FAQs

The International Island Games Association (IIGA) is a world membership organisation with 24 member islands across the world who come together every two years for a unique multi-sport event.

The Orkney 2025 International Island Games will be the 20th International Island Games in its landmark 40th year since it all began. This week-long event will see athletes from the 24 island groups compete in 12 sports: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Lawn Bowls, Sailing, Squash, Swimming and Triathlon.

The Games runs 12-18 July 2025

Competitors arrive: from Wednesday 9 July

Opening Ceremony: Saturday 12 July

Sports Competitions: Sunday 13-Friday 18 July

Closing Ceremony: Friday 18 July

Competitors depart: Saturday 19-Sunday 20 July

Competitors & Officials. We expect up to 2000 competitors, team officials, media and VIPs.

Spectators. Travelling supporters will certainly visit the Games, though there is no data from previous Games as to how many to expect. They will be accommodated privately and those of you providing holiday accommodation may already have some spectators booked in for Games time.

Other visitors. The Games will be held during peak tourist season and in the school holidays, but Orkney remains open for business as usual. We are working hard to ensure the impact of the Games is minimal on those visitors who have not come for the Games but hope they might be able to experience some of the “Games magic” nonetheless.

Back at the Bid Stage in 2017, the committee was fortunate in securing a strong financial commitment from both Orkney Islands Council and the Scottish Government. With no headline sponsor after Natwest’s contract coming to an end, the Games continues to seek sponsorship of all levels. From our “Peedie gifts programme” of £1,000- £2,000 to our “Gold, Silver and Bronze packages” from £10,000 - £50,000. A huge thank you goes out to our existing funders, partners and sponsors and anyone wishing to be part of the sponsorship programme can email info@orkney2025.com

This was considered at the bid stage and the statement below was issued. The Organising Committee stands by that statement ... though of course it will now be held in 2025 due to covid.

“The bid committee is confident that Orkney has the capacity to host a successful Games in 2023. The proposals have been developed with that in mind, which is why the committee made the difficult decision to include only one team sport (men’s and women’s football) in order to keep numbers at a manageable level.

“Of course, Orkney has demonstrated its ability to deal with large numbers of visitors in the past and there is no reason why we cannot do so again, especially with the involvement and support of the local community in Orkney.”

Trying to fit all these people onto our island is going to be a challenge, but it’s one we’re embracing, and we welcome your ideas.

The Organising Committee is obliged to offer accommodation to all competitors, team officials, media and IIGA officials. We are working with an accommodation partner, Nirvana Europe, who have extensive experience of sourcing accommodation for sporting events.

Dormitories will be converted from classrooms at Papdale Primary, KGS and Stromness Academy. We will be working closely with OIC, Orkney Builders, Highland Park and McAdie and Reeve to help us achieve this, and we’re excited to be the first Games since Bermuda in 2013 to be offering this back-to-basics accommodation model on which the Games was originally founded.

Other accommodation will be needed to host all our visitors, and we’re working with local hotels, B&Bs, Papdale Halls of Residence, hostels, campsites and self-catering properties to source as many rooms as possible. If you run any of these businesses, aren’t yet involved and would like to be involved, Nirvana would love to hear from you and are now at the stage of paying deposits to secure your rooms.

Orkney 2025 International Island Games | Nirvana (nirvanaeurope.com) https://nirvanaeurope.com/event_category/orkney-2025/

Homestays. Since we are still looking for a few more bed spaces, if you have a room in your house that you would be happy for competitors to use, please do get in touch. This has to be on a purely voluntary basis and no money is allowed to change hands due to the Short Term Let rules.

Picky will be hosting six of the Sports and will be closed to the public throughout the period of the Games, though everyone is very welcome to come and watch the Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Mountain Bike, Squash and Swimming. The Picky website will have the exact dates and details of closure in the months leading up to the Games as some areas will take longer to set up and dismantle than others.

Opening Ceremony. This will take place at Bignold Park on the afternoon of Saturday 12 followed by the Athletes’ Parade from the park, down Bignold Park Road, Dundas Crescent, Palace Road and Broad Street, finishing outside the Cathedral. Afterwards, Albert Street and Bridge Street will be very busy as the athletes make their way to Kirkwall Pier to get transport back to their accommodation.

Triathlon, Cycling & Half Marathon will all involve road closures to ensure the safety of the competitors. As soon as they have been confirmed, precise routes and timings will be made public in local media, social media and through a series of public consultation events. Plenty of notice will be given and alternative routes provided. The road closures may cause some inconvenience, but we are confident that everyone will understand that a few hours of inconvenience will be overshadowed by the excitement of hosting all these world class sporting events on our small island. Spectators are very welcome at all events, free of charge.

Transport. We are working hard with local transport providers to make sure locals, visitors and competitors can get around the mainland as efficiently as possible throughout the Games period. Details of enhanced bus services will be made available in local media, social media and through a series of public consultation events.

Under the rules stipulated by IIGA, all competitions must take place on one island.