welcome athletes, officials, and visitors from around the world.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who have worked so hard to set the games in good stead with just a year left to go.

I would also like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for her support and presence here for our year-to-go activities. We are on the brink of a truly unforgettable event that will celebrate Orkney’s rich heritage, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality which will make this a memorable event for everyone involved.

Gordon Deans, Chair, Orkney 2025

Hosting the 2025 Island Games next year is a fantastic opportunity for Orkney.

The Orkney 2025 team have been working incredibly working hard behind the scenes to bring together a memorable, world-class multi-sport event.

This will not only celebrate the best of everything that Orkney has to offer but also provide unprecedented opportunities to create a lasting sporting legacy for the islands, whether through participation or the development of coaching and other supporting roles.

Orcadians are passionate about sporting competition and the Island Games. We’ve been a permanent presence at the Games since they began. It’s been a long-term aspiration to bring the games here, soon to be realised.

We're delighted to be supporting the games to come here, placing our welcoming, hard-working and determined community right at the heart of the action.

Councillor Graham Bevan, Convener, Orkney Islands Council

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