However, Steve Jacobs believes that scenario is unlikely due to the easing nature of Covid-19 restrictions and he admits the size of next year’s event could even trump that staged here in 2015.
Jacobs, chairman of the Island Games Association of Jersey, says the Caesarean team for 2021 could be as large as it has ever been for an away Games – potentially exceeding 250 – and total athlete numbers are on course to surpass the 3,000-mark seen five years ago.
‘Everyone wants the competition next year,’ he said. ‘Everyone wants a bit of good news.
‘If there’s any delay like they’ve had with the Olympics it might have to be cancelled altogether because you wouldn’t put it on a year that mixes with the Commonwealth Games [2022].
‘We have sent an email in the last few weeks asking sports to reconfirm interest and some of them have in fact put more in. There are a couple of shooting disciplines, like smallbore rifle, that aren’t included, which is a disappointment, but we’re currently looking at 254 and that’s as big as we’ve had. I don’t think there are any sports at the moment who are sending a smaller team.’
He added: ‘To be honest, the way it’s fallen, if this virus had gone on much longer there would be a problem. It would be something for the islands’ medical officers to decide on and for the moment everyone has taken the view that it’s far enough ahead. And it’s no good second-guessing now anyway. If it happens again we won’t be able to go but we’ve just got to stay positive. It is likely that next year’s Games will be as big as Jersey [2015] or even bigger.’
