Sporting Witness - The International Island Games
Download The International Island Games
In 2007 Faroese swimmer Pal Joensen competed in the 12th International Island Games held on the Greek island of Rhodes.
Athletes often describe the International Island Games as a mini-Olympics for small nations, designed for athletes from islands around the world who would not normally have the opportunity to participate in an actual Olympic Games.
The International Island Games first began in 1985. Founded on the Isle of Man they’ve been staged every two years ever since. Initially 15 islands and 600 competitors took part in 7 sports. But by 2007 when Pal swum in Rhodes, the event had expanded to include 24 island nations and 2,500 athletes.
Islands taking part included Jersey, Rhodes, Bermuda, Aland, Caymans, Gozo, Falklands, Gotland, Iceland, Orkney and the Isle of Man.
Pal describes the event to Howard Shannon and tells him how important the games became to him. A Whistledown production.
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(Photo: Pal Joensen swimming for the Faroe Islands in 2010. Credit: Joe Klamar/AFP via Getty Images)
Published on Saturday, 7th November 2026.
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