Insurance
All competitors, officials and supporters are strongly advised to take out private medical insurance to the cover the possibility of a lengthy treatment being needed or emergency air transport to their country of origin.

Within EU countries are regulations for travel arrangers and insurance under the "Council Directive of June 13, 1990 on package travel, package holidays and packing tours, (90/324/EEC)".

Sweden, as a member of EU, has agreements concerning health and hospital care with all countries belonging to EU. We have also special agreements with the Scandinavian countries. For those outside EU (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) there are no agreements.

It is very important for all Islands to find out what kind of insurance your team need for your travel to and visit on Gotland next year. All information about health care during the Games has been given to you in Newsletter no. 6. You can also find that information at our website:

www.gotlandweb.com/islandgames

December 26th is the latest date to register
There is less than 200 days left to the start of NatWest Island Games 1999 and it is high time to think about registering. The registration should be in latest Dec. 26, this year, enclosed together with a registration fee of £200 per sport registered.

Individual registrations should be in by April 26, of which we will send out in plenty of time before the deadline.

Regarding Accommodation bookings
Nearly all the islands, except for some, have done their advance bookings. We will therefore remind the Islands who have not done so, to, as soon as possible, rectify this with Gotlandsresor, our own travel agency (official sponsor supplier). Another suggestion is to use the brochure we sent out earlier or the website.

We would like to stress, also, that we would like only one person representing each Island to make the bookings. It creates great problems and confusion for the travel agency if several bookings come from different sports from every Island.

Gotlandsresor AB
Bookings: +46 498 20 12 60
Fax: +46 498 20 12 70.
Address: Färjeleden 3, SE-621 58 Visby, Sweden
E-mail: bokningen@gotlandsresor.se
Internet: www.gotlandsresor.se

Changes in the Programme
As most have already taken note, there will be no competitions with Practical Pistol. As it is such a small event in shooting here on Gotland, there wasn’t a possibility for the few functionaries to even contemplate on such a extensive arrangement.

There is a change in the programme for Black Powder as well, when the Walkyria, that was planned to compete on Sunday is cancelled. The Walkyria, which was classified in one lady’s division, was not approved by the Executive Commission according to the Constitution. Instead there will be training all of Sunday.

There seems to be a comprehension confusion when dealing with Black Powder as well, and we will send out the effective International Regulations to the Islands registering in the event.

First registrations from Greenland
Greenland, the first Island registering Gotland next year with an estimated unit of 81 participants. They will be competing in Badminton, Table Tennis, Football (men’s), Athletics and Volleyball (both men’s and ladies).

Besides them, there will be an additional 20 people from their Greenland Sport Association, Grönlands Hjemmestyre (Greenland’s Local Government) plus their media representatives.

Click here to se a map of the Member Islands.

Season Greetings

Merry Christmas
&
a Happy New Year!

Bääärtil becomes a stamp

In collaboration with Wisby Mail, a series consisting of ten different Bääärtil stamps will be issued. They will be on sale from 16 November.

"Island Games and Island Post are a natural combination!" says Håkan Malmros at Wisby Mail.

The original idea comes from Bosse Eriksson of Gotland Web. He tried to get the Swedish Post Office to issue stamps for the NatWest Island Games 1999. The proposal was considered by the Post Office Board, but in late spring the Managing Director of the Post Office, Ulf Dahlsten, announced that no stamps would be issued.

At most previous Island Games, stamps have been produced in collaboration with the national post distributor, to the delight of the Island Games participants and supporters as well as philatelists.

When the Post Office said no, the question was passed to Wisby Mail, who immediately leapt at the chance. "A fantastic idea, the Island Games, and great fun. Unfortunately, not everyone has understood what a big thing this is. In addition, Bääärtil is a very suitable subject for stamps, and it is great to be able to issue a series of ten different motifs," says Håkan Malmros.

The first impression will comprise 120,000 local postage stamps, at a value of SEK 3.05. Håkan believes there will be great interest among collectors all over the world this time. People outside Gotland who would like to order the stamps can do so via the Wisby Mail website. Besides stamps you can also buy first-day covers (postmarked 16 November 1998) and ordinary cancelled covers.

It is difficult to see the whether the sporting lamb is male or female, so it could just as easily be Bääärta performing on the stamps.

Susanne Gustafsson, information officer for the NatWest Island Games, says: "We are very satisfied with the arrangement and the opportunity to reach almost all Gotlanders and market the Island Games over a period of almost nine months. We hope this will help to involve Gotlanders, sponsors, volunteers, and functionaries in the biggest and most international sporting event ever held in Gotland."

The drawings of Bääärtil are by:
Tina Gustafsson, Sundbyberg.
The originals for the stamps are by :
Katarina Hage, Klintehamn
The stamps are printed by:
Snabba Tryck, Visby.

To order stamps: www.wisbymail.se

Falkland Islanders are coming to Gotland
The remotest Island within Island Games Organisation, Falkland Islands, have made their intention known, they’re coming to Gotland next summer. It is estimated that a group of about 25 sports persons will be competing in Athletics, Badminton, Golf, Shooting and Swimming.

The group will fly first to London, (8000 miles) from there continuing on to Gotland. The travel expenses will be about £1000, so it’s going to be a costly trip for them. We extend them a big welcome.

Click here to se a map of the Member Islands.

For further information please contact:
Organising Committee NatWest Island Games 1999

Homepage: http://www.gotlandweb.com/islandgames
e-mail:
islandgames@bigfoot.com

Address:
Neptungatan 4, SE-621 41 Visby, Sweden
Telephone:
+46-498-20 70 71, 20 70 74
Telefax:
+46-498-21 54 74

Newsletter
is distribuated by Gotland NatWest Island Games 1999 Organising Committee. Next issuse: 27/1/99

Legally responsible editor
Susanne Gustafsson,
Information Officer