Guernsey 2023 Island Games Opening

Thousands of people gathered on Guernsey's St Peter Port seafront to celebrate the opening of the 2023 Island Games.

With cheering and flag waving the atmosphere at Northbeach was ecstatic.

The Big Band Collective kicked things off, performing upbeat songs and the crowd sang along:

Each island team was then called forward and waved to the crowd, dressed in their island kit, waving their local flag.

The crowd heard the number of athletes from each island and which of the 14 sports they are participating in.

The hosts introduced a new island to the games, Gozo, and the smallest team, Sark.

Team Gozo has entered the Island Games for the first time.

Team Sark has 4 athletes.

Guernsey and Jersey arriving at North Beach for the opening ceremony

After each team took their place in front of the main stage, the flag bearers and water carriers were called forward to participate in a symbolic tradition.

Each team brought water from home in containers that represent their island's culture.

Guernsey and Jersey's water carriers

This was followed by a series of speeches by Sue Perkins, a representative of the main sponsor Natwest and Games Chairman Jorgen Petterson.

Guernsey's Bailiff Richard McMahon then had the privilege of officially opening the games:

"These games present an opportunity for us all to learn more about the places from which those representing the islands come and what makes them so special.

At the end of the week, I really do hope that we all feel better informed about the whole Island Games family.

I think sport is a terrific unifying force, friendly rivalry, and competition is healthy.

Each of you will inevitably strive to do the best that you can, but the emphasis has to be on you renewing and building new friendships across all 24 islands here and across each of the 14 sports. So please do be generous in your support for one another and wholeheartedly embrace the joy of competition in this latest edition of the Island Games.

On behalf of the people of the bailiwick of Guernsey, I say that each and every one of you is most welcome here and we look forward to what I’m sure will be a wonderful week of sporting endeavours.

It is now my honour and my privilege to declare the games open."

The teams then left in a parade along the island's seafront to Albert Pier where the teams departed on buses to reset up for the upcoming events.