Island Games 2025: A Celebration of Sport, Spirit, and Islands

The Island Games will take place from July 12 to July 18, 2025, in Orkney, Scotland are expected to attract thousands of spectators worldwide.

Lorraine Kelly, veteran broadcaster and ambassador, displays the strong community and international unity within the Island Games. She said, “Orkney is a very special place to me… I can’t wait to soak up the atmosphere—from the sporting action to meeting competitors and supporters from the 24 islands taking part. Orkney 2025 is a great opportunity to share with the world just how special the islands are.”

Approximately 2,000 competitors and volunteers will increase Orkney’s population by almost 10%. However, thousands of additional spectators will also make the trip.

This exciting event is part of a rich history starting from July 1985, where the first Island Games were held as a part of “The Year of Sport” in the Isle of Man. The intention was to gather sportsmen and sportswomen from a selection of small islands around the world to participate in a festival of various sports. From fourteen islands (Aland, Anglesey, the Faroe Islands, Frøya, Gotland, Guernsey, Hitra, Iceland, Jersey, Malta, the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands, St. Helena, and the Isle of Wight), athletes traveled to the Isle of Man to compete in 7 sports: badminton, athletics, cycling, shooting, swimming, football, and volleyball.

This festival was such a remarkable success that the Island Games Association, also known as IGA, was instituted, and it decided to hold the Island Games every two years in different member islands. Since 1985, the Games have steadily developed, introducing more sports and allowing more islands to join. For example, in 2025, the number of sports has increased to 12, and the number of islands has expanded to 24.

The 12 sports are archery, athletics, badminton, bowls, cycling, football, golf, gymnastics, sailing, squash, swimming, and triathlon. The 24 islands are Aland, Alderney, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Frøya, Gibraltar, Gotland, Gozo, Greenland, Guernsey, Hitra, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Menorca, Orkney, Saaremaa, Sark, Shetland Islands, St Helena, Western Isles, and Ynys Môn (Anglesey).

The 2025 Island Games are taking place in Orkney, Scotland, for the first time since 2005. It will be officially opened on July 12 by Princess Anne in Kirkwall, the largest town. Multiple events will take place across the week before the closing ceremony on July 18.

Furthermore, being chosen to represent one’s home island in the Games motivates young athletes, allowing them to achieve further success in international competitions.

The 2025 Island Games in Orkney, with its expanded sports and participation, continues the legacy of 1985, bringing islands together in competition and inspiring the next generation to achieve greater success.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czjkkd92rm2o

http://www.islandgames.org.im/games/history.htm#:~:text=About%20the%20games%20%2D%20History&text=The%20first%20Island%20Games%20were,in%20a%20festival%20of%20sport.

https://bernews.com/2025/01/orkney-to-host-20th-international-island-games/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c3r91g8llg9o