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In a brilliant summer evening the opening ceremony of the VIII Island
Games took place at Strandgärdet nearby the sea and the ancient medieval wall, Ringmuren. |
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While the sun slowly sank over the sea the islands marched in to the
Opening Ceremony. |
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The Isle of Man competitors are marching in. |
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The chairman of the Gotland Municipal Council, Mrs. Inger Harlevi held the
first speech, and was followed by Mr Lars Hammarström, Gotland Organising Committee. Alan
Cross from the IGA wished all the competitors good luck and the Swedish Minister of
Finance, Mr Bosse Ringholm declared the Games opened. |
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The Island teams line up behind their flags |
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More than 1800 competitors on Strandgärdet in Visby, Gotland. |
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Eight members of the Gotland Team are bringing in the Island Games
Association flag. |
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The IGA flag. |
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Jenny Nygren, one of the Gotlandic competitors, swears the International
Island Games Oath. Beside her is another Gotlandic competitor, Niklas Hellgren, who also
swore the oath in front of the big audience. |
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All the participants run to their places to be seated for the second part
of the ceremony. All in the Jersey Team were very happy to get there before Guernsey.... |
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Competitors and audience. |
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Cayman Island competitors. |
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The Natwest Island Games has a very special ceremony that emanate from the
element that the islands have in common: water. |
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The Water Ceremony:
Each island have brought some water from home that they now pour in the big viking-styled
phallus fountain. |
| www.gotlandweb.com |
NatWest Island Games 1999
Copyright Gotland Web 1999 |
The VIII
