THE message at the outset of this week’s Natwest Island Games was ‘compete but have fun’ – a concept that goes to the very heart of this biennial event.

Now in its 13th year, that spirit is still going strong – just ask any of the almost 200 of our own athletes taking part.

This week we will be supporting their endeavours with full, daily coverage of their efforts and achievements all performed with pride in the name of Guernsey.

More than 3,000 competitors in all are at the Aland tournament which, as far as our island is concerned, is being predicted by pundits to get off to a slowish start on the medals front.

Sadly, several of our medal hopes are unable to be there this year, although  hopes are still riding high that, by the end of ths week, Guernsey’s flag will be flying high and we will, once again, have plenty to shout about.

Whether we will be able to emulate our achievements in Shetland 2005, when we came top of the medals table, is another thing.

That year, which followed on from our own successful hosting of the Games in 2003, was one of those events when everything just seemed to gel. The following tournament in 2007 in Rhodes saw things slip slightly and this year we are not as strong as we would like.

There are some who point out that perhaps the allure of the event is changing, with some of our bigger stars choosing more elevated stages as their priority.

That, of course, is understandable. But what should not be forgotten – as surely those same elite athletes would agree – is the value of the Games and its role as a stepping stone in their own development.

For other participants, who will never reach the bigger international tournaments, the Games represents the pinnacle of their sporting careers.

Equally important from an island perspective is the forging and fostering of good relations betwen the member countries, something echoed yesterday by Roger Nordlund, speaker of Aland’s  parliament, who helped open the Games.

What is clear is that Guernsey’s team will be striving to do the very best it can – and we will be giving our athletes every support.

Through our own reporting team in Aland we will be revealing their progress throughout this week on our pages and website.

And readers can get involved, too, by posting your messages of support at our ‘Go Guernsey’ page, found at www.thisisguernsey/island games.