Falklands’ team ready for Commonwealth Youth Games opening ceremony

Wednesday, September 7th 2011 - 04:42 UTC

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The Falkland Islands team will be arriving in the Isle of Man over the next couple of days to participate in the Commonwealth Youth Games which brings together more than 1,000 athletes from all over the world.

The team will be based in the Welbeck Hotel in Douglas, Isle of Man and will be competing at the National Sport Centre which is about 20 minutes up the road.

Sorrel Pompert-Robertson (14) has been named as the team flag bearer as the youngest member representing the Falklands for the opening ceremony on Thursday September 8, which will be televised live on BBC.

Sorrel that competed in her first international competition this past June in the NatWest Island Games on the Isle of Wight will be accompanied by badminton players Laura Minto, Jordan Phillips, Sofia Arkhipkina, and Dominic Jaffray, the latter two also competed in the Isle of Wight in June.

Competition begins on Friday, September 9th where Sorrel will swim 100m freestyle and 100m breast stroke, Sorrel competes in 50m freestyle and 50m breast stroke on Saturday.

Badminton first round of competition start Friday with Women’s Singles (Laura Minto and Sonia Arkhipkina), Men’s Singles (Dominic Jaffray and Jordan Phillips), Women’s Doubles (Laura and Sonia), Men’s Doubles (Dominic and Jordan), and Mixed Doubles (Laura and Dominic, Sonia and Jordan); advancing to Saturday and Sunday will be determined based on Friday’s results.

Swimming will be shown live on the games website http://www.cyg2011.com/ and FIOGA will be updating facebook, twitter, flicr, and the FIOGA website daily.

The Falklands team made up of five athletes and four officials has Stephen Dent, FIOGA vice chair as the games team manager. Assisting Steve with administration and coaching swimming will be FIOGA Capacity Support Officer Natalie Brett.

Overseas coach Rebecca Pantaney and senior competitor and coach Doug Clark will be coaching the badminton team.

Mike Summers, FIOGA chair will be attending to support the team and assist in any administrative duties. Steve Fowmes will also be joining the team as the media representative from FITV.

The Youth Games three days of competition end with a cultural day in Castletown and the closing ceremony on the September 12.

To celebrate the event the Isle of Man he Isle of Man Post Office has created a set of commemorative stamps. The eight stamps feature the Games mascot, Tosha, participating in each of the seven sports, and the Games logo.

Dot Tilbury of the Philatelic Bureau said: “We are delighted to make a positive contribution to the overall success of the Games.”

Mrs Tilbury added: “The Post Office wanted to create lasting souvenirs and mementoes of the Commonwealth Youth Games and commemorate the fact it is taking place on the Isle of Man.”

The Isle of Man Treasury has also had minted a special two pound coin to mark the event, which will go in to general circulation on the island during the Games.

The coin will have the Games' mascot and logo on one side with the Lord of Man, Queen Elizabeth II, on the reverse.