Sponsorship of the local Association and Team Jersey for both the 2008 Youth Games and the XIXth Commonwealth Games in 2010

Introduction

The Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey (CGAJ) is planning to send a team to both the 3rd Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, near Mumbai, India in 2008 and to the XIXth Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.

Team Jersey for both of these events will include the Island's most elite ‘athletes' and members will only being finally included in the Team after a most rigorous selection process having satisfied the CGAJ Validation Group that they have achieved the approved qualifying standards within their sport. The Commonwealth Games is the ultimate stage for Jersey 's best competitors and provides opportunities for all team members to realise a lifetime dream and ambition.

A key role of the local Association is ‘to represent and promote the best interests of Jersey sport at Commonwealth Games level and to work with the governing bodies and others as appropriate to create and maintain the infrastructure which will ensure that the Jersey Team, at the Games, has attained a suitable standard; is as well prepared as possible and to provide the leadership and support which will allow competitors to achieve their maximum potential at the Games'. For the Association to achieve this objective and to ensure that members of Team Jersey fulfil their potential and perform at their best at the Games, it is essential that the support of local sponsors is secured to help off-set the cost of training, clothing and equipment, and travel costs to events in the build-up to the Games.

The 3rd Commonwealth Youth Games – October 2008 – Pune, India

These Games are still in their embryonic stage but have already proved to provide an invaluable step in the development of young elite athletes. Athletes must be 18 and under at the time of the Opening Ceremony of the Games. The CGAJ took a party of 7 competitors covering the sports of athletics, cycling and swimming, to the 2 nd Youth Games in 2004 in Bendigo , Australia. They returned with a gold and silver medal in swimming and two bronze medals in athletics. It is anticipated that Team Jersey for the 2008 Youth Games will be larger but this will depend on the final list of approved sports for those Games.

The XIXth Commonwealth Games – October 2010 – New Delhi, India

The CGAJ has sent a team of its best ‘athletes' to Commonwealth Games events since 1958 and sent its largest team ever (i.e. 35 competitors and 16 support staff) to the 2006 Games in Melbourne last March. Team Jersey received high praise both for their performances and for their behaviour both on and off the field of play during their stay in Melbourne and have returned with high expectations for future Games. It is the aim of the Association's Officers to keep the team together and to add other potential team members in supporting training programmes for all of these elite performers. This can only be achieved with the help of local sponsorship both in the 4 year build-up to the Games and in the final stages prior to the arrival in New Delhi in October 2010 when it is hoped that Team Jersey will, once again, be well-represented in most of the 12 individual sports within the 15 sports programme.

If you have any queries or would be interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Alan Cross on 01534 742254 or email across@cgajersey.org.uk