Isle of Wight takes Games baton

The countdown to the 2011 International Island Games on the Isle of Wight has officially begun following the end of the 2009 competition.

The biannual event is one of the largest in the world behind the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

The 13th Island Games, which involved 25 islands, ended on Sunday on the Finnish island of Aland.

The Isle of Wight finished eleventh in the medal table with four gold medals, six silvers and eight bronzes.

The gold medals were claimed by Andy Frost in the hammer, Helen Davis in the women's javelin, triple jumper Matthew Barton and Thomas Wade in the 3,000 metre steeplechase.

Steve Beynon, Isle of Wight Council chief executive, said: "Once again the Isle of Wight has demonstrated it has some top sporting talent.

"We now have the honour of hosting the games in 2011 in the year before the Olympics take place in London.

"Preparations are well under way and we're already looking forward to the 2011 games being the best and biggest yet."