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On Your Marks...Jet, set, go!

On Your Marks...Jet, set, go!

Thursday 01 June 2023

On Your Marks...Jet, set, go!

Thursday 01 June 2023


The Guernsey Sports Commission has hosted a special one-off version of its On Your Marks holiday club programme ahead of Guernsey hosting the NatWest International Island Games next month - with Jet the Puffin joining in the fun as a special guest.

The On Your Marks programme runs during every school holiday, apart from Christmas, with children attending for a morning of different sports and physical activities.

The day started with a sports-themed dance warm up led by Seb Shepard. Other Commission staff and sports instructors joined in with the children along with Jet - the Island Games mascot.

With everyone warmed up, Jet observed the children taking part in different activities including cricket, skateboarding, hockey, dodgeball, netball, athletics and tag. 

There were also quiet activities and colouring in some bunting so the Sports Commission can decorate its offices ahead of the 2023 Games.

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Pictured: Children in the Orkney team being briefed ahead of their activities.

On Your Marks is aimed at "providing opportunities for children to experience sports and physical activities in a safe, inclusive and fun way".

Yesterday's session included children between Years 1 and 6 at primary school, while other sessions are opened up to Reception age and above. There are also sports taster sessions for older children up to Year 9 at secondary school.

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Pictured: Gozo is the newest member of the Island Games Association.

The cost is always kept as low as possible with the three hour On Your Mark sessions currently costing £5. Yesterday's all day (six-hour) session, with lunch included, was £10 per child.

The programme is supported by a grant from the Social Investment Fund to ensure it remains affordable for everyone.

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Pictured: Gibraltar hosted the last Island Games in 2019, with Guernsey due to host in 2021. That was postponed until this year with the Games getting underway next month.

The children attending yesterday's Island Games special On Your Marks were divided into four teams - Gozo, Orkney, Falkland Islands and Gibraltar, which are each members of the Island Games Association and will be competing in Guernsey in a few weeks.

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Pictured: Competitors from the Falkland Islands and the other member islands will travel to Guernsey for the week long competition between 8 and 14 July. 

Each island had a team leader who stayed with the children all day, trying out the different sports, making fruit kebabs and eating their lunch. Their food was provided by the Health Improvement Commission and M&S. 

Pictured top (l-r): George James (10), Isla Renouf (8), Jet, Harry Darlington (8), Niamh Holberry (9).

READ MORE...

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Another creative competition for the Island Games

Island Games countdown: Decorate Your Place competition

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