ISLAND GAMESNEXT year’s NatWest Island Games will certainly begin in spectacular style — thanks to an Arts Council grant of almost £100,000.
The grant, for £94,099, is funded by the National Lottery and has been awarded to the IW Island Games Association for the opening ceremony, which takes place in Ryde on June 25 next year.
More than 1,000 young people will be involved in a carnival parade through the streets of Ryde, culminating in a performance on the seafront, where the official opening of the games will take place.
David Ball, chairman of the 2011 organising committee, said: "It is already clear that because our games are the largest multi-sporting event in Great Britain in the year before the Olympics, there will be an unusually high level of publicity both at home and abroad.
"It is therefore important that we create the right image from the start, and this very welcome grant from the Arts Council will be of great assistance to us in creating that image and involving so many members of our local community."
Around 4,000 athletes and supporters from 24 islands are expected to attend, competing in several hundred events across 14 sports.
To find out more about the games and how you can get involved, go to the event’s official website, www.natwestislandgames2011.co.uk.