Juanita Bee Bermuda’s Secretary for the NatWest Island Games, earlier this year talked about the upcoming games in Gotland.
To the question of Do you have any concerns about the games, Blee said, “I have full confidence in the Gotland organization.”
Blee was then asked, Is social interaction more important than the results at the venues, which she responded, “We do not win very many medals… but a few. For us, meeting other people active in different sports around the world is important. And to watch other athletes´ competing is very rewarding, you learn a lot from it.”
Blee went on to say, “In the NatWest Island Games the young athletes in Bermuda get a goal to aim for, she says. The opportunities to compete with the flag of Bermuda on the jersey are rare.
For many of the smaller islands, or those who are far away from the mainland, the games may be the only way to get a feel of the international arena.”
How much attention do NatWest Island Games get back home, was the next question Blee responded to saying, “We entered in 2003 and the commitment has grown over the years. We got a big boost when we hosted the games in 2013, then the islanders saw what the games really represent. Once people understood how big this is the public, athletes, sponsors and the business world, got very much more interested. Now they love the games.”
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