Channel Islands get stuck in at the 2025 Orkney Island Games

Channel Islanders are representing their countries at the 2025 Island Games in Orkney, kicking off with events including athletics, football, lawn bowls and squash.

The Scottish island is hosting the sporting spectacular, with islands ranging from Sark to St Helena competing in different events this year.

Thousands of athletes have made their way north to the week-long event, with the first events starting today (13 July) and finishing on Friday, 18 July.

It follows the opening ceremony, which saw HRH The Princess Royal and Lorraine Kelly welcoming competitors at Kirkwall's Bignold Park.

Princess Anne officially opened Orkney 2025 as the sun shone over the athletes from 24 different countries and regions.

Lorraine Kelly says it was a privilege to have hosted the Opening Ceremony for the Orkney 2025 International Island Games.

"The atmosphere was just electric, and I could really feel the anticipation in the air!

"Orkney is my favourite place and I’m so looking forward to watching the Games over the next week."

Jersey athletes collecting water in St Brelade to take to Orkney

Kirsty Talbot, Director of Orkney 2025, says welcoming islands from across the world to Orkney is a truly historic moment for our community.

"This event is about more than sport; it's a celebration of our shared island heritage, community, unity, and the enduring spirit of friendly competition.

"The week has certainly kicked off in high spirits!"

Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark will be up against:

• Aland,
• Bermuda,
• Cayman Islands,
• Falkland Islands,
• Faroe Islands,
• Froya,
• Gibraltar,
• Gotland,
• Gozo,
• Greenland,
• Hitra,
• Isle of Man,
• Isle of Wight,
• Menorca,
• Orkney,
• Saaremaa,
• Shetland Islands,
• St Helena,
• Western Isles,
• Ynys Môn (Anglesey).

There will be 12 different types of sports this year, with Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Bowls, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Sailing, Squash, Swimming and even Triathlon, all on the cards.

The first medals to be given out will be in the Triathlon, followed by the Athletics today.

Jersey's Ste Mackay is one to watch in the 100m, recently securing the island record with a phenomenal time of 10.48 seconds.

Guernsey's Abi Galpin, also an Island Games medalist, will be taking on the 100m and 200m sprints.

Events can be livestreamed on YouTube, via links of the Orkney 2025 website, with some competitions starting as early as 9:00 am, going on as late as 10:00 pm.