Sport / Councillors keen to start conversation on hosting island games
COUNCILLORS have unanimously backed a motion which shows support for exploring the potential for the Island Games to return to Shetland in the future.
At a meeting of the full council on Tuesday elected members spoke warmly of the last time Shetland hosted the games in 2005.
Moraig Lyall said her motion sought to “open a conversation” about the idea of hosting a future games.
She said she was under no illusion of the enormity of the workload involved, as well as the cost.
But the councillor – who attended the 2025 Island Games in Orkney last month – said the motion “just seeks to say ‘if you’re up for it, we’re open to having that conversation’.”
Team Shetland racked up 17 medals at the 2025 Island Games in Orkney across a number of sports.
The motion commended Shetland’s island neighbours for delivering a “memorable and successful Island Games”.
It then congratulated Shetland’s participants, coaches and supporters on their performance and representation.
But the motion concluded by saying the council is “supportive of exploring the potential for hosting a future Island Games in Shetland”.
This was very much reflected in comments made by councillors at Tuesday’s meeting, with all speakers supporting the idea of exploring the return of the games to Shetland.
North Isles member Robert Thomson noted the “feel good factor” and economic boost the games could bring.
Meanwhile Shetland South councillor Allison Duncan said it is important to continue to support local athletes – highlighted by the council backing the construction of a new 3G pitch in Lerwick.
Lerwick North and Bressay member Stephen Leask described himself as a “past athlete” who previously competed in the Island Games, adding that he is “very much in favour” of seeing them return to Shetland.
Lerwick South member John Fraser also said the football fraternity would be “up for it”, and said the 3G pitch could be a “gamechanger”.
Lyall said her motion was prompted by many people coming up to her during the Orkney games to say “‘we’ll have to get this back to Shetland”.
She said “everywhere I went I met happy, excited people who were proud to be representing or supporting their home island”.
She also noted the positive impact it brought to Orkney, including the “happy banter” between athletes and the little things like local bairns getting a chance to go on a double decker bus which had been taken to the isles.
A previous report said that in revenue spending terms, the cost of the Islands Games in 2005 was 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.
A 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.
The last word at Tuesday’s meeting went to convener Andrea Manson, who said Shetland’s athletes did “tremendously well” in Orkney.
Regarding the prospect of the games returning to Shetland, she said: “I would say bring it on – get it back here if we possibly can”.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
