Island Games Opening Ceremony Plans Revealed

Music, performance and a parade will all form a part of Guernsey's Island Games opening ceremony next month.

Organisers say the event to signal the start of the 2023 Island Games will 'showcase the best of Guernsey'.

There'll be samba, bagpipes, cheerleaders, majorettes, and a vintage tractor in the line-up for the spectacle along the St Peter Port seafront on Saturday 8 July.

Highlights include the water ceremony at North Beach.  The games traditionally begin with the mixing of water from the 24 member islands taking part.  It has been a feature of the opening ceremony since 1991.

Indoor bowler Catherine Bonsall will be one of Guernsey's two water carriers - alongside swimmer Hannah Kennedy.

Water carriers for the Island Games Hannah Kennedy and Catherine Bonsall.

Catherine, who's competing for the first time at this home games, told Island FM:

"We collected water from Havelet bay this week, in our Guernsey milk can.  That will be mixed in with water from the other competing islands  - kind of like the Olympic torch - to bring all the islands together and unite them at the opening ceremony.

I am really hoping it will be buzzing with excitement! With the number of athletes, volunteers and supporters that we have here in Guernsey, I am really hoping everyone will get involved and come down and it will be a really exciting, happy atmosphere."

The 2,500 athletes and team members taking part in the games will parade from North Beach to Albert Pier.  Team Guernsey will be led by flagbearer and 49-time Island Games medallist swimmer Tom Hollingsworth,

Events director Amanda Hibbs says the island's best musical, vocal and performance talent have been brought together to ensure there is a carnival atmosphere.

"We have hundreds of musicians, singers, performers, and entertainers, many of them children, who are currently rehearsing hard.

As the teams parade along the seafront, they will be interspersed with the Rebellion Allstars cheerleaders, the Samba Burros, the Boys Brigade Band, the Guernsey Majorettes, a group of bagpipers, and Jet the puffin, who will ride in a trailer pulled by the vintage tractor."

North Beach car park will be closed all day so that the stage, big screen, loudspeakers, and seating can be set up.

Parking will be suspended at midday and the Town seafront will close at 4pm, with spectators invited to gather from 5pm. The Big Band Collective will be on stage to get the party started.

The ceremony will start at 6.30pm with speeches, the water-mixing. flag-raising and the games' oath.

Teams will leave North Beach and parade along the seafront.

 Team Guernsey at the 2019 Island Games in Gibraltar

There will be a big screen at the entrance to the Crown Pier.

Games director Julia Bowditch, says the event will highlight island hospitality, pride, togetherness, and talent.

visiting athletes a proper Guernsey welcome to our special and unique island.

"People still talk about the 2003 opening ceremony, so come and be part of history. There’s going to be a festival family atmosphere, and spectators might want to wear the colour of the team that they are supporting. We’re combining the beauty of St Peter Port with a celebration of sport and friendship, so it’s going to be an absolute belter."

Six days of sporting action will get underway on 9 July, with athletes from 24 islanders competing in 14 sports at 25 venues as Guernsey becomes the first place to host the Island Games for a third time.

The Island Games opening ceremony will be staged at North Beach on the evening of Saturday 8 July.