Four sports are excluded from Jersey's Island Games bid

Squash is one of four sports excluded from Jersey's 2015 bid

The committee for Jersey's bid to host the 2015 Island Games has left four sports out of their proposal.

Judo, bowls, squash and gymnastics are the sports that have been excluded.

The decision has been met with disappointment by the president of the Jersey Squash Racquets Association, Steve Law.

"Obviously we're bitterly disappointed that squash wasn't considered to be in the top 14 sports to give Jersey it's best chance to win the bid," he said.

"It just demonstrates how strong Jersey is in sport when you consider the sports that missed out."

Archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, football, golf, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and volleyball are the sports included in the bid.

There are 18 approved sports which have traditionally been part of the Island Games and we have had to leave out four, which is never easy

Chairman of the bid committee Phil Austin

Squash was last held at the Shetland Games in 2005 and will be in the next two Island Games in the Isle of Man and Bermuda.

Jersey judo team manager Tony Palmer says they have been overlooked in the past but spin-off competitions are being arranged.

"We knew it wasn't going to be in 2011 so we went to the Island Games executive in Aland and they are quite happy to let us arrange our own judo competition, so the people in Rhodes have volunteered to do it."

Phil Austin, chairman of the Jersey 2015 bid committee said it was a difficult choice.

"There are 18 approved sports which have traditionally been part of the Island Games and we have had to leave out four, which is never easy.

"We surveyed the other 24 islands to see what sports they wanted us to put on, as ultimately it will be for them to decide which of the two bidders gets the games."

The island last hosted the games in 1997 and will compete with Gotland to stage the event which has been held every two years since 1985.

A final decision on the host island will be made in June 2010.