Athletics

Athletics is one of the cornerstones of the Island Games. At the 2027 Betri International Island Games competitions will be held in all standard events except for pole vault and race walking.

Competition Format

Athletics will take place over six days with two competition sessions each day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Track events include:
100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5,000m, 10,000m, 3000m steeplechase, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay.

Field events include: high jump, long jump, triple jump, javelin, shot put, discus, and hammer throw.

Road event: half marathon.

Venue

Athletics will take place at the newly renovated Tórsbreyt in the capital Tórshavn. The half marathon is expected to be run in and around the city. With a modern and updated competition venue the Faroe Islands aim to provide an experience that meets international standards – for athletes, coaches and spectators alike.

Useful Information

The athletics competitions will be conducted in accordance with IIGA rules.

A warm-up area will be available nearby and scheduled training sessions on the track will ensure smooth coordination between training and competition.

Athletics in the Faroe Islands

Athletics includes a wide range of disciplines. In the Faroe Islands athletics became properly organised in 1986 following the first Island Games the year before. The Games sparked a strong interest in the sport.

Facilities have steadily improved since then. Ahead of the 1989 Island Games in the Faroe Islands the sports complex at Svangaskarð was developed. Later, the athletics stadium Tórsbreyt in Tórshavn and a track in Klaksvík were added, and facilities in other parts of the country have also been upgraded.

Athletics became its own sports federation in 2002 under the name Frælsur Ítróttur Føroya (FÍF). Today there are six member clubs: Bragdið, Frælsi, Hvirlan, Hvistan, Roysnið and Treysti.

Athletics has developed to such a level in the Faroe Islands that for many athletes the Island Games are no longer the ultimate goal. Increasingly they are setting their sights on European Championships, World Championships, and the Olympics – though under the Danish flag.