Tha leasan cudromach anns na Geamaichean Eileanach, le Murray MacLeòid

'S e Kara Hanlon tè dhe na snàmhadairean as fheàrr ann an Alba.

[English-language version below]

Ach ged a tha sin mar a tha e, bu chòir dhaibh a bhith nan leasan air cho cudromach ‘s a tha spòrs, agus a’ bhuaidh a dh’fhaodar a bhith aige nar beatha.

Ach, an toiseach beagan eachdraidh. Chaidh na Geamaichean Eileanach a chur air chois ann an 1985 ann an Eilean Mhanainn, mar thoradh air na duilgheadasan a bha aig luchd-spòrs anns na h-eileanan le farpaisean, goireasan ceart agus coidseadh.

Le sin, chaidh farpais shònraichte a chur air dòigh gach dàrna bliadhna, an toiseach le 15 eilean a’ gabhail pàirt agus 700 farpaiseach. Agus abair gun robh e soirbheachail.

Bhon uair sin, tha e air fàs gu mòr, le 23 sgìre eileanach a’ gabhail pàirt agus na mìiltean de dh’fharpaisich thairis 14 diofar spòrs. Dh’fhaodadh thu ràdh gur iad Geamaichean Oilimpigeach nan Eilean.

Tha farpais na bliadhna gu bhith air a cumail ann an Geàrnsaidh san Iuchair, a’ ciallachadh g’ eil na h-ullachaidhean a’ ruighinn ìre.

Dha na h-Eileanan Siar, Arcaibh is Sealtainn, ‘s iad na h-ùghdarrasan ionadail a tha os cionn chùisean agus tha sin a’ ciallachadh g’ eil e beagan nas fhasa taic de dhiofar seòrsa fhaighinn.

Ach, ‘s ann a tha a’ bhuannachd nas motha ri fhaighinn ann an a bhith a’ toirt cothrom dha daoine pairt a ghabhail agus a bhith a’ farpais ann an dòigh nach biodh idir comasach às aonais nan Geamaichean. Agus tha an toradh ri fhaicinn: ann an goireasan nas fheàrr, ann an coidseadh nas fheàrr agus, gu cudromach, misneachd nas motha a thoirt dha daoine a dhol an sàs ann an spòrs.

Seall fhèin air eisimpleir Kara Hanlon à Steòrnabhagh. Ghabh ise pàirt anns na Geamaichean an toiseach nuair a bha i dìreach 14 bliadhna a dh’aois agus tha i fhèin ag aideachadh gur e a bhith a' gabhail pàirt a thug an spionnadh dhi cumail oirre. ‘S i a-nise tè dhe na snàmhadairean as fheàrr agus as cliùitiche ann an Alba.

Leis an fhirinn innse, leis cho tàlantach agus cho dìchealach agus cho stòlta na h-inntinn is a tha Kara, tha e dualtach gum biodh i air a bhith soirbheachail co-dhiù, ach tha e smaoineachail g’ eil i fhèin a’ cur na h-uimhir a chuideam air cho cudromach ‘s a tha na Geamaichean. Bidh e na iongnadh mura bi bonn òir a’ crochadh bho h-amhaich a-rithist am bliadhna.

Ach, a’ fàgail sàr fharpaisich mar Kara gu aon taobh, tha buannachd nas cudromaiche na sin na chois.

Fiù ‘s dhan fheadhainn nach eil am measg nan duaisean, tha e follaiseach gu bheil an cothrom a bhith a’ gabhail pàirt air spionnadh a thoirt dhaibh cumail a’ dol agus fàs nas fheàrr, agus tha sin an uair sin a’ biadhadh dhaoine eile airson an aon rud a dhèanamh.

Tha a bhith a’ fosgladh barrachd chothroman ann an spòrs buannachdail dhan neach fhèin agus dhan choimhearsnachd, le buannachdan slàinte na chois, buaidh air an inntinn am measg sin, rud a tha cho cudromach an-diugh.

Mar a tha an eaconamaidh a’ seargadh an-dràsta, agus an cuideam a tha a’ tighinn air an sporan phoblach, tha e dualtach gur iad buidseatan spòrs is cur-seachad a thèid a ghearradh an toiseach.

Tha a’ bhuaidh maireanach a thàinig leis na Geamaichean Eileanach a’ sealltainn dhuinn dìreach cho fìor ghòrach ‘s a bhiodh e a dhol sìos an t-slighe sin.

English-language version:

It’s likely that most of Scotland will never have heard of the Inter-Island Games, given it’s only really of interest to us here on the periphery. But while direct interest may be of the minimum kind, it should serve as a wider lesson in terms of how we value sport and the role it plays in our lives.

First a quick historical tour. The Inter-Island Games were first introduced in 1985 on the Isle of Man, in recognition that island athletes faced particular constraints in accessing top-level competition, facilities and elite coaching. So a special biennial competition was formed, initially with 15 island regions taking part and 700 athletes, and proved an immediate success.

It has witnessed consistent growth over the years and is now supported by 23 island members around the world with thousands of athletes taking part in 14 different sports. It is very much the islands’ version of the Olympics.

This year’s games will be held in Guernsey in July, which means that, for those taking part, the preparations have begun in earnest. For the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, it is organised through the relevant local authority, making support and sponsorship that bit easier.

But its real value is in opening up an avenue of participation and competition that would otherwise be denied to so many. And the tangible benefits are there to see: in better facilities, improved coaching and, crucially, in providing an added incentive to those who wish to follow their sporting dreams.

Take Kara Hanlon from Stornoway as an example. She first took part in the games as a 14-year-old and readily admits that it was exposure to competitions at the inter-island games that helped drive her onto greater things. She is now Scotland’s top-ranked breast-stroke swimmer.

Given Kara’s natural abilities and a dogged determination, balanced by an impressive level-headnesses, she may well have made it to the top anyway, but it’s instructive that she credits so much to the island games. It’ll be a surprise if she walks away with anything less than a gold at Guernsey.

But leaving elite performers like Kara to one side, there is an even bigger benefit at play. Even for those who do not make the podium, it is clear that being able to participate in the games has spurred them on to greater sporting endeavour and commitment, which then rubs off on their peers – and on and on the sense of positivity marches.

Opening up suitable competition and wider participation is beneficial to the individual and the collective, with obvious health implications, not least in terms of mental health, which is such a concern in today’s society. As the cost of living bites and public expenditure comes under even greater pressure, there is always the tendency to hit the budgets of sport and recreation first. What the International Island Games, as they are now known, has shown is just how counterproductive such an approach would prove.