International Games bid given a boost as football heads to island

YNYS Mon’s quest to host the International Island Games in 2025 received a significant boost last week.

Anglesey’s bid committee announced it has secured rights to host the Inter Games Football Tournament in June 2019.

Gibraltar, venue for the 2019 Island Games, is unable to include football as part of their competition due to only having one pitch.

Anglesey stepped in and offered to host the football themselves in just over a year’s time.

Ynys Mon 2025 project manager Gareth Parry will be responsible for leading next year’s football event, too. He said: “In bidding for the 2025 International Island Games we put ourselves forward for hosting the football-only competition in 2019 and, as such, I’m delighted to announce that Ynys Mon has been given the green light to host the football tournament on the island from June 15-22, 2019.

“To welcome an inter- national football competition to Ynys Mon, with up to 24 different islands from across the world descending on Anglesey in just over a year’s time for a whole week of highquality football, will be a fantastic experience not just for our island in the short-term, but also as we look to host the whole games in 2025, too.”

“We are working hard regarding our plans for hosting the 2025 Games to ensure there is a lasting legacy on Anglesey that will benefit all on the island for generations to come.

“That is no different with hosting the Inter Games football tournament next year.”

Mr Parry hopes the 2019 tournament could spark the re-emergence of an Anglesey Academy side and spawn many more positives for Ynys Mon’s footballers.

He added: “There is so much passion towards football on the island, we just need a mechanism to work together to improve opportunities for all ages and all genders”.