Sports Stars Join Push For Games Volunteers

Guernsey sports stars Abi Galpin, Alastair Chalmers and Lucy Beere have joined calls for islanders to volunteer for next year's Island Games.

More than 1,000 people have signed up so far, but more are needed ahead of the 30 September deadline.

You need to be able to do at least four, six hour long shifts during games week, which gets underway on the 8 July next year.

Role include marshals, car parking supervisors, medals coordinators and catering assistants.

Fresh from their Commonwealth Games success Lucy, Alastair and Abi say volunteers are vital to a tournament's success.

"If you have an interest in sport then go for it because you’ll be so included in it, you could be track-side with all the athletes, and it’ll be a really good experience, I’m sure you wouldn’t regret it.

The Games can’t operate without volunteers, it’s important to have the help"  - Alastair Chalmers.

Organisers say the challenges of finding accommodation might force some of those from overseas to drop out, so they want to boost the number of homegrown helpers.

More than 3,000 athletes from 23 islands will be in Guernsey for the NatWest International Island Games 8-14 July 2023, making it the biggest sports event the island will have ever hosted.

Galpin says the Commonwealth Games volunteers in Birmingham clearly found it a rewarding experience:

"It’s a really great opportunity because not only do us athletes and spectators appreciate volunteers because they make the event smoothly, but also I think it offers a really unique perspective.

By being a volunteer you get to see the behind-the-scenes of the competition which is really interesting, and you get to interact with athletes from all over the world, which I think is a special and unique experience.

I’ve seen videos from 2003, where the grass was completely packed and the stand was completely packed, and it would be such an amazing experience to get a taste of that and have the home crowd cheering us on.

Silver medal winning bowler Lucy Beere won't be competing at the home Island Games, but will be getting involved:

"I’m going to have a look on the Guernsey 2023 website and see what I can volunteer for because although I’m not competing, I want to be involved.

It’s such an experience and who knows when we’re next going to host an Island Games."

Islanders already signed up range in age from 16 to their mid-80s.  

Those registered will need to attend a meeting of up to 90 minutes on either Saturday 24 September or Sunday 2 October.

Volunteering positions will be confirmed in the autumn and there will be training and information sessions on 4 February, 1 April and 13 May.

Sign up here.