Dick Ekström

My area of responsibility during the NatWest Island Games XIII is:
President of the Organising Committee. I am also a member of the IGA EC for the period 2007-2009.

When I'm not involved in the Island games I work as:
Self-employed

In my spare time I like:
Being at sea, playing golf and badminton and, of course, being with my family and being involved in the Island Games.

Number of games I have participated in:
all of them

This is how I can sum up my entire career in the Island Games in this way:
In the autumn of 1984 I contacted Geoffrey Corlett on the Isle of Man, who arranged the first Island Games in history and asked if Åland could participate in 1985. And that is how it all started... I was the first president in Åland's Island Games organisation ÅIIO. I presented Åland at the first AGM on the Isle of Man and was elected member of the IGA EC. I presented Åland's bid at the AGM on Guernsey in 1987, which led to Åland hosting the Games in 1991 and I was president of the organising committee in 1991. I was elected vice-president on the Faroe Islands in 1989 and president on Åland in 1991, I was the first president to be elected for a second term in 1993 on the Isle of Wight and in 1995 I was elected Honorary Life Member of the IGA. In November 2004 I was elected president of the Åland Bid Committee, which together with Torsten Wikstrand, Terese Flöjt and Håkan Lindén which went on to create a winning bid and secured the Island Games in 2009.

My strongest memory from the Island Games:
From a sporting point of view it is Mikael Nordblom's victory in the first half marathon on the Isle of Man. The runners reached the finish in Villa Marina, right in the middle of the closing ceremony. It was a big thing to see an Åland runner break the finishing tape in front of all the Games participants. It was huge...

This is why the Island Games are important to me:
In sporting terms, it is important for Ålanders to be able to compete on a viable level and prove themselves. It is also a big thing to be able to compete under the Åland flag and as a gold medalist to hear the Åland national anthem. It is also important to create international contacts in an enjoyable way.

My area of responsibility during the NatWest Island Games XIII is:
President of the Organising Committee. I am also a member of the IGA EC for the period 2007-2009.

The reason why I want to get involved in the NatWest Island Games XIII is:
I am an Island Games addict!

My vision for the NatWest Island Games XIII is:
Our "business idea" is that "The NatWest Island Games 2009 will give all involved a great sporting experience of the highest quality surrounded by lively events". If we succeed in that I will be very happy.

What will make the NatWest Island Games XIII - Åland 2009 so special? What do you think the participants will remember the most when they go home?
Well-functioning arrangements - friendly Ålanders - great atmosphere.