When I was a teenager, I saw a picture of the Grindadráp, the infamous whale and dolphin hunt in the Faroe Islands. That image has stayed with me ever since. Now, as an adult, I find myself compelled to act, especially knowing that athletes from the Isle of Man—our very own friends and family members—might have to travel to the Faroe Islands for the 2027 Island Games. These athletes have dedicated years of their lives to prepare for this event, and it's deeply unsettling to think about the potential impact on their mental health if they were to witness such a hunt firsthand.

The Grindadráp, a tradition in the Faroe Islands, involves the hunting of whales and dolphins. The blubber and meat from these hunts are sold in shops, restaurants, and homes across the islands. Imagine the jarring experience for our athletes, whose values might starkly oppose these practices, to see these products on display, or worse, to witness a grind take place during their stay.

The Grindadrap was once used by the Faroese ancestors as a means of survival, it is called a tradition yet they use modern equipment to kill pilot whales in large numbers, research shows that pilot whales are sentient, they stay in family pods for life, traditions just like research can evolve towards a more compassionate future.

We need to prioritize the mental wellbeing of our athletes. The possibility of encountering such distressing sights and experiences could be detrimental to their mental health, affecting their performance, their perspective, and their overall experience of the games.

Additionally, the practices in the Faroe Islands do not align with our values or our love for the resident dolphins moonlight & starlight in our surrounding water. How would we feel if our athletes had to witness this, when they have trained so hard to represent us in a positive light?

By refusing to allow the Faroe Islands to host the 2027 Island Games, we send a clear message: we care more about our shared values of compassion and environmental respect than about convenience or tradition.

Join me in this effort. Let's demand that the rightful bodies reconsider the host location for the 2027 Island Games. Sign this petition to protect our athletes and uphold the values we hold dear in the Isle of Man. Your signature can make a difference.