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Games veteran Dan Halksworth will be leading Team Jersey into the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony tomorrow to kick off the 2018 Golden Coast Games.
Although no stranger to competing as an island-games gold medal holder, former professional iron man athlete as well as the Jersey representative in last year’s Super League Triathlon, this Commonwealth Games could be Halksworth’s biggest challenge yet: to make history as the first person to compete in three different sports in three different Commonwealth Games.
Halksworth has decided not to compete in swimming or triathlon, as he has previously in the 2006 Melbourne and the 2014 Glasgow games, but has instead opted to cycle in the time-trial and road race events.
Along with the 32 other athletes representing Jersey at the 21st Commonwealth Games, he has landed in Australia ahead of the Games opening ceremony tomorrow. They’ve spent the Easter weekend training, acclimatising to the warmer temperatures, meeting the local residents - and even took part in an Easter egg hunt.
They’ve also been welcomed into the official games village - a zone where athletes can relax and meet other competitors – with a ceremony they shared with the Cook Islands, Grenada, Dominica, Singapore and the Solomon Islands.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be the biggest sporting event Australia has seen for a decade. The opening ceremony at Carrara Stadium will see all 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations get together before the competitions start on Thursday.
Pictured: Jersey small-bore shooter Sarah Campion has been meeting the local residents ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia (Source: CGAJ).
This is the largest multi-sport competition islanders will compete under a Jersey flag, as those chosen for the Olympics – the next level of sporting achievement - are classed as Great Britain, and are included as part of Team GB.
The 33 strong team from Jersey will be representing the island in athletics, badminton, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting, triathlon and swimming over 10 days of competition.
The Commonwealth Games is also an opportunity for delegates from all the nations to get together to discuss the importance of sport and the health challenges facing jurisdictions. Jersey’s Assistant Chief Minister Senator Paul Routier and Jersey Sport CEO Catriona McAllister are there to represent Jersey during the discussions.
Arrived at the Commonwealth Ministers meeting Gold Coast, Australia. Our Jersey flag very prominent. Already met colleagues/friends from around the Commonwealth. Looking forward to good discussion about the importance of sport in the health and wellbeing of communities. pic.twitter.com/0FGRY5u8ps
— Paul F Routier MBE (@PRoutier) April 2, 2018
The 2018 Golden Coast Commonwealth Games are held from 4 to 15 April 2018.
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