Our islands need connections through the winter too

For children in Ios and the Cyclades, an away match on a neighbouring island begins long before kick-off. It begins with whether there is a ferry that can take them to the ground and bring them home.

The possibility of changes to Blue Star Ferries’ winter services raises understandable concern. Maintaining weekend connections between Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini is particularly important during the period from 1 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Information about possible changes remains subject to confirmation; the final timetable and its implications for island connections require official clarification.

For an island club, ferry connections are essential to taking part in competitions. Behind every journey are children who train, coaches who work with them, parents who organise their daily lives and people who contribute time and money to keep this effort going.

If the connections that allow squads to travel and return at weekends are reduced, staging matches could become extremely difficult or, in some cases, impossible. Extra overnight stays, higher costs and time away from school or work are significant concerns for our families and clubs.

Our islands need ferry services that keep sport alive through the winter. Children should be able to travel, compete and return home without every match becoming a difficult and prohibitively expensive undertaking. The effort made every day on playing fields across the Cyclades deserves support at sea as well.

We recognise the demands and difficulties of winter ferry operations. We ask for planning that also considers those who live on the islands throughout the year: families, workers and the younger generation. Their needs continue beyond the end of the tourist season.

For our children, sport means enjoyment, friendship, teamwork, effort and experiences that help them grow. Every feasible journey opens a path to those experiences.

Children on our islands deserve equal opportunities in sport. They need ferries that connect their efforts with the next playing field — and bring them home.