THE Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man in September next year will be remembered for all the right reasons, according to Geoff Karran, chairman of the organising committee for the Games.
Speaking at Thursday's annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas lunch at the Palace Hotel, Mr Karran - the man given the tough task of spearheading the organisation of the event - said he was confident the Island’s preparations were up to scratch and that the Games was a chance for the Manx people and the nation to show what it could do.
He added that the Games were a wonderful opportunity for the Isle of Man to gain positive worldwide and that it would “showcase the Island to the rest of the world.”
However, Mr Karran said that the event would not come without headaches and stressed that the Games is the single most important multi sport event that the Isle of Man will have ever staged, or will ever stage in the future.
“It is a huge task and a huge responsibility,” he said. “The Isle of Man has had to comply with international regulations which cover all the sports involved. The World Federations for each sport are involved and all the officials for the meeting will have to come from outside of the Island.”
He also said that officials from the governing body and the various sports would now be visiting the Isle of Man every month from January until next September, adding to the pressure on the Island to meet the expected international standards.
He also pointed out that the operational budget was no more for the Commonwealth Youth Games than it was in 2001 for the highly successful Island Games. “On that basis, it has been vital that the private sector has been tremendous support with ten major sponsors coming forward, many of which are Chamber of Commerce members.
“We have also had volunteers from many of those companies and we are now seeking a second layer of sponsorship to assist with what is planned to be a carnival atmosphere and a fabulous sporting occasion.”
He said that another 1,000 local volunteers are still required for the Games and that a campaign to find people to assist across the board in all areas of support would begin in earnest in the new year.
Mr Karran was also delighted that the budget provided by government for the redevelopment of The Bowl to provide a top quality stadium for the Games would be “a tangible legacy” of the Games, providing the Isle of Man with a high quality national stadium and national football pitch for the long term future.
He added, “We are determined that, unlike the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man in September next year will be remembered for all the right reasons.
“The Minister Martyn Quayle said at a recent important meeting that he wanted the people of the Commonwealth to come to the Isle of Man as our guests and to leave the Island as our friends. With help from the Manx people and the private sector I am certain we will succeed.”
