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Page last updated at 13:02 GMT, Thursday, 21 May 2009 14:02 UK

Hopes of success for Team Jersey

Steve Jacobs
Jacobs wants to leave a good impression with the hosts

The head of Jersey's Island Games team is looking forward to the start of the 13th running of the event after a stressful build-up.

With just over a month to go until the Aland Games, Steve Jacobs told BBC Jersey his work was just about done.

"I am quite relieved that after tonight's team meeting it is all down to the competitors," he said.

Getting Jersey's 251 competitors and equipment to the Finnish island, has been Jacobs' toughest challenge.

"We are going in on a Friday and Saturday, which is the peak times for charter aircraft… so that's been the biggest problem and paying for it in Euros as well," he said.

It has been a logistical nightmare, we expected the aircraft to be plentiful but it's just not been the case

Steve Jacobs

"It has been a logistical nightmare, we expected the aircraft to be plentiful but it's just not been the case."

While Jacobs' job is almost over, he hopes the team will be successful both on the track and in the hearts of the Swedish-speaking island's people.

"A successful games for me will be if we can go right through the Games and leave a really good impression with our hosts; for the competitors it's all about medals, but for me it's if I can come away feeling proud of the team," he said.

The games start on 27 June.



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see also
Island Games team hit by crunch
22 Jan 09 |  Other sport...
Games legend loses cancer battle
09 Jan 09 |  Other sport...
Island team withdraws from games
09 Jan 09 |  Basketball
Tributes paid to Sark sportsman
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Aland games 'most expensive yet'
03 Jul 08 |  Other sport...
Bermuda named as 2013 games host
30 Jun 08 |  Sport Homepage
Athletes return laden with medals
07 Jul 07 |  Europe


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