Orkney ready to shine as Island Games return to Scotland

The National

2 days ago

So says Robbie Fraser, a member of the organising board for Orkney 2025 – the 20th edition of the Island Games, a biannual multi-sport competition that you could describe as the Olympics of small island communities.
While attention in Scotland has been led towards the return of the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow in 2026 – 12 years after the 2014 games – Scotland has waited since the 2005 event in Shetland to see the return of this particular tournament, which will feature 24 teams competing across 12 sports.
That edition was when a 20-year love affair with the Games began for Fraser: 'We went to Shetland in 2005 and that was a real eye-opener for me of the effects the Games can have on a smaller community – much less of a population than Guernsey [the hosts of the first Games he attended in 2003].
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'The whole place was absolutely buzzing about the Games and since then I've been hooked.'
When Fraser first began attending the Island Games – and he has been a fixture at each one since 2003 – he was a reporter for BBC Orkney.
He says: 'It was absolutely brilliant because, being a reporter, if you're with a team then you're kind of installed with them, you're almost part of the team.'
As Fraser's career wound down, he saw an opportunity to move from observer to organiser.
'I met so many good friends in it [the Island Games] and I was aware that I was going to be retired soon.
'I wouldn't be able to go to the Games forever, and I wanted to be more connected to it.'
He joined the Orkney Island Games Committee as vice-chair in 2013 and travelled to that year's event in Bermuda as team manager, where he has fond memories of the team winning a bronze medal in the team half marathon.
He then helped lead the efforts to bring the Games to the island group off Scotland's north coast.
With the support of the Government and local MSP Liam McArthur, among others, Orkney won the bid to host in 2023, which was moved back to this year after Guernsey was forced to postpone the 2021 edition due to Covid.
(Image: Andrew Milligan)
McArthur says: 'Having chaired the committee that successfully bid for the Games, I'm obviously delighted that Orkney will be playing host to the International Island Games this summer.
'It's a perfect opportunity to showcase what our islands have to offer while providing a stage for high-class sporting competition and talent.'
In terms of population, it is the smallest island to host the event yet, with the Isle of Wight the largest.
As much as Fraser stresses the friendliness of the event – in which crowds will cheer on athletes no matter where they come from – he is just as keen to point out that the competition between athletes is fierce: 'Don't be thinking that the competition isn't intense – it's really intense.
'It's dedicated athletes that are competing.'
He's not wrong.
A young Mark Cavendish cut his teeth in the Island Games before embarking on one of the finest cycling careers of all time.
Several other islanders have earned medals at Olympics and world championships over the years.
One of Orkney's star athletes is Taylah Paterson, a sprinter who has run for Scotland and competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Yet nothing really compares to getting to run for her island on home soil: 'For us islanders, it's almost like the Olympics.
'So when we had the bid to get it at home, the excitement was building that it could come to Orkney.
'The Games are extremely competitive but also really friendly – I've made friends for life competing at these Games.'
This year she is targeting the Island Games 100m record, as her existing personal best is already faster.
'When I go away to compete they're always amazed that I come from the island – usually your best athletes come from the central belt area where the best facilities are.
'I've always been proud to wear an Orkney vest and it'll be really special to do it in front of our home crowd – it's fine going away and competing but it'll be nice to compete in front of friends and family and show them what I can do!'
This unique pride in being an islander is right at the heart of what the Island Games is about.
Fraser adds: 'Islands tend to be very self sufficient, very independent – very aware of their own identities.
'Here in Orkney, we consider ourselves Orcadian first, Scottish second and – if you want to – British third.
'We've got so much in common with the other islands – some are bigger, some are wealthier, but we're all just the same when we get together.'
Paterson echoes Fraser's thoughts: 'If somebody asks where you're from you'll always say 'I'm from the Orkney islands … in Scotland'.
'You'll always say Orkney first.
'We know from being from an island it's unique, we're a close community up here, we're proud to be from here, and we want to shout about it when we can.'
(Image: PA)
Pride, friendliness and competition – they are the three main thrusts of the Island Games and they are the three things that come up again and again.
Fraser says: 'We tend to be quite a quiet people, we don't tend to make a big song and dance about things, but this is our one chance.
'We've got great hospitality and I just can't wait to give that to everybody.
'It's our chance to say, 'Look, we're here, come and enjoy it.''
MSP McArthur adds: 'Each Island Games reflects the unique characteristics of the host island, but all share the same ability to bring islanders together, allowing friendships and ties to be formed and deepened – it's little wonder they're known as the Friendly Games.
'I have no doubt that Orkney will put on the best Games yet and allow all those attending, whether competing or supporting, to create many more special memories.'