The largest event ever hosted in Orkney begins today, as part of
four years of international sport in Scotland which are expected
to attract tens of thousands of visitors and provide a
significant economic boost.
Orkney is welcoming more than 1,600 athletes from 24 island
groups for the 20th International Island Games,
which run until 18 July. Orkney is the smallest island group to
ever host the Games and competitors have come from as far afield
as the Falklands, the Cayman Islands, Saaremaa in Estonia and
Åland in Finland.
It is the first of a series of high-profile sporting events being
hosted in Scotland, which include this weekend's Genesis Scottish
Open, the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the 2027 Grand Départ of the
Tour de France, the 2027 Open Championship and the 2028 UEFA
European football championships.
The Scottish Government invests in major events to maximise local
and national economic benefits. At the end of 2024, it was
revealed that the last Open Championship in Scotland added more
than £300 million to the economy, highlighting the scale of
opportunity for the next four years.
Business Minister said:
“The Orkney Island Games represent a significant opportunity to
drive economic growth and build a lasting legacy for people and
businesses in Orkney and beyond.
“They also provide a taste of what is to come and illustrate our
wider ambition to make sure every corner of Scotland benefits
from the prestigious events we are increasingly able to attract.
“This is a team effort and the benefits go way beyond the events
themselves. The global platform they provide enables us to
highlight Scotland to tourists, businesses and potential inward
investors across the world.”
Background
Information about the Orkney 2025 International Island Games is
available online.
