Current Location: Home | Media | Opening Ceremony - "We are the friendly games"

Opening Ceremony - "We are the friendly games"

Tue, 27 Jun 2017

County Governor, County Major, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, fellow islanders, friends.

At the end of the day there are two things that must always be remembered. The first is to love what you do and who you are. The other is to always move forward, to stretch yourself beyond where you were yesterday. The NatWest Island Games is about passion and challenge and a firm belief in great times to come.

Sport is like travelling. You discover the world and you challenge yourself in your endeavours to reach your full potential. You want more from yourself and you want more from life and you are prepared to work hard. You seek places you have not seen before.

 

               • You have travelled here and you want to go further.

               • You are living proof that hard work pays off.

               • You are all winners.

 

Well done to all of you! You are here because you have tried and trained harder than others. That makes you important role models and an inspiration to your fellow islanders. You are standing in the beautiful island of Gotland in order to achieve even more. So do your friends around you. They are all here for the same reasons. We want development. We want success. We want friendship. We want more. And by being here you have proved that you have what it takes. We are travellers.

The NatWest Island Games started in the Isle of Man in 1985. This is the seventeenth time we have gathered to celebrate a week that will be filled with magic. Our Games has made a difference. Together we have strengthened the sporting life within the islands. But even more important, the NatWest Island Games has made people and societies grow together. That is what happens in competition, we challenge and encourage each other. We are the friendly Games and we will never forget that.

Make sure to meet new friends during the week to come. Results are important but friendship even more so. Everyone can be a winner but there is more to life than that. We want you to prove that you have what it takes to become a friend.

The NatWest Island Games bring islands and islanders together in international competition. The Games could not happen without your efforts. Thank you for being here, do your best and enjoy the Games!

I hereby, on behalf of the International Island Games Association, invite the County Governor of Gotland, Madame Cecilia Schelin Seidegård to officially open the NatWest Island Games XVII in Gotland.