Falkland Islands: Sports, songs and farewells

Over the last two days our group has had a chance to learn something about the cultural and sports scenes on the Islands. A wide variety of sports are played here including cricket, badminton, archery, golf and ball hockey.

Governor Nigel Haywood explained that the development of sports in the Falkland Islands is very important for building community, promoting physical fitness as well as projecting the Islands internationally. Athletes from the Falkland Islands have competed in many international competitions including the Commonwealth Games, the Island Games and the Falklands is one of the top three countries in the world in Sheep Shearing competitions.

Our group had the chance to meet with Marcus Morrison goalkeeper of the Stanley Penguins ball hockey team and member of the Falkland Islands national hockey team which has recently affiliated itself with the World Ball Hockey Federation and will be competing in next year’s World Championships in Canada. Good luck guys!

On Wednesday evening our group received a special treat which was a private concert by the legendary Falkland Island rock band the Fighting Pigs. For four decades the Pigs have been a musical institution here on the Falklands and our journalists were delighted that the band offered to reform after an almost two year hiatus to give them a special concert at the Trough club.

Opening the show was the very talented singer/songwriter Dae Peck who impressed us all with her original song Proud to be in the Falklands.

On our last day we went to the Island’s TV station, where our journalists had the chance to be interviewed about their visit. We also met people working at a local primary school, a journalist and some islanders who told us what it is like to live here, and how much they wish to know more about Latin America and to live in peace as good neighbours.

Thanks to all that made possible this visit and of course, to our journalists from Central America that joined us in this amazing trip.  We’ll be posting more information about the visit, video blogs and links to the stories that the journalists are going to produce.

See you soon!