Sport / Council motion shows support for isles hosting Island Games in future
A MOTION is set to go in front of councillors next week congratulating Team Shetland on their performance at the Island Games – while it also shows support for exploring the potential for the event to return to Shetland in the future.
The motion has been put forward by environment and transport committee chair Moraig Lyall, who was in attendance in Orkney at last month’s games.
It has also been signed by leader Emma Macdonald, education and families committee chair Davie Sandison and development committee chair Dennis Leask.
Team Shetland racked up 17 medals at the 2025 Island Games in Orkney, which took place in July.
The motion commends Shetland’s island neighbours for delivering a “memorable and successful Island Games”.
It then congratulates Shetland’s participants, coaches and supporters on their performance and representation.
But the motion, if passed at Tuesday’s full SIC meeting, would also result in the council saying it is “supportive of exploring the potential for hosting a future Island Games in Shetland”.
Shetland last hosted the event in 2005, with the memories including the men’s football team claiming a famous victory over Guernsey to secure a gold medal.
In revenue spending terms, the cost of the Islands Games in 2005 was said to have been around £2 million, with £98,000 awarded by Events Scotland, £400,000 contributed from local fundraising and the remainder – £1.5 million – coming from Shetland Islands Council.
In 2018 councillors backed plans for the isles to bid for more large events in the future, like the Tall Ships and the Island Games, in the hope of providing a boost to locals as well as bringing in more visitors.
Since then, Shetland hosted the Tall Ships Races in 2023.
The report to councillors back in 2018 also suggested that Shetland could try to host the Island Games in 2027, but this did not come to fruition.
Instead Faroe is set to host the games in 2027, with the event going to the Isle of Man in 2029.
Another development since Shetland last hosted the Island Games in 2005 is the impending arrival of a new all-weather, 3G pitch in Lerwick.
The pitch is set to cost £1.46 million, with the council contributing nearly £700,000 to the cost.
It was said that this pitch, currently being constructed at the Clickimin, would also bolster the case for Shetland hosting a future Island Games.
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