GSC wins Community Award for Specsavers Youth Games

The Guernsey Sports Commission was delighted to be announced as winners of the Guernsey Community Foundation Award for Organising Committee of the Year for the 2021 Specsavers Youth Games.

The Commission was one of three organisations shortlisted for the Award along with the Guernsey Street Festival and Women in Public Life.

The Award was sponsored by Julius Baer.

‘We are absolutely delighted to be recognised for the organisation of the Specsavers Youth Games which was once again an outstanding success in 2021,’ said Operations Director Graham Chester, who collected the Award.

‘The logistics involved in organising an event where 700 children take part in 20 different sports, attending training sessions in the run up to Games Day and then competing in the final competition are extremely challenging. We simply could not do this without the support of all our sports and their many volunteers plus of course the continued sponsorship from Specsavers who have been with us from the very start.

‘The Games provide a brilliant opportunity to encourage children in Guernsey to nurture their interest in sport, try something new and hopefully grow their confidence and build new friendships,’ said Graham.

‘The event is about enjoyment and fair play as much as it is about winning.’

The Sports Commission is now working with the team from Specsavers on the Youth Games 2023 which will take place the month before Guernsey hosts another major sporting event, the Island Games.

The Organising Committee award was just one of seven Community Awards presented by the Guernsey Community Foundation.

The Awards celebrate the local charities, organisations, groups, individuals, and businesses who work tirelessly to raise money and embark on community projects for the benefit of others, across the Bailiwick and further afield.

The 2021 Awards ceremony had been postponed from last year because of continued Covid restrictions with a smaller celebration taking place at Les Cotils on Tuesday 3^rd May.

Foundation chairman Sir Richard Collas paid tribute to all the third sector organisations for their contribution to the island’s community.