Sport / Excitement builds for Island Games as countdown reaches 100 days
THE COUNTDOWN is on until the Orkney 2025 Island Games, with tomorrow (Thursday) marking just 100 days to go until the games get underway.
Around 2,000 athletes from 24 island groups will meet between 12-18 July in Orkney, which is hosting the games for the first time.
Marking the milestone this week, the Orkney Island Games committee has revealed the medals which will be worn by those who make the podiums this summer.
Designed by 23-year-old Jodie Brown, from Kirkwall, the medals feature a design based on Orkney’s standing stones and will be featured on the 1,272 medals that will be presented.
Her winning design was selected by Creative Orkney and the games committee after a competition to come up with the medals and ribbon.
Brown will also receive her own commemorative set and will be given the opportunity to present a medal during the Games.
The ribbon design was won by Olivia Yorston, whose concept represents the flag colours of Orkney and features all of the official Island Games logos.
Twelve sports will be featured in this summer’s games, ranging from archery to athletics, and swimming to triathlon.
As well as an influx of athletes and coaches, thousands of supporters are set to descend on Orkney for the games – particularly from Shetland.
Games director Kirsty Talbot said excitement is building in Orkney ahead of the event.
“We are very much looking forward to creating positive memories which will last a lifetime,” she added.
Talbot said it was “extremely fitting” that the medals designed for Orkney 2025 celebrated the islands’ “iconic landscape”.
The games will kick off with an opening ceremony and athletes’ parade through Kirkwall on Saturday 12 July, which will be hosted by TV personality Lorraine Kelly.
Some of the highlights throughout the week include the triathlon in Stromness, cycling road races through the West Mainland, and the half marathon in Kirkwall.
Shetland’s teams for the men’s and women’s football competitions were named last week, with the women’s team returning to the event for the first time in 20 years.
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