Elaine brings fresh ideas from the Faroes

"I would say simplicity seems to be the key to the success of sport in the Faroes.” 

Elaine Harcus, Orkney Islands Council’s Team Leader for Sports and Leisure, is fresh back from a working visit to the Faroe Islands - and she’s brimming with ideas for sports clubs in Orkney.  

The 2027 Island Games will be held in the Faroe Islands from 3–9 July 2027, featuring 24 island teams competing in 14 sports.  

Last weekend saw the Faroes 2027 organising committee hold the traditional ‘one year to go’ event, with representatives from each Island Games team attending to find out more about next year’s event.  

As part of this, Sportscotland invited Elaine along on a sports study visit focused on areas such as sports, facilities, pathways, coach education and workforce.  

Elaine currently works to support the development of sport in the country across clubs, coaching and facilities and was delighted to be invited to join the visit by Sportscotland.  She said: “The Faroe Islands are hugely successful in terms of sports performance, participation and volunteer workforce, and there’s so much we can learn from them. It was incredibly valuable to gain insight into their approach, the work they do and their successes and challenges.  

“We covered areas including elite sport, coach education, volunteer workforce and links with schools, clubs and the Health Service, and we took a great deal away from the information shared with us.  

“As well as meeting with members of the Faroese Sporting Federation, we were included in the facility tours as part of the Island Games one year to go event. Their facilities are incredible and the tours also gave us the opportunity to connect with those working in sport from the other Islands. We’ve gained many ideas, reflections and contacts that I have no doubt will be useful in continuing to develop sport in Orkney.”  

Garry Burton is the Council’s Head of Active Communities.  He said: “Elaine’s invitation to visit the Faroe Islands is a testament to the strength of the partnership between the Council and Sportscotland, and to the value placed on the excellent work being delivered across Orkney sport. The knowledge and experience that Elaine gains through this opportunity will be brought back to Orkney and help drive the continued development and success of sport across our communities.” 

The Island Games - known as Oyggjaleikir in the Faroe Islands - are a biennial multi-sport event bringing together athletes from small island communities worldwide to compete in a celebration of sport, culture, and friendship www.faroeislands2027.fo.  

 The 2027 edition, officially called the Betri Island Games, will mark the second time the Faroe Islands host the Games, the first being in 1989.  Orkney hosted the Games last year.  

 Approximately 2,500 athletes from 24 islands are expected to participate across 14 sports with the Games providing a rare opportunity for islanders to compete internationally while representing their own communities.