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The lasting legacy of the 2023 Island Games is something Education, Sport and Culture is keen to highlight but exactly how that will happen is not yet apparent.
The committee President responded to a series of written questions last week, published during the height of Games week and detailed now as the post-Games legacy period begins.
Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller asked a series of Rule 14 Questions around the Island Games and sports funding. R14 questions demand a written response within two weeks.
Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen's response was published on the States website last week.
The questions and answers, which focus on sports funding, investment in sport infrastructure, and the Games legacy were published on Thursday - the day that Guernsey won 24 medals, including one in archery, four in athletics, four in cycling, four in bowls, one in sailing, three in shooting, and seven in swimming.
Pictured: The final medals table at the end of the sixth day of competition showing Guernsey's sporting successes across disciplines and age groups.
Deputy Kazantseva-Miller wanted to know whether plans had been made for a Games legacy prior to the event happening.
Deputy Dudley-Owen responded in detail explaining that a "lasting legacy has been a strategic theme that has run through every aspect of the preparations for the Games".
These plans encompassed the Youth Engagement Programme, school resources packs, the opportunities for children to watch different sports with their schools, work experience opportunities, and the chance to act as 'medals mates'.
Deputy Dudley-Owen said the legacy of the Games would extend beyond sport too.
"The Guernsey Sports Commission, Guernsey Arts Commission and the Health Improvement Commission are all taking steps to ensure a legacy of the Games in many different forms. This ranges from the Arts programme featuring Poetry, Digital Arts and Postcard design, through to the 700 children who participated in the Island Games themed Youth Games in May and new opportunities to engage in parasport activities, through to Jet the Puffin touring the Island’s schools and businesses alongside Games and Commission representatives to enthuse about the many positive aspects of the Games. All of this has been happening because we know that strong role models and opportunities to experience being active and engaged are important in the early stages of forming a good relationship with physical activity.
Pictured: Jet the Puffin was used to engage children with the Games.
"The Health Improvement Commission has been building on each of its key pillars to ensure a legacy from the Island Games. For example, using the Games as a platform to amplify the Food 4 Sport campaign, encouraging sports clubs to make simple changes to their food provision, and visiting primary schools with local athletes to talk about their dedication to their sport, how they train, how often they train and the importance of eating well. Some of the Island’s major food retailers have kindly supplied significant quantities of fruit that will be handed out for free at many venues during Games week, encouraging the 5-a-day habit in a fun and engaging environment."
Deputy Dudley-Owen said the Games would also have "a legacy of empowering, enabling and encouraging active travel" and "a legacy of 1,300 trained and inspired volunteers".
In response to questions over the investment into sport and sport infrastructure ahead of the Games, Deputy Dudley-Owen thanked "the generous support of 10 key sponsors, who are funding nearly two-thirds of the cost of staging the 2023 Games".
She also confirmed that "just over £200k has been invested in 14 sports as either capital development or venue enhancement directly from the Games budget".
Pictured: There was a £53k investment in shooting ahead of the Games. The shooting team won 33 medals in total at the Games. (ROB CURRIE)
That investment ranged from "small expenditure on Bowls and Basketball, £13k of investment in Archery, £53k across shooting, and up to £75k of investment in Swimming".
There was also investment in technology to meet the "stated aim of being the Most Connected Games ever". Things like smart TVs will be staying on sites where they have been installed to enable live streaming of future events.
Footes Lane had around £1million spent on it, but Deputy Dudley-Owen said that work "would have been needed regardless of the Island Games, albeit that the timescale for the work was bought forward to ensure it was completed in time for the Games".
Ongoing investment was a concern for Deputy Kazantseva-Miller, with a proposed cut in direct investment in the Sport's Commissions Active8 strategy as part of wider States budget constraints.
Deputy Dudley-Owen said her committee "remains committed to promoting sports and sports participation" and that ESC wants to "continue to invest in the work of our own Sport & Recreation Service and in the work of the Guernsey Sports Commission".
Pictured: £75k was invested in swimming ahead of the Games, with the team winning 32 medals between them. (ROB CURRIE)
Despite proposing a look at new ways of funding some of the Sports Commission's work, Deputy Dudley-Owen said "We recognise the valuable role that sport and being active plays in islanders’ physical and mental wellbeing. We remain committed to the objectives of the Active 8 Sports Strategy and to championing appropriate investment in sport from government via the Government Work Plan process, via corporate and individual fund-raising activity, and via philanthropic benefactors."
With an expected increase in short term interest in sport, ESC is "committed to ensuring increased promotion and participation in Youth Sports" said Deputy Dudley-Owen.
"Previous Games have played a significant role in providing the necessary encouragement for talented individuals to develop further and represent their Island at the Commonwealth Games and in many other national and international competitive arenas.
"There has already been increased awareness of the 14 sports involved in the Games as well as many parasports highlighted through Games activity, and those sports plan to continue to build on this – the objectives of the Active 8 Sports Strategy, along with the key themes of the work of our Commissions and Schools, will all continue to contribute to promoting sport to young people," she said.
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