Sports
Saint-Martin won a relay bronze at its first Jeux des Îles in 2023
Saint-Martin sent 47 athletes in five disciplines to its first Jeux des Îles, held in Corsica from 23 to 27 May 2023, and came home with a bronze medal in an athletics relay and a basketball win over Corsica, Faxinfo reported.
By SXM Daily ·
Reported 5 June 2023.
Saint-Martin competed at the Jeux des Îles, a multi-sport competition between island territories, for the first time in May 2023, and returned from the 25th edition in Corsica with a bronze medal, Faxinfo reported.
The delegation
According to Faxinfo, 47 athletes from Saint-Martin took part in five disciplines from 23 to 27 May 2023, after only two months of intensive training. The delegation returned to the island on 29 May.
The team won a bronze medal in an athletics relay, and the basketball team beat Corsica, Faxinfo reported. Saint-Martin athletes also recorded fourth- and sixth-place finishes in athletics and an eighth place in gymnastics.
Lessons for the future
The results fell short of some athletes' hopes, Faxinfo noted, but the experience of facing competitors from other territories was expected to help the teams improve. The Centre d'Excellence par l'Éducation et le Sport (CEES) said it would hold a debrief with coaches to identify areas for improvement, adding that the island's young athletes had talent and deserved quality support.
Sardinia won the 25th edition with 57 points, ahead of Corsica (39) and the Canary Islands (34), with Martinique fourth on 29 points, according to Faxinfo. The 2024 edition was to be held in Sardinia.
Sources
Source: https://www.faxinfo.fr/jeux-des-iles-2023-une-experience-riche-pour-saint-martin/