The 20th International Island Games concluded on Saturday after a sunny week of friendly competition on Orkney among sports teams from 24 islands and archipelagos.
Leaving with 41 gold, 31 silver, and 23 bronze medals—a total of 95—the Faroe Islands set a new medals record at the Island Games, topping the table with Jersey and Guernsey coming in second and third.
Slated to host the 2027 Island Games, the Faroese were greeted with festivities as they returned home to celebrate their second Island Games medals count victory. The first one was back in 2009, on Åland.
Back on Orkney, a closing ceremony ended the week-long event with a short handover ceremony followed by a private celebration for athletes and officials. “For Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, there was plenty to celebrate,” BBC Radio Scotland noted. “The hosts came 6th in the table, the best result they have ever seen in an Island Games. The Western Isles came 8th and Shetland in 14th place.”
The impressive Faroese results were achieved in several sports disciplines including gymnastics, athletics, arching, swimming, and badminton.
“In total a strong Faroese performance at an Island Games with Faroe participating in eight out of twelve sports disciplines,” Faroese news outlet Portal.fo wrote.