31 Jul 2025
Check out below as Jacqui (Volunteer Team) and Mike Alexander (Judge Team) share their reflections from Orkney 2025 International Island Games on what was an unforgettable experience and one that will be cherished for long time.
Thanks to both of you for putting this together and sharing your experiences.
Jacqui Alexander - Volunteer
I signed up to volunteer for the games in 2024 and was lucky enough to get a spot supporting the individual and team archery events at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall. In the months leading up to the games all volunteers received regular email updates, training and support either in person or via video sessions and could access an online portal to sign up for further volunteering opportunities throughout the event which I took advantage of (more on that later).
The weather was better than expected with occasional rain and tricky wind conditions, but for the most part blue skies and very warm temperatures! Being based next to the ‘Picky’ centre (which also hosted the athletics, swimming, squash and badminton events) only added to the atmosphere and resulted in a steady stream of curious spectators and media heading towards the archery field, many of whom asked questions and stayed around to watch. Due to the heat, they were grateful of the offer of extra chairs, water and the occasional sweet treat to keep them going as were the athletes and officials! Archery volunteers also helped maintain safety protocols, collate scores and acted as field party throughout the week.
Through the volunteer app I managed to grab one of the last remaining slots supporting the closing ceremony and the chance to marshal the archery athletes following their parade as they lined up behind me in the centre of the stadium, ready for the closing speeches and handover to the Faroe Islands for the 2027 Games. With the archery officials directly opposite in the grandstand, cheering them on, it was a special moment.
This was a fantastic opportunity to play a small part in a large and very well organised event showcasing, not just sport, but the spirit and enthusiasm of island communities. No wonder it has become known as the ‘friendly games’. Being part of the 900+ volunteers in our distinctive uniform (nicknamed the ‘tangerine dream team’) was a memorable experience. If you get the opportunity to volunteer at a multi-sport event, sign up. You will be fully supported and part of something truly unique.
Mike Alexander - Judge
The International Island Games is an international multi-sport event for island communities, held every two years. This year it was hosted in Orkney, which presented an opportunity to volunteer as a Judge for the archery. Most of the Scottish-based judges were there: Frank Schallmoser, John Sullivan, Andrew Graham and myself, with Sue Richards from ArcheryGB as the Chair of Judges (judge in charge).
Eighty-eight athletes from 13 island communities took part in the archery, including a team all the way from the Falkland Islands. The event was held over five days; official practice on the Sunday, a WA1440 on the Monday, a WA720 ranking round with mixed pairs team matches on the Tuesday, individual H2H matches on the Wednesday, and finally team matches (three archers per team) on the Thursday. As per the Island Games rules, the teams for the latter consisted of any mix of male and female archers.
The weather gods were very kind and Orkney enjoyed mostly blue skies and warm (hot!) weather, with only a bit of rain on the Tuesday morning. Given the scale and international level of the event, there was a lot to pick up in a short space of time, such as different procedures for equipment failures and bouncers (which required being able to use functions of the Danage timing system we wouldn’t normally use), as well as using radios to communicate with each other and with the field party. But the most significant aspect was that of the team matches, something that in Scotland we wouldn’t normally get the chance to do.
Each day we were each assigned duties by Sue. On the Tuesday, Sue decided to assign me to act as line judge for some of the recurve mixed pair matches, including the Gold Medal match. I’ll admit I was a little nervous, never having done any team matches before, and knowing that the event was being live-streamed. Naturally I didn’t want to muck things up for such a prominent event. However, Sue organised a quick demonstration for archers and judges alike (courtesy of the Faroe Islands team) which proved useful, and I’ve watched plenty of World Archery events so had a reasonable idea of what was expected. As it turned out, I need not have worried; everything went well including the subsequent shoot-off, and the feedback I received from Sue was that I had done well.
On the Thursday, I was given a further opportunity to act as line judge for the team matches and again was assigned to the recurve team Gold Medal match. Having gained the confidence from the matches on Tuesday, I didn’t feel as nervous and was able to enjoy the experience more.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Games. It was my first truly international event. I learned a lot about what is involved in judging at that level, and the experience has helped me grow in knowledge and confidence. It was also good to catch up with some old friends from the archery community, as well as make some new ones. Beyond the technical aspect, what truly stood out was the spirit of the Games. It’s clear why they’re called the “friendly games”; Orkney’s welcoming atmosphere and the genuine passion of the archers made the role feel not just important, but truly special. I loved every second of being part of something that celebrated dedication, sportsmanship, and community, and it’s an experience I will remember for a long time to come.