It is important that all contestants should immediately contact their doctor and perhaps also the doctor of their Island Games team. This is so that you can check that any medicine that you are taking is not classed as a doping substance. Read more about doping and current doping lists on the homepage of the Swedish Sports Movement, http://www.svenskidrott.se/

Swimming venue
On the visit of the IGA Executive Committee, both the Solberga Baths in Visby and the Hemse Baths were inspected, and it was their unanimous recommendation to hold the swimming events in Hemse.

At its meeting on 21 September 1998, the Organising Committee of the 1999 NatWest Island Games thus decided that the swimming events will be held in the Hemse Baths.

News from Prince Edward Island
We got a letter from Linda Durling, contact person at the Prince Edward Island Island Games office. They have established an office (telephone +902 368-4110, fax +902 368-4548, e-mail: sport.pei@pei.sympatico.ca ).

They have positiv news – they have got a commitment from their provincial government to send a team to Gotland. The numbers attending isn’t decided yet, but a figure would be 20–30.

New telephone number
The NatWest Island Games office has two telephone lines from now on.

The numbers are:

+46 498 20 70 71
+46 498 20 70 74

Travel and accommodation
Welcome to Gotland and the NatWest Island Games 1999. The Organising Committee has chosen GotlandsResor as appointed partner to arrange your accommodation during your stay.

There are four different accommodation alternatives: Games Village, Hamnhotellet, Gustafsvik samt Wisby Hotel.

A brochure has been produced and sent to the each island’s Island Games committee at the end of September. The information and pictures are also available on our homepage under the heading "Travel and accommodation". The form for contacting the travel agent is available in an electronic version. The brochure also contains information about accommodation if you want to stay a bit longer, or to bring along your family, relatives or friends to Gotland.

September figures
662 to the Swedish first page and 173 visitors at the English first page. (Number of visits: August 675, July 725, June 435, May 204)

We are pleased to note some new islands and countries that have visited our site: Faroe Islands, Gibraltar and Estonia.

The number of websites linked to our homepage is now 55. We would be very pleased and grateful if you would link to our homepage: www.gotlandweb.com/islandgames. Copy the logotype/picture from the first page and insert it on your own page with a link.

Join our mailinglist
Would you like to be on our mailing list? Just send us an e-mail, and tell us if there is any particular sport that you are interested in. Send to: islandgames@bigfoot.com.

We send out short messages and press releases; some of the information is also presented in the Newsletter and on the web.

Entires, import and urgent
Please notify your sports that at the recent meeting of the I.G.A. Executive Committee, the Organising Committee of the 1999 NatWest Island Games were instructed to strictly adhere to Section 25.1.3 & 25.1.4 of the IGA Constitution.

This means that only entries received by the Organising Committee by 26th April 1999 will be accepted. Amendments made to entries after that date can only be made on medical grounds and must be accompanied by appropriate documentation.

Please note that a failure to get entries in on time many results in sports, or events, being cancelled.

This is not a change of regulation, but in the past some individuals have failed to follow the requirements of the Constitution which has given Organising Committee major problems and has given some Islands an unfair advantage.
Steve Cooil
IGA General Secretary

Visby Airport's capacity 
The Visby Airport's runway is 2,000 meters. A DC 9 with 160 seats is no problem and it can even take up to DC 10 if necessary.

Video of Gotland
"Gotland found first a man named Tjelvar. In those times Gotland was bound by the dark powers, so that during daylight the island sank and by night it reappered. Tjelvar was the first man to take fire ashore and in that way it never sank". (From sagas from Gotland)

So it all began somewhere within a historic mist. Follow an exciting journey forwards through time to the Gotland of the present.

A tale of:

• Treasures and vikings
• Picture stones and distant journey´s
• Churches and religious art
• Music and arts and crafts
• Nature which has no comparisons Gotland - More than just sunshine and bathing

The video costs GBP 22 plus postage and packing and may be ordered from

Arne Carlsson Filmproduktion AB
Sudersand, Fårö
SE-620 35 FÅRSÖUND
Telephone +46 498 23637

Grants will be offered under the following terms and conditions:

1. There will be a maximum grant of £2000 per scheme. The total fund available will be distributed will be distributed as fairly as possible throughout the I.G.A. membership.
2. The application must show that the scheme will lead to long term benefits for the specific sport being grant aided.
3. Grant aid will not be given towards the purchase of equipment or clothing for individuals.
4. If it necessary to "import" a qualified coach in order to proceed with a scheme – this coach should also be utilised to carry out a basic coaches course leading to a recognised qualification for islanders.
5. Schemes which rely on grant aid from other sources shall not proceed without written guaranteed commitment from all parties.
6. Grants offered must be utilised within the year of receipt.
7. After the scheme has been approved, no changes may be made without the approval of the I.G.A.
8. Neither the grant nor any equipment grant aided shall be put to use other than for which grant was provided without the prior approval ot the I.G.A.
9. Neither the grant nor any equipment grant aided shall be put to use other than for which the grant was provided without the prior approval of the I.G.A.
10. A written report plus audited accounts must be sumitted to the General Secretary of the I.G.A. within one month of the scheme finishing. Failure to do so may jeopardise future applications.

Application process

• Member islands of I.G.A. will be invited to submit applications to the I.G.A. General Secretary for financial support for a continuous five session coaching festival within their island i.e. five full days or five mornings/afternoons within a confined period of time.
• Member island will devise their own process of selecting a sport for inclusion in this coaching scheme. The sport chosen must be within the list of approved Island Games sports and one which is in need of support a grass roots level within that particular island.
• The maximum sum available to any member island within a two years period will normally be £2000.
• First year timetable
  Papers sent out to member island beginning March, 1998
  Applications returned by end April, 1998
  Selections made and island notified by end of May, 1998
  Grants made available first week of June, 1998
• Second year timetable
  Papes sent out to islands beginning of September, 1998
  Applications returned by end of October, 1998
  Selections made and islands notified by end of December, 1998
  Grants made available first week of January, 1999
• The selection of events to be supported through the NatWest Island Games Coaching Fund will be made by the I.G.A. Chairman or nominees after consultion with senior personnel from NatWest Offshore**.
• Member island selected for grant aid will be expected to promote the event and the sponsor within their island and ensure that the event is well reported in the local media.

** NatWest personnel must be given full access to all schemes and will be entitled to use the scheme for promotional activities – contact will be with the nominated person responsible for each scheme.

Objectives

1. To help, through coaching, raise the numbers and standards of participants in sport within the member island of the International Island Games Association.
2. To raise the international profile of NatWest Offshore, the main sponsor for the Island Games over the six year period, 1998 to 2003, and perhaps beyond, as a company committed to supporting island communities.
3. To provide opportunities for member islands to identify one or more sports within the Island Games programme which would benefit from funding to support the island-based coaching programme.
4. To provide opportunities for coaches/sport scientists from member islands to discuss up to date methods/
   techniques and share experiences of "good practice".

NatWest input

• NatWest Offshore will provide £10,000 per annum for the term of the sponsorship.
• NatWest will offer support in the form of advertising and publicity material, artwork for logos etc. and will produce a range of NatWest certificates and promotional items.

General statement

For the first two years NatWest Island Games Coaching will concentrate on helping I.G.A. sports which are not played or are under developed on member islands.