Isle of Man Sport has donated ?15,000 towards funds for the Island’s Commonwealth Games team which will compete at Glasgow 2014. In his capacity as Chairman of Isle of Man Sport, Department of Community, Culture and Leisure Minister Hon Graham Cregeen MHK presented the cheque to Juliet Holt, President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association (IOMCGA). In addition, Isle of Man Sport is also to provide ?5,000 towards funds for the national team to compete at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, and the same amount for the 2017 Youth Games in St Lucia.
IOMCGA is the charity responsible for the publicity, fundraising, travel and support for the Island’s teams at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games It relies upon fundraising events and donations to fund the national team’s participation.
Commenting as Chairman of Isle of Man Sport, Minister Cregeen said:
“Isle of Man Sport are delighted to continue their long association with the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association and to be supporting the team in Glasgow next year. We are keen to see the Isle of Man represented at world class events and the Commonwealth Games is a great showcase for Manx sport. In addition to the help for the team in Glasgow, following the success of the Commonwealth Youth Games on the Isle of Man in 2011, we feel that it is important that the Isle of Man remain actively involved in future Games. Therefore, we are pleased to be helping the teams for the Games in Samoa in 2015 and St Lucia in 2017.”
Juliet Holt, President of IOMCGA, said:
“We’re extremely grateful to Isle of Man Sport for this generous donation towards our Glasgow 2014 team, and their commitment to donate ?5,000 for each of the next two Commonwealth Youth Games. The Youth Games in particular will require IOMCGA to raise significant funds due to the travel costs involved in travelling to Samoa and St Lucia. Isle of Man Sport’s continued support for IOMCGA will help us to send the strongest possible national teams to all of these events.”
While Isle of Man Sport’s donations are a great boost to IOMCGA’s fundraising campaign, the charity will still have to continue other initiatives in order to cover the costs involved for Glasgow 2014 and beyond. A major part of its fundraising strategy for Glasgow 2014 is the Team Isle of Man Champions initiative which has been supported by 10 leading Island businesses - Auxesia, Creechurch Capital, Heron & Brearley, IOMA Fund and Investment Management Limited, Isle of Man Creamery, Karsons Pharmacy, Manx Telecom, MM&C, Skanco and SMP Partners.
The Isle of Man will be one of 71 nations competing in Glasgow between July 23 and August 3, 2014. Potential Team Isle of Man competitors (who have achieved consideration standards) apply for selection in April next year with the team for Glasgow 2014 being announced on May 8. The Queen’s Baton Relay, which will visit every nation and territory of the Commonwealth, arrives in the Isle of Man on May 16, 2014, from the Guernsey and Jersey legs of the relay. It will leave the Island on May 19 and continue on its journey with the next stop being Northern Ireland - then it’s on to Wales, England, and its final destination of Glasgow. Details of the exact route it will take in the Isle of Man have yet to be finalised.
For the latest news about Team Isle of Man go to www.cga.im which also allows donations to be made to the team.
Photo - Chairman of Isle of Man Sport and Department of Community, Culture and Leisure Minister Hon Graham Cregeen MHK, presents the Isle of Man Sport cheque to Juliet Holt, President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association. They are pictured at the Isle of Man Sport Institute where there is a display honouring the Island’s Commonwealth Games competitors.
