26 June 1998

On Friday 26 June 1998 it is exactly one year until the ceremonial opening of the Island Games on Gotland. To mark this occasion, we will arrange an event in connection with a march through Visby on that day by the band Gotlandsmusiken.

"The starting signal – 365 days to go", as we have chosen to call the event, will take the following form:

Together with Gotlandsmusiken, one representative of each of the 14 participating sports will march, carrying a sign with the name of the sport. The parade will be headed by two standard-bearers, one with the flag of the Gotland Sports Federation, one with the Island Games flag. Behind the standard-bearers there will be one or two participants carrying a sign saying "365 days to go until the Island Games 1999".

During the march through Visby the procession will stop at various places.

When we reach Östercentrum, the band will stop and play a piece of music. While they are playing, the standard-bearers and the others will march to the front and form a semicircle around a podium where the chairman of the Gotland Sports Federation and chairman of the organising committee, Lars Hammarström, will receive them and make a short speech. He will conclude by firing a starting shot, after which the person carrying the Island Games flag will walk up to a flagpole where the flag will be hoisted. When the flag is flying at the top of the pole, the band will play a fanfare, which will conclude our part of the event.

The band will then continue its concert.

In connection with the event there will be a press conference by special invitation.

Best regards