MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' annual reception in London celebrates the Islands' sporting culture
Roberts said the event allowed her to meet with members of parliament and peers from the United Kingdom, as well as with members of the diplomatic community and the sporting sector The Falkland Islands government held its annual parliamentary reception in London on Tuesday, an event that brought together some 200 guests and was dedicated to the role of sport in the archipelago's community life, ahead of the Commonwealth Games that begin next month in Glasgow. The gathering took place on the Terrace Pavilion of the House of Commons.
Among those attending were Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly member Cheryl Roberts and the Island government's chief executive, Andrea Clausen. Speeches were delivered by the Falkland Islands Government Representative to the UK and Europe, Richard Hyslop; the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Falkland Islands, MP Peter Dowd; the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard; the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Nigel Huddlestone; and Roberts herself.
Speakers highlighted the Islands' sporting activity, which spans more than twenty disciplines, among them hockey, football and shearing. As part of the reception, ten jerseys from sports teams in the archipelago, organized by the National Sports Council, were displayed to show the variety of local participation. The Falklands will compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, scheduled from July 23 to August 2, which will bring together about 74 nations and territories.
Roberts said the event allowed her to meet with members of parliament and peers from the United Kingdom, as well as with members of the diplomatic community and the sporting sector. “These occasions are valuable for the Falklands in maintaining and strengthening the relationships we have in the United Kingdom and beyond,” she said, thanking Westminster for its “long-standing and broad cross-party support,” and noting the role of youth representatives and sponsors.
Hyslop, for his part, said the Islands have “a hugely proud and rich history of sporting endeavour and achievement,” and that the reception allowed that culture to be celebrated with the Games approaching. He added that the event again underlined the cross-party support the Falklands enjoy in the British Parliament, and mentioned that the Islanders' right to self-determination and the territory's economic development were among the topics of conversation during the evening.
The Falklands, a British Overseas Territory located in the South Atlantic, are financially and self-governing, while the United Kingdom handles their defense and foreign affairs. The annual reception at Westminster has become a regular occasion to strengthen the archipelago's ties with British politics and society.
