Bowditch pays tribute to Island Games volunteers after being awarded an MBE

Friday 29 December 2023

Having led the delivery of a spectacular Island Games, Julia Bowditch has been awarded the MBE for Services to sport in Guernsey.

The 2023 event saw 3,000 competitors and officials involved in 14 sports over six days of competition based around 18 venues.

She was appointed Games Director early in 2019 with the Games due to take place in 2021, but it was delayed until July 2023 because of the Covid pandemic.

“I’m very happy to receive this award, it was a big surprise and I’m very grateful,” she said.

“Guernsey 2023 was a huge team effort, so I want to accept the award on behalf of all the 1,200 plus volunteers, without them the Games would not have been possible. 

“I can’t stress enough how amazing the volunteers were, they were always willing to roll up their sleeves to help. 

“From mopping up sweat on the badminton courts to stuffing 5,000 welcome bags, the unpaid volunteers went above and beyond to ensure that the Games ran smoothly. 

“Some volunteers made huge sacrifices and worked for years on the planning. The various sports coordinators each had huge responsibility and they were all heroes.” 

Pictured: Julia Bowditch with Orkney 2025 director Kirsty Talbot.

She led a staff of three people, who worked with the team of sports coordinators, to deliver the action.

“I must also pay tribute to the Guernsey community. 

“It was brilliant to see the island embrace the Games. Venues were packed, the road events had streets lined with people, and the opening ceremony must have been the biggest party ever in island sport. 

“The whole island seemed to come alive that week with the spirit of the Games. Lots of the visiting competitors and officials told me that they had received the warmest of welcomes and they thought it was the best Island Games ever.” 

Pictured: Guernsey women's basketballers against Cayman.

She said that support from the local business community was also vital to the overall success. 

“In planning for the Games, we always said that there had to be a legacy that endured beyond 14 July. In 2003 – the last time Guernsey hosted the Games – the legacy focused on the built environment with the construction of the Garenne Stand at Foote’s Lane. 

“This time round, the venues were already in place, so it meant we could concentrate on a legacy of physical activity and wellness. Our Guernsey2023 tagline was ‘inspiring islanders’ and we made all the events free to spectators so that everyone could watch. Alongside the elite performances we also wanted to promote the recreational and social joy of physical activity. 

“We particularly wanted to inspire and excite children, encouraging them to feel the power of sport, and live happier and healthier lives. The Health Improvement Commission helped organise for 2,000 Guernsey school pupils from reception to Year 6 to watch the events. The pupils showed huge enthusiasm for the Games, and I’m sure that somewhere in those crowds of fans were the Maya Le Tissiers and Alastair Chalmers of the future.” 

Pictured: Alastair Chalmers.

There has been increased interest from young people in the sports featured since the Games.

“For instance, the Guernsey Basketball Association’s Future Stars programme had more than 170 applications for their new season."

Coverage of the Games entered new levels after Julia and her team secured high speed broadband in all the venues to allow for scrolling results and live streaming across the world. 

This remains as a legacy for the sports involved.

There were approximately 300,000 views of live streaming, live timing, and tracking with 51,500 unique viewers. 

“Guernsey 2023 showed what can happen when our whole community pulls together. There were certainly setbacks along the way, not least Covid, but we all stayed focused on the big picture. I’m delighted to be named in the King’s New Year’s honours list and I’m very proud and humbled by the magical and unforgettable week we created. It was a huge privilege to be Games director and together we all made the Games possible.” 

Julia’s involvement in the sports events sector began by chance when she was backpacking in Australia in 2000 and secured a job working in the lost and found at the Sydney Olympics.

Two years later she worked at the Manchester Commonwealth Games and was then volunteer coordinator for the 2003 Guernsey Island Games.

Among her career highlights was being involved in the Opening and Closing ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympics.