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The designer of the medals for the 2023 Island Games has finally seen her work in the flesh - four years after her original drawing won the public competition.
With the Guernsey Games originally due to be held in 2021, work had started in earnest by 2019 to prepare for the event.
That included a public competition to find a design for the gold, silver and bronze medals to be handed out to athletes from the various islands taking part.
Graphic designer Chloe Sarre won that competition and was this week shown some of the newly minted medals in their presentation boxes.
Pictured: The gold, silver and bronze medals will each be presented with a presentation box, designed to look like granite.
Ms Sarre said her original design had to be tweaked slightly because of the two year delay in the Games being held, with a new logo being drawn up for 2023. An extra island has also been welcomed in to the International Island Games Association meaning her design now indicates 24 member islands rather than 23.
"When the Games were cancelled two years ago I had to amend them, so it's been a long time," she said.
The medals will be presented to each person or team coming first, second, and third in each of the 205 events being contested across 14 sports between Sunday 9 and Friday 14 July.
Julia Bowditch, Games Director, said Ms Sarre's design was "stunning" and she congratulated her on creating something so special for the Games.
"Athletes who win these medals will probably treasure them forever. They are beautiful and I cannot wait to see them being presented at the medal ceremonies. Chloe’s design spoke to the underlying ethos of the Games which is about friendliness and bringing people together. They certainly add an extra sparkle to our preparations."
Pictured: The medals all features an outline of Guernsey in the centre, with the 24 segments on the outer circle representing the member islands. The other side includes the engraving of the tagline of the Games, ‘inspiring islanders’.
The medal design competition received over 70 entries during 2019. They were whittled down to three before being put to a public vote.
More than 1,600 votes were cast and Ms Sarre was declared the winner.
"I was very confident with my design, I was happy with it, but you never know if you're going to win a competition like that. It was always going to be hugely popular because it's such an amazing prize to be part of.
"I'm quite excited, particularly because it's been an extra two year wait. I'm looking forward to watching as many events as possible. It's amazing that it's finally come around."
Now they are finally here and ready to be presented during Games week Ms Sarre said some of her friends could win one.
"They're competing in the mountain biking and the road cycling," she said.
Pictured: Chloe Sarre opened up one of the medals she designed, with Games Director Julia Bowditch and Deputy Games Director Emma Beardsell watching.
Pin badges will also be presented to athletes competing at the 2023 NatWest International Island Games, and the presentation boxes for the medals have been designed to look like a granite pebble reflecting Guernsey's natural environment.
There will be medal moments on every single day of competition between Sunday 9 and Friday 14 July.
On the first day of the Island Games week, medals will be decided in athletics, shooting, and triathlon.
Pictured: Games Director Julia Bowditch showing Chloe Sarre the pin badges which will also be gifted to competitors at this summer's NatWest International Island Games.
The medals were sourced through a local company and manufactured off-island. In total, more than 1600 medals will be presented during the week. For team events, all members of the winning teams will each receive a medal.
As well as the honour of seeing her design used for all of the medals during the Games, Ms Sarre will also receive her own commemorative set of medals.
Public vote to decide Island Games medals
Island Games medal competition launched
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