Celebrating Team Shetland at the Islands Games 2023

That the Parliament celebrates the success of the 2023 NatWest International Island Games; understands that teams of athletes from 24 islands gathered in Guernsey from 8 to 14 July to compete in a range of sports, including teams from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles; further understands that this marked the 19th Island Games, with the first having taken place in 1985 on the Isle of Man; believes that the Island Games motivate and foster sporting communities in the islands, promoting a healthy lifestyle, providing a focus for young people and strengthening islands’ cultural identities; congratulates the 103-strong team from Shetland, which represented the island in archery, athletics, badminton, road cycling, golf, football, sailing, swimming, table tennis and triathlon, with many competitors reaching the finals of their respective sports; further congratulates swimmer, Jasmin Smith, on winning silver in the Women’s 100m breaststroke and bronze in the Women’s 50m breaststroke, athletes Seumas MacKay, on winning silver in the Men’s 1500m and Men’s 800m, and Katie Dinwoodie, on winning bronze in the Women’s 100m and Women’s 200m, and the Women’s Triathlon Team on winning bronze; commends cyclist, Carlos Riise, and swimmers, Anne and Emmie Hutchison, for their roles in the opening ceremony as flag bearer and water carriers respectively; recognises the hard work of the Shetland Islands Games Association, competitors and officials that makes the Shetland team’s participation possible; congratulates all involved in the 2023 NatWest International Island Games, and wishes Orkney success as the host of the event in 2025.