The Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011 will be what you want it to be
Submitted on: Jan 29, 2009
A spokesman for the Commonwealth Games Federation has told the Isle of Man, “the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011 will be what you want it to be”.
John Eades, the Operation Director of the Federation has been to the Island for talks with the Organising Committee for the Games in two years time.
Mr Eades was pleased with what he had seen. “ We want small nations like the Isle of Man to host these games,” he said, noting that Samoa will be the venue for the following Games.
He admits that, in terms of the costs, the next games will not be as lavish as those last year. “Pune in India, in 2008 was a one off,” he admits. “There will be no pressure from the Federation on the Isle of Man though, of course, we will be there to offer advice, 24/7”.
“The games offers the Island not just the economic spin-off but also a social legacy”, he says. “Your volunteers will develop new skills that will go into the Manx economy. The athletes, who come to compete on the Island, will give Manx athletes, standards they will want to achieve in the future. Then, of course, there in the benefit to the sporting infrastructure. So it is not just three days of world class sport. It is much more than that”
“I will go back to the office and tell them it is all going really well,” he concluded.
