SSEN Transmission Champions Scottish Island Athletes at Orkney 2025 Island Games

Image: Team Orkney - Team Orkney athletes and officials pictured outside St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall

• Supporting athletes from all three Scottish island teams – Team Orkney, Team Shetland and Team Western Isles

SSEN Transmission is proud to announce its sponsorship of athletes from Team Orkney, Team Shetland and Team Western Isles - making it the only company backing all three Scottish teams competing at the 2025 International Island Games in Orkney.

With around 500 athletes from across Scotland’s island communities preparing to take part, this sponsorship represents a significant commitment to grassroots sport and community pride.

The International Island Games is a biennial celebration of sport, culture and island identity, will see teams from across the globe gather in Orkney this summer - making this one of the most exciting sporting events in Scotland’s calendar.

Image: Team Shetland - Staff from SSEN Transmission join Team Shetland athletes and officials to mark the company’s sponsorship of the team in this year’s International Island Games.

The partnership reflects SSEN Transmission’s dedication to the communities where it is currently delivering three major electricity transmission projects. By supporting local athletes on the international stage, the company hopes to give back in a meaningful way to the islands that play such a vital role in Scotland’s energy future.

Christianna Logan, Customers and Stakeholders Director for SSEN Transmission said:
“We’re very proud to be supporting these talented athletes as they represent their islands and their communities on the international stage. We recognise the huge pride and passion the Island Games inspire, and we’re honoured to play a part in helping these teams go for gold.

“With our own teams currently maintaining, building and developing new electricity transmission projects in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, we’re proud to be part of these island communities and wanted to get behind the Scottish island athletes competing in this year’s Orkney 2025 games. We wish them all the very best of luck and success.”

Image: Team Western Isles - Team Western Isles athletes Eric Macleod, Kyla McMurdo, Luke Morrison and Natalie Campbell are gearing up for this year's Island Games.

The sponsorship will contribute towards travel, accommodation, training and kit - ensuring athletes can focus on competition and camaraderie as they prepare to welcome the world to Orkney.

Ross Donaldson, Team Manager for Team Orkney 2025, said:
“Anticipation is building here for the arrival of the Island Games, which promises to be an exciting moment for Orkney and especially for our Team Orkney athletes who have been training hard in preparation.

“We’re delighted that SSEN Transmission is sponsoring the team and grateful for its support that is helping us take part in this year’s competition. We know the company has also made efforts to reduce the number of staff working in Orkney during Island Games week to free up travel and accommodation space, which underlines its commitment towards supporting the wider event.

“As the host island it’s an especially proud moment for all of us involved in Team Orkney, and we look forward to welcoming our fellow competitors from across the world while aiming for success on home soil.”

Lesley Hutchison, Chair of Shetland Island Games Association, said:
“We’re pleased to have SSEN Transmission backing Team Shetland at this year’s Island Games in Orkney. We’re incredibly grateful for the company’s sponsorship, which helps with our costs so that our competitors can focus more on their training and preparations.”

Iain ‘GG’ Campbell, Western Isles Team Manager for Orkney Island Games 2025 said: “We are delighted to have support from SSEN Transmission for this year’s Games in Orkney. The funding is helping young people across the Western Isles to access this elite standard multi-sport event.”

Image: Team Western Isles - SSEN Transmission is one of the sponsors of Team Western Isles at this year's Island Games.

SSEN Transmission’s ongoing work in the north of Scotland includes key infrastructure upgrades that will help unlock Scotland’s renewable energy potential - ensuring a greener and more connected future for generations to come. 

With major projects to build transmission infrastructure in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles either underway or in development, these initiatives will help to unlock each island’s vast renewable energy potential, enhancing energy security while also supporting local jobs and community benefits too. 

The Orkney 2025 International Island Games will take place from 12-18 July across the Orkney Islands in Scotland. The games will bring together over 2,000 athletes from 24 island groups around the world to compete in 12 sports, including athletics, football, swimming, cycling, and triathlon.