The chance to get together and show what they can achieve. But every two years, its sport that brings them closer. They come from europe, the South Atlantic and the caribbean. 2a islands, 1a sports, across six days of action. This is the island games. 900 miles away off the north coast of scotland, shooter Ross Donaldson and his teammates are starting the long trip south. When you can get an island games squad, theres anticipation, theres excitement. So weve got 20 bikes, a lot of football kit, sailing kit, athletics kit. In st peters port, Team Managers are checking in athletes and equipment. 103 of us all arrived here safely. Im delighted. Going to head over to the two hotels, and then well unpack all the bikes and the kit. Carlos and his bikes have travelled all the way from shetland. Ive got two bikes. This is the One For The Road race. Ive got a different one for the time trial. But you try and get as much advantage as you can within the rules. Most of the teams have got two bikes with them just to try and hopefully be as quick as they can. Biggest unknown is the other islands. So when youve got people coming from different nations, then you dont know how good theyre going to be. And in every corner of guernsey, final preparations for the thousands now flooding in. Were going to have three Car Park Spaces which lines up with the stay. Back on the seafront, one of the Biggest Challenges of all. Natalie and her volunteers havejust a couple of hours to turn this car park into an arena for the opening ceremony. Well, weve marked out all the spots to the islands to stand in so that when they come in, theyre in the right orderfor the parade. Oh, whats that . Thatsjersey, isnt it . Yeah. Everything must run like clockwork. Well, the media, were putting up on the walkway so that you get a bit of a better view over there. Right. So behind the wall, on the raised bit. Yeah. And then they get brought over here where the attaches will get the flags and get their placards. The games have happily combined the entrepreneurial flair of the olympics with the enthusiastic dedication of the true amateur. The island games began with just 700 athletes. Tojoin, an island must have a population of less than 120,000. Over a0 years, the event has just kept on growing. It all began in douglas, isle of man. They realised in 1985 that they should provide better opportunities for their youngsters to do sport. They invited 15 other islands to spend time and do sport together. That was something never seen before. This is the 19th games. Theyve been hosted by islands from the baltic to the caribbean. Seeing all these different islands, its probably the best feeling ive had in a while. The games are still evolving, but the spirit which runs through them has remained unchanged. Were here because we love the island games. This is our fourth, fourth island games. We thought, lets support someone and we picked ynys mon. Its fun and we fell in love with them. They fell in love with us. And now, as you can see, dressed in all this stuff, were part of the team. It is overwhelming for us because this is the first time that 6020 participated in international games. Everybody cheers everybody else on. We call it the friendly. Games and it really has. Everybody here has a good time. Zoe clements attending her first island games. What an honor to do the water ceremony. This just feels like one big family reunion. Weve got so many communities from so far away, but theyve all got one thing in common, which is to do their absolute sporting best for their islands. Ive played davis cup for bermuda. Ive traveled around the world, but the island games, with all the islands coming together, the energy is great. One islands success will contribute to another islands success. Thats what its all about. Welcome to guernsey. A new day and the games venues are packed. Veteran Athlete Charmainejohnson won medals for england. Today, aged 60, shes representing guernseys tiny neighbour alderney. That was the furthest for quite a while. Started off running as a kid, basically, just laughing and joking on a sloping playground. And ive just progressed through the ranks, really. Had a long career as a combined events athlete competing at european cups, International Competitions. Ive been knocking around a little while, but yes, just love competing. Absolutely love competing. Im doing fourfield events, two jumps and two throws. Hello happy . Very. So thats the furthest with that javelin. Its like a club record for us. Its a sense of elation. Sense of belonging. Just incredible. Im just so privileged to be here. Being an ambassador for our island, this is alderney. Were here. Were representing in athletics, and thats amazing. I think its a realjoy and a real privilege to do that. Whilst some competitors are old hands, others are here for the very first time. I used to watch the girls train when i was very young and i remembertelling my parents i want to do that. But obviously in welsh, because english is my second language. The opportunity came up and doing this now is unbelievable. Im actually doing what i want to do. Being so young, i do look up to a lot of players that i have in my team. Growing up, ive had a few knock backs from people, from schools and stuff. They were like, oh, youre a girl, you cant play football. Or, you cant do that. Some harsh comments as well along the way. But i think being here today and doing what i love doing, representing the island and the country, i think i proved them wrong. Tesni has some special supporters in the crowd today. Hello. Do you mind if Ijust Come Sit with you . Peter and rita thomas travelled all the way to guernseyjust for one day to watch their granddaughter take on the home team. We came this morning on the ferry and after the game we are going back on the ferry. Its unbelievable really that she was chosen. And she was really chuffed that she could come to guernsey and play for our little island. Very, very proud. Shes worked so hard. With the score at 2 2, tesni is brought off the subs bench. Quite emotional. I was battling some big emotions coming on that pitch that day. Come on just knowing that i had them there, it was overwhelming because i wanted to make them proud. The nerves got to me a little bit. A few dodgy touches and all that. But then once i got my head around, i was actually on the pitch, i was raring to go. And i felt the determination and the passion in me. As her team looked for another opportunity, more familiar faces in the crowd. Come on, go on, go on, go on well, its tense. Its nervous. 22. Were on top. We need to get a goal now, though, because guernseyl will come back into this. Minutes from full time, the opening they needed. I cant even explain it. I look at that and go see people. Its absolutely insane. The adrenaline right now. I just want. Regarding guys. So 3 2. Weve just finished a fantastic victory against the hosts. That ends the little Facebook Live at the moment. Theres another game on tomorrow. Down at the shooting range, Ross Donaldson is competing in his third sport since his very first games. I played golf in 93. Started in 1985, playing the first games for table tennis, and then 2019 ended up in gibraltar with a Target Shooting ten. Ross dayjob involves ships rather than shots. Im a pier master, but i work hard in the main town, and so i work some long hours when im there and then i get weeks off at a time. I shoot at home. I have a ten metre mark on the floor of my dining room and i shoot through the utility room and into the garage. The pressure is on. Standard is fantastically high. So when you can get to an island games squad, theres anticipation, theres excitement. So have you been at the athletics . Every day this week. First time downtown athletics. Swimming pool. Yeah, its all about the island games, but its beautifully made. So guernsey feel different this week . Oh, yeah. Well, even the buses are full of either athletes or supporters. Everywhere ive been this week in guernsey, theres been thousands of people on the move to cheer on their teams or to compete in. Theyve all come from tiny island communities, but its clear that here at these games they feel part of something much, much bigger. Just coming down and supporting all the athletes and everyone succeeding as well. Its been really awesome to see every venue weve been to and absolutely electric. Its really been nice being up. Every athlete here hopes that long months of training will pay off. Carlos, who has won four silver medals, has been pounding the Shetland Hills all winter. But as the time trials loom, he knows that getting a medal will also be an uphill challenge. Cycling is quite big in guernsey and with a home advantage. They know the courses, and they will practice on them together. The home islands always have a quite a good advantage. Well hopefully give them a run for their money. So mens time trials just got underway. Weve had the first four finishers come through. Its the hottest day of the games so far and its taking its toll. As the bikes flash around the guernsey lanes, carlos chance of a medal is slipping away. Another rider coming in now and so swift. Yeah. Hes just come through the 12th place with a time of a1, 17 seconds. Decent time on a tough day. 41 minutes. So i think im happy with that. No, its not so much about the competing anymore. Its just the whole experience of being something as big as this. Facing the highjump bar for the first time in seven months, this is charmaine� s first major competition after injury, and she has something to prove. I am absolutely made up. If there is a reason for me to compete, ill compete. And this is a nice reason to compete. When youre representing a community, its not about what you havent got. Its about what you have got. And ive got a lot in here. So, yeah, lets lets go for it. See what happens. It really is about giving people the opportunity to compete. It gives islands an opportunity to have high level competitions in a way that they might not have if they were just focusing on the main global stuff, that youve got your olympics, youve got your commonwealth games, youve got the world championships. Charmaine� s positive attitude shines brightly. For alderney� s young athletes, its infectious. We want to try and develop athletics on the island, and i wanted to get more people involved. So weve got a young lady whos running for us today who started running two years ago. 19 year old Emma Etheridge was persuaded to run the Half Marathon at the very last minute. I think it was yesterday. Last night, i did the 1500, did ok, but a friend gave me a lift back to town. And was like, you know, why dont you give the half a go . And i didnt think it would be possible, but the county guys got me in last minute. So she is now training at one of the london centres for excellence for middle distance runner. Shes got a coach, shes got all sorts of paraphernalia going on to help her. Give the ladies a big cheer. Theyre going to need it. And like so many at the games, she sees charmaine as a role model. If im still doing track doing charmaine is, you know, at 60, its amazing. Its just a pleasure to meet you. She brings out good energy, enthusiasm. Do you see yourself as a Sporting Family . Oh, yes. Definitely. 100 , yeah. I mean, my family are great, but they dont really sort of get it in the same way. Like when youve been competing internationally like charmaine has, you dont really understand it. I had such a good time today, so im so glad i did it. I might be able to do it on my electric bike a few times, but thats about it. At the shooting range, ross has reached the final. You would do anything you can when youre opposing somebody. Every hundredths of a millimetre counts in a rifle shooting. Its not going too well. But with minutes to go, he gets his eye in. Narrowly avoiding last place. Did have a couple of wonky ones there, dont normally get there. So its a bitjittery today. So good to get a 10. 1 to set the guy down instead. A small model victory currently in sixth place. We have wesley reed from isle of wight. With three spots under his belt and his home island hosting the next games, is there a fourth sport on the horizon . Theres not going to be table tennis in 2025. Theres not going to be Target Shooting. So im at a loose end. I have been absolutely fascinated with the bowls next door here this week. It was fantastic. Theyre getting a bit nervous. They want to jump ship. Ross could learn a thing or two from 84 year old paul richardson. Hes the games oldest competitor and hes getting ready to play. Its not very energetic, but its very exacting, and it does get your muscles going as well. Ill play twice a week. We have quite a good time with a cup of tea and a cake. Guernseys games were postponed due to covid, and in the time since, pauls health has been up and down. I never thought id be here at age 84. Ive tried very hard to stay alive. I carry a stick now and im a little bit uncertain about where my feet go. But im managing. I shall get through it. Paul has just got his first point on the board. Excellent. How do you feel . 0h, very pleased for him. I mean, neither of us. Expect to win anything, but were just pleased to get up there on the scoreboard. When the game is on, its serious. Paul is putting up a fight watched by some of the younger players. No matter how old you are, you know, youre learning from them and they still got it in them. Really . Yeah. As long as you keep yourself fairly fit and enjoy it. Yes. He never gives up. Hell play this game to the end. Across the island, Jacqui Bowles is on a mission. Ive been here for a week and ive set myself a quest to get a photo of myself with every island competing in the games, all 24. And i literally have st helena to get my 24. So ive come to a football match. With just a couple of hours left before her ferry home, jacquis tracked down the missing team as they played their last game. Now, we didnt know what to expect. We came into the unknown. So we only have six teams in a league and no International Competition here. And thats probably if they come to the island, the navy or something come in once in a blue moon. Yeah. And we play them and then we only play six months of the year because six months the field is used for cricket. So ive been following the Football Team. Dont know nothing about football, but im following them. St helena have jumped hurdles to get here. The population of their tiny island is just 6,000 and theyve travelled well over 4,000 miles to reach the competition. If it wasnt for the delay caused by covid, they might not have been here at all. The last games we came to was four years ago. We onlyjust got here. If were going to the island games in the next two years, its almost going to be impossible for the Football Team to go. Yes, yes. But they made it this time and jacquis got her photo. My husband said, youre never going to do this. Youre never going to do this. And ive achieved it. So im very happy. Im on the 4 00 ferry, so ive onlyjust done it by the skin of my teeth. All the teams we played were very competitive, i but they were very respectful. Thats the competitors, but also the people everywhere around here. Theyre very friendly people. We had about two schools. Its all these five, six year olds come support. They were singing for a minute, one to minute 90, st helena i all through the game. All true. And thats from five year olds. And for doing that. Whoa, whoa, whoa. The support has been great here. Its unbelievable. With some time away from the pitch, tesni had a rare moment to pick up her second passion. When i was about 13,14, my granddad bought me a guitar. I sing aboutjust life in general. At times, i sing about love. Like every Singer Songwriter does. Anything that comes to mind that either makes me upset, makes me really happy, makes me feel passionate about it. And i think i write songs about my feelings and whatever� s bothering me. Singing walking through the streets, children all asking for high fives and pin badges. It got me a bit emotional. Im representing wales and ynys mon here, it really got to me seeing all the flags of Different Countries and islands and stuff. And in the Evening Sun Everyone reflects on a busy week. I look back on how proud we all are. Different islands, but one big island together now because weve alljust got so much in common. Seven days of sport have drawn to a close. Theresjust time for one more family gathering. Id like to say to diolch, guernsey. Thank you, guernsey. Theyve given us a very good time here. And to be honest, id like to come back one day. I think its going to get stronger as the islands start to catch up. Weve had olympians competing. Theres fierce competition, but at the end of the day, i you can shake hands and the heat of competitions gone and the friendship remains. You see families being created, you see friendship getting stronger. Everybody wants to be seen. Everybody wants to be a part of something larger. They arrive as islanders representing their islands. They leave as international sportspeople. This really is the final goodbye before all these athletes return to their normal lives in their home islands. But after talking to people this week, its clear to me that theyll return with lasting memories of the friendly games. You try your best, you can achieve everything. Seeing so many people cheering for us, waving at people, sorry, i dont mean to do this on camera, but i wasm i was really blown away. Seriously blown away. Hello there. This upcoming week looks to be one of mixed fortunes. Were starting the week off with low pressure, much like we had over the weekend, but it could be really quite wet across england and wales in particular on monday. Then from tuesday onwards, High Pressure starts to build in. Thatll settle things down, itll turn drier and also warm up by the end of the week, but also turn more humid. And there is an increasing chance of showers or thunderstorms as low pressure tries to push in off the atlantic. Back to the here and now, though, monday looks pretty unsettled for england and wales. A cloudy, wet starts with the heaviest rain across wales. Northern england could see some localised flooding as this rain continues to move northwards and improvements across the rest of england and wales into the afternoon. Sunny spells, scattered showers and not a bad day for scotland and northern ireland. Fewer showers here, more in the way of sunshine, light winds here, but fresher across southern and southeastern areas. Those temperatures range from 18 23 degrees. And then as we head through monday night, that area of low pressure continues to pull out into the north sea. Many places will turn drier, one or two showers around, but lengthy, clear skies and temperatures range from 11 14 degrees. So as we head into tuesday, then were in between Weather Systems and higher pressure trying to build in. So a much better day for most areas. Certainly for england and wales on tuesday could just see the back edge of that low Pressure System Clipping east and scotland with stronger winds, outbreaks of rain. But that will clear away and into the afternoon. Many places will see sunny spells and just a few showers, mostly light, but the odd heavy one couldnt be ruled out. So it could be up to 22 or 24 degrees in the southeast with lighter winds, more sunshine. For wednesday, High Pressure sits on top of the country. Itll stay dry for most places and winds will be very light. So we could start off a little bit mist and fog, some low cloud central Northern Areas through the afternoon or therell be plenty of sunshine. There could still be an isolated shower through central and Northern Areas, but itll feel a little bit warmer at this point. We could be up to 25 degrees, the warmest spots of the south. And then thursday, friday, we see High Pressure to the east, lower pressure to the west. Thatll start to draw in some warm and humid air off the near continent on a southeasterly breeze. So it really will warm up across southern and eastern areas towards the end of the week. Could be the mid to high 20s, but there will be an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms moving in from the west. Welcome to newsday. Reporting live from singapore, im monica miller. The headlines appeals for more federal aid in hawaii after the death toll from wildfires there edges towards 100. Many people have lost everything. This hat was the only thing that made it of mine. Ijust recently started riding bulls, it was a big sign to me that i should keep doing what i want to do and keep pushing through no matter what. Pressure builds on rishi sunak over small boats crossing the channel after six deaths. Labour says people smugglers are Running Rings around government policy. And new zealand cracks down on disposable vapes to fight Skyrocketing Use among teenagers. Live from our studio in singapore, this is live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. Live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. Its live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. Its newsday. Welcome to the programme. We start in hawaii where volunteers helping communities recover from Deadly Wildfires have appealed for more federal aid. Local Relief Operations are trying to supply food, water and shelter for survivors. 93 people are now known to have died, but the governor of hawaii has
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