MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Island Games XI attract 19 charters to Shetland

Shetland Island' Sumburgh Airport welcomed flights from across the globe at the weekend as competitors and supporters flew into Shetland for the 2005 NatWest Island Games XI.

A total of 19 charter flights arrived at the airport on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 July, carrying 1,100 passengers from competing islands including Bermuda, the Faeroes, Isle of Man, Jersey, Greenland, Guernsey, Gotland, Gibraltar and the Western Isles. The flights will depart next weekend after the conclusion of the games.

British Airways' franchise partner Loganair has also scheduled additional flights to meet demand for travel to the games which is the largest ever event hosted by the islands.

HIAL became a major sponsor of the games when it pledged £20,000 of funding to the event last October.

The Island Games, organised by the International Island Games Association, take place every two years and involve competitors from 24 member islands worldwide. Member islands include Aland, Alderney, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faeroe Islands, Froya, Gibraltar, Gotland, Greenland, Guernsey, Hitra, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Orkney, Prince Edward Island, Rhodes, Saaremaa, Sark, Shetland, St Helena, Western Isles and Ynys Mon.

Since the first Island Games in 1985, which were held in the Isle of Man, they have grown in popularity and in stature. This year's games have attracted more than 2,000 competitors.

This year's event has been organised by the Shetland Island Games 2005 Ltd Committee and includes competition in disciplines ranging from archery and athletics to gymnastics, sailing and windsurfing.

The airport's passenger numbers will be further boosted during July and August as Norwegian regional airline Wideroe, a division of SAS, operates its twice-weekly flights between Shetland and Oslo as part of its summer timetable.

Nigel Flaws, Airport Manager at Sumburgh said: "The airport was busy on both Friday and Saturday with charter flights arriving for the games, carrying a total of 1,100 passengers.

"We are delighted to be actively supporting this event which provides a unique opportunity for Shetland to promote itself on the world stage." (Highlands and Islands Airports Limited Press Release).