With 38 days to go before the 2013 Bermuda Island Games Opening Ceremony the Guernsey team attended a unique sports performance event organized by the Guernsey Sports Commission and the Guernsey Island Games Association in conjunction with the team sponsor, Generali Worldwide.
The evening’s programme saw leading sports experts share their knowledge about performing at the highest level to ensure our team has the best possible preparation for the Games. They also focused on the unique conditions that the athletes will find in Bermuda. ‘A lot of consideration has been given this year to the heat and humidity of Bermuda,’ explains David Inglis, chairman of the Guernsey Island Games Association. ‘This event had local specialists share their expertise with the teams and we hope this kind of preparation will ensure we are best prepared for the competition.’
The presentations should help the sportspeople focus their preparations in the final weeks before departure and also help them anticipate and overcome challenges associated with performing in the heat and in front of large crowds. For the 21 competitors who are under 18 this extra preparation could make a medal-winning difference to their performance. It also gave many of the athletes their first opportunity to meet Tim Newenham, the CEO for the Guernsey Sports Commission and Performance Director of the British Shooting Team at the London 2012 Olympics. As one of the event organizers, Jeremy Frith, explains: ‘It’s rare to have the opportunity to gather so many of our sports stars together in one place so we were excited to be invited to put this programme together. It’s the first event of its kind but could become a regular fixture in the Games preparation calendar.’
The event programme included a talk from Rachel Sharp, a psychologist working within sport as part of the Sports Commission’s Brooks Macdonald High Performance Programme. Rachel’s workshop helped athletes focus their attention on specific areas under their control that will help them in the final stages of preparation and to deliver a big performance on the day.
Gareth Corbett, an exercise physiologist working with the Sports Commission and Medical Specialist Group, gave competitors practical solutions to managing the conditions likely to be found in Bermuda as part of their preparation and leading in to their competition. Dr. Steve Evans, who has completed the grueling Marathon Des Sables twice as well as the 350-mile Extreme Ultra Challenge was also on hand to answer questions.
Tim Newenham, CEO for the Guernsey Sports Commission and Performance Director to the British Shooting Team at the London 2012 Olympics, Tim provided competitors with an insight into the preparation and performance of Team GB, and shared practical steps to ensure Guernsey’s team has every chance of a successful Island Games.
Giorgio Daboni, Chief Executive Officer of Generali Worldwide Guernsey, the Guernsey Island Games Team sponsor commented on this new initiative: ‘We’re delighted our sponsorship could facilitate this event. Generali’s aim is to give the team the best possible support and aid their preparation for the Games in Bermuda. This new initiative draws upon the expertise already present in Guernsey and we hope it will give the team a competitive edge.’
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