This summer, Orkney will welcome competitors, officials, and spectators from all over the world as it hosts the 20th International Island Games. The games are set to be a monumental event for the islands, and Sporting Memories has been working behind the scenes to ensure that the memories are captured for generations to come.
We caught up with Sporting Memories Development Director Brian Sloan, who gave us an insight into the work that the charity has been doing in Orkney.
“When we heard that the games were happening in Orkney, we were really eager to get involved,” he told us.
“We were lucky enough to receive funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out an exciting project which celebrates and preserves the memories of the games.”
Sporting Memories’ Orkney project has four core elements: intergenerational projects with primary schools, capturing formal oral histories, setting up two Sporting Memories clubs, and encouraging people to upload their games memories to the charity's website.
“The intergenerational part involves partnering with primary schools to encourage their pupils to speak to older family members and friends and create pieces of art based on their memories of previous games.
“These will then be exhibited during the games,” Brian explained.
"We are also capturing and recording formal oral histories of the games with up to 20 people, which will be left and stored with the Orkney Library and Archives as part of the legacy,” he added.
In addition to this, the charity is encouraging anyone who has been involved in previous games from any island group to upload their own memories, photos, and videos to the Sporting Memories website.
"We've already had a competitor from Greenland upload all their photos, which has been brilliant to see, and we're hoping to see more contributions in the lead up to the games.”
A space to reminisce
Another key component of the project is the establishment of two Sporting Memories clubs, one in Kirkwall and one in Stromness, that will run for years to come as part of the Island Games legacy.
“We have over 50 of these clubs running in Scotland now, and they are really a space for older people to come together, engage, interact, and reminisce about their sporting pasts,” Brian told us.
Through resources, quizzes, and games, the clubs help to spark conversations and bring back memories amongst members.
“The sessions run on a weekly basis, which is really important from our side as we know from feedback and research that they quickly become a fixture in members’ weekly calendar and something to really look forward to,” he explained.
Physical activity is also a key part of the sessions.
"Generally, a club will last an hour and a half, with an hour of reminiscing and half an hour of physical activity. Depending on the mobility of the attendees, this could include chair-based exercises, boccia, indoor curling, or archery,” Brian explained.
"It's amazing, regardless of whatever age, how competitive it can become in a nice way.
“The two components of the session come together really nicely, and we have seen how much this can foster a sense of community and belonging between members.”
After successfully recruiting three volunteers for the Kirkwall group at a taster session earlier this year, Sporting Memories held its first official club last week.
A strong start in Orkney
Orkney Islands Council Sports Development Officer Elaine Harcus has been supporting the charity’s work and was there to support last week’s group.
“We were really pleased with the turnout for our first session,” she shared.
“We’ve obviously got such a strong sporting community here, and it’s really nice to give those of the older generation a space to come together and connect.
Elaine explained that whilst some members are still participating in sport, the club fills a gap that is often left when people can no longer participate and compete in their sport at the level they once did.
“It's a really cool project, and I'm hopeful it just keeps going well. The key is getting the word out there and getting more people in the door.
“Sport is on everyone's mind with the Island Games coming up, so it's a great time to get involved.”
More info
- The Kirkwall Sporting Memories group meets every Wednesday from 11:00-12:30 at the Pickaquoy Centre. Anyone over the age of 50 is welcome to attend. Elaine and the team at Sporting Memories are still looking for volunteers for both the Stromness and Kirkwall groups. If you are interested in volunteering or attending a group, you can contact Elaine at: elaine.harcus@orkney.gov.uk
- Add a memory to the Sporting Memories website here: https://islandgames.sportingmemories.net/
- Thank you to Kirkwall Sporting Memories Club member Elaine Gray for providing us with photographs of some of her favourite sporting memories from over the years.
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