RGU Produces Official Impact Report on Orkney 2025 Island Games
A major new report led by RGU has revealed the significant economic, social and cultural impact of the Orkney 2025 International Island Games, the largest event ever hosted by Orkney.
The official impact report was produced by Andy Golightly, PhD student at Aberdeen Business School and a member of the RGU Orkney team, in collaboration with Games organisers. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the week‑long sporting event, which took place in July 2025 and brought together 1,630 athletes from 24 island communities worldwide, competing across 12 sports.
Orkney 2025 marked a milestone in the 40‑year history of the Island Games, with Orkney becoming the smallest island community ever to host the event. The Games attracted substantial visitor numbers, with 4,369 spectators travelling to Orkney and cumulative attendance across all events reaching 63,336.
Using recognised eventIMPACT methodology, the report estimates that the Games generated £4.3 million for the local economy, through visitor and athlete expenditure. Of the £3.7 million event budget, more than £2.4 million was spent with local Orkney suppliers, highlighting the strong local economic benefit of the Games.
Community engagement was central to the Games’ success. A total of 1,027 volunteers supported the event, 885 of whom were Orkney residents, demonstrating local involvement and civic pride. The Games also stimulated investment of over £1 million in infrastructure, equipment and skills development, contributing to longer‑term legacy benefits for the islands.
The report also highlights the cultural impact of Orkney 2025. A programme of original creative projects—including music, writing, sculpture and design—enabled the local community to engage with and respond to the Games, celebrating Orkney’s identity, produce and people. This inclusive cultural programme broadened participation and encouraged reflection on the shared values and experiences of island communities.
Gordon Deans, Chairman of Orkney 2025 said “The Orkney 2025 Organising Committee placed great importance on having the support of Andy and Robert Gordon University in producing this comprehensive report. RGU’s academic expertise, independent approach and use of recognised methodologies ensured the findings were robust, credible and meaningful for Orkney and its stakeholders. This partnership has been invaluable in helping to capture the full economic, social and cultural significance of the Island Games, while providing an evidence base to inform future event planning and legacy development in island communities.”
The report forms the first phase of a larger PhD project. The second phase will critically reflect on the methods of measurement used and explore the role of place, identity, and islandness in shaping event experiences and legacy in island communities, with the aim to develop a new evaluation framework for events.
It also supports RGU Orkney and its objective to strengthen research and knowledge exchange that addresses local challenges and opportunities.
Nick Fyfe, Vice Principal Research and Regional Engagement at RGU said: “We were delighted to work in partnership with the Orkney 2025 Games Organising Committee by sponsoring a PhD Studentship to evaluate the economic, social and environmental impact of the Games in Orkney. Through the creation of the report, Andy has done a remarkable job, compiling extensive evidence and insight to develop a robust body of work that will inform future decision-making and help strengthen the long-term legacy of the Games.
"Developed in close collaboration with the Orkney 2025 team, this initiative was shaped by a clear understanding of where RGU could bring the greatest value to the event – supporting local aspirations while also establishing a robust model for future collaborative doctoral research in Orkney”.
A copy of the full impact report and a summary is available from the link below.
