It will be a busy summer for Cayman’s athletes. As well as competing in the Special Olympic Summer Games, this week in Athens, Greece, a large delegation has gone to the NatWest Island Games in the Isle of Wight, starting on Saturday.
With 90-plus team members, athletes will represent the Islands in track and field, golf, table tennis, squash, basketball, swimming, cycling, shooting, tennis and volleyball.
Andrew Smilley is expected to be the Special Olympics kingpin for Cayman in swimming and there are plenty at the island Games capable of bringing home medals, including swimmer Lara Butler, squash queen Marlene West and the versatile athletes Carl and Carlos Morgan.
“Cayman is again fielding a strong, multi-talented group and I thank all the sporting associations and team managers for preparing and motivating our athletes,” said sports minister Mark Scotland. “This event provides our athletes with invaluable international exposure and the ministry is proud to support them.”
The International Island Games, also known as the Friendly Games, take place every other year. Launched in the Isle of Man in 1985, today’s membership includes 25 islands with populations of 120,000 or less.
The Cayman Islands first competed in Gotland, Sweden in 1999 and saw local athletes placing sixth in the medal count. Since then, local competitors have brought home more than 120 medals.
“We have high hopes of our team continuing this excellent performance by scooping more medals this year. And while most of us won’t be there to cheer them on in person, I urge everyone to follow their progress and give them a warm welcome when they return after the meet.”
For more information, visit the International Island Games Association website at www.islandgames.net. For details on this year’s event (25 June to 1 July) or to track results go to http://www.natwestislandgames2011.co.uk/
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