Reports out of Guernsey have indicated Collegiate State teams from the US could be used in a last-ditch move to save the Natwest Island Games Basketball Tournaments in Bermuda.
Travel plans for Guernsey to this summer’s Island Games in Bermuda were in jeopardy after the confirmation that the Women’s Basketball Tournament has been cancelled.
But then it was on again as a desperate Bermuda made it known they planned to draft in appropriate standard guest teams from the USA and Canada to help make the event worth travelling to.
Guernsey Island Games Association games liaison director Jon Marley is less than impressed with the situation, but praised the efforts of the Bermudians to salvage something from the tournament after several islands withdrew at late notice and it had become clear the tournament was not worth going ahead with.
It now appears both events will go ahead and only matches involving the islands will count towards medals.
www.islandstats.com did get a response from Jon Beard the Chairman of the Bermuda Island Games Association who in an email stated, “I have been in touch with the chairman of the Guernsey Island Games. They are not dropping out. Men's Basketball is fine (4 teams and still hoping to add one more), the Ladies Basketball is more of a challenge - but we're working to develop that competition.”
Beard went on to say, “Men's Football is ok, but again the Ladies is providing us with a little more work. Everything else is looking very good.”
Beard concluded, “We knew from the outset that the team sports provided the greatest challenges. Trying to provide the funding for 20+ athletes for a team game is difficult.”
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