ISLAND GAMES 2011 - YES!

The Isle of Wight has won their bid to host the 2011 Island Games, after fighting off tough competition from Bermuda in the final two. The decision was made at the Annual General Meeting of the Island Games Association, which took place in Rhodes on Saturday 8th July.

The 25 member islands took the decision after receiving a dynamic presentation from the Isle of Wight team, led by David Ball and Keith Lane. The winning pitch included a video message from Lord Coe, Chairman of London 2012, who endorsed the Isle of Wight bid as a key milestone on the road to the Olympics.

The team will now return to the Isle of Wight to start preparing the plans and infrastructure for the Games with the Council. Over 3000 athletes are expected to participate in June / July 2011.

On hearing the result, Cllr Andy Sutton, the Leader of the Council, who spoke via the video message to the meeting in Rhodes, said: "This result is the culmination of months of hard work between the Council and the Isle of Wight Island Games Association.

"In our February budget we outlined half a million pounds of Council funding to be in place for 2011. This commitment was recognised by the Executive Committee of the Island Games Association as a sign of our solid support. We can now look forward to a return on this investment for the Island's economy, supporting our local regeneration and welcoming international sportsmen and women.

"With the backing of Lord Coe, the Games will make the Island a focus in the run up to London 2012, providing many opportunities for local children and young people to achieve sporting excellence."

Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council, Cllr Charles Chapman said: "I am delighted that we have been successful in our bid to host the 2011 Island Games. This is wonderful news for the Island and Island’s youth.

"I’d like to thank all the people who worked so hard on this bid to bring the games back here, in particular David Ball and Keith Lane. And I would like to extend the challenge of the 2011 Games to the young athletes of the Island as a goal to work towards, so that when the games come to the Island, Gold will be left behind.”

David Ball, Chairman of the Isle of Wight Island Games Association, who presented the successful bid, said: "The meeting gave a clear preference for our bid, and we are delighted to receive such a strong vote of confidence. It is now our task to put together a first class games to show the Isle of Wight off to the world and demonstrate our sporting commitment.

"I would like to thank the Council for their unswerving support, without which this result would never have been achieved. The strong endorsement from Lord Coe provided a final and crucial boost to our bid and we have invited him to open the Games in 2011."

Pictures from the result in Rhodes will be available shortly.