Falkland Islands Government（https://www.gov.fk/）
Contact us（https://www.gov.fk/contact-us/）
Home（https://www.gov.fk/）
About（https://www.gov.fk/about/）
About the Falkland Islands（https://www.gov.fk/about/）
Visiting the Falkland Islands（https://www.gov.fk/visiting-the-falkland-islands/）
Local Organisations（https://www.gov.fk/local-organisations/）
FIG Press Releases（https://www.gov.fk/press/）
Communications and media（https://www.gov.fk/communications-and-media/）
Contact us（https://www.gov.fk/contact-us/）
Job Opportunities（https://www.gov.fk/working-in-the-falkland-islands/）
Relocate to the Falklands（https://thinkfalklands.com/）
Local Recruitment（https://www.gov.fk/humanresources/fig-job-opportunities/）
Overseas Recruitment（https://www.jobs.gov.fk/）
Services（https://www.gov.fk/services）
Published in Press Statement（https://www.gov.fk/press/category/press/）
National Sports Complex – official opening
9 November 2026, 5:22pm
Share:
FALKLAND ISLANDS GOVERNMENT
PRESS STATEMENT
9 November 2026
National Sports Complex – official opening
The Falkland Islands Government and National Sports Council are proud to announce the official opening of the Falkland Islands’ new National Sports Complex, tomorrow, Tuesday 10 November, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Attending VIPs from the world of sport include Katie Sadlier, CEO of Commonwealth Sport, and Andrew Inkster, Chair of the Island Games Association.
Other international sporting VIPs have offered their congratulations to the Falklands and the Sports Council on this long-awaited boost to provision for the Islands’ sporting community.
Lord Moynihan, Olympic rowing silver medallist and Chair of the British Olympic Association for London 2012, said “nothing could give me greater pleasure than learning of the new national sports facility there. What’s particularly impressive is it’s going to cover so many sports – and there’s already so much sporting activity in the Falklands. So this is a very special occasion for me, it’s a special occasion for the BOA, and I congratulate you all.”
Asanka Gurusinha, Sri Lankan World Cup-winning cricketer in 1996, expressed how impressed he was “that you have built a cricket pitch as well. Infrastructure plays a major part in the development of sport, and this investment will support all athletes to perform better and to have a dream to achieve their goals. I hope one day I can visit this beautiful place and see it for myself.”
Baroness Davies of Devonport, Olympic silver medallist and Commonwealth Games champion swimmer, offered her “many congratulations on your fantastic new sports complex in the Falkland Islands. What a brilliant thing that you’ve done. Young people need sport more than ever, we need to look after ourselves, we need to have fun, we need to get off our mobile phones. I wish you all the best.”
Sophie Kurzman, emerging Jackaroo with Australian bowls, competed alongside the Falklands earlier this year in Australia: “Opening up facilities like this and supporting their athletes is one of the most fundamental things a country can do for its athletes and itself. So a huge, heartfelt congratulations.”
Brigadier Charlie Harmer, Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, said he had “had the privilege of playing sport in lots of places, but to be able to play here, at the National Sports Complex, is a huge privilege for me, and indeed for the rest of my forces, be they Army, Navy or Royal Air Force. For us to have a chance to be a part of this community and continue to support the development of Falkland Islands sport is very, very important to us.
Numerous young Falkland Islanders competing overseas and at the national level have also sent messages of congratulation back to Stanley.
The National Sports Complex is a joint project between FIG, the National Sports Council, and private sponsors. Five and a half years in the making, it represents the first major investment in Falklands sporting facilities since the construction of the Stanley Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool some 30 years ago, with the long-term strategies of ensuring sport for all, achieving sporting excellence, and safeguarding and strengthening sport.
Chair of the National Sports Council, Mike Summers OBE, said “the creation of the National Sports Complex has already enabled additional developments like the cricket pitch and the archery Gold Centre. The 3G floodlit pitch already delivers significant enhancements in junior football participation, overall skill levels and the introduction of touch rugby. We look forward with huge anticipation to the use of the new sports hall to provide opportunities in a wide range of existing and new sporting activities, and providing a key focus for community development. Whilst enhancements to sports assets and outcomes has been our primary driver, this development also offers significant opportunities to those who manage the health of the Falklands population, with exercise tailored to all ages and abilities, and to all sectors of society. This is a major investment in sport, but most important of all it is an investment in our community.”
Steve Dent, FIG’s Director of Development and Commercial Services, said he was “absolutely delighted to see the National Sports Complex opening its doors.