Utmost Worldwide, part of Utmost International, is continuing its ongoing support of the Guernsey Island Games Association (GIGA), with two more bursaries awarded to Guernsey’s badminton and cycling teams.
The Utmost Worldwide bursaries have been continuously awarded on a rotational basis in the hope that each of the island’s 18 teams will have received the funding twice by the end of the company’s current sponsorship of the Guernsey Team due to end in 2021.
The bursary funding supports the teams in numerous ways, from purchasing new kit and equipment to paying for travel away for competitions or bringing guest coaches to the island. Both teams will be using the bursary money to help fund their athletes’ new kit for the next Island Games. As each athlete is responsible for funding all of their games expenses from travel to accommodation and kit, this funding will help take some of the monetary pressure off the athletes allowing them to focus more time on their training.
Leon Steyn, Chief Executive Officer, Utmost Worldwide in Guernsey, said: “Sport is at the heart of Guernsey and it’s fantastic to be able to support each team with these bursaries. We know that a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes in all our sports clubs and we’re delighted to hear how our funding assists with coaching and community sessions that benefit islanders who enjoy sport at all levels”.
Brian Allen, Chairman of the Guernsey Island Games Association, commented: “There is no doubt that these bursaries help the island’s sports to thrive. From replacing kit and funding coaches to supporting initiatives that encourage people to have a go, the funds make an impact that will benefit the clubs for years to come”.
Utmost Worldwide is committed to sponsoring GIGA until 2021 when Guernsey hopes to host the XIX NatWest Island Games and the company is also a Guernsey 2021 Games sponsor.