IOW get Coe's vote

SEB COE has backed the Isle of Wight's bid to host the 2011 NatWest Island Games. This is a major coup for the Solent isle as the Games Committee meet in Rhodes today to decide whether they or Bermuda get the Games in five years time. It is almost a year to the day that Lord Coe, Olympic gold medallist and London's Olympic Organising Committee chairman, was told of the successful bid for the capital to host the Olympic Games in 2012.

'We got Seb Coe on video giving us backing,' said Isle of Wight County Press sports editor John Hamon.

'David Ball, the chairman of the Isle of Wight Island Games committee went up to meet him in London. Coe mentioned that Kelly Sotherton, Darren Mew and Andy Frost all started out in our Island Games team.'

Isle of Wight-born Sotherton and Mew both represented Great Britain at the 2004 Athens Olympics in athletics and swimming respectively. Hammer thrower Frost is a rising star in British athletics. The 25-year-old has won a total of four gold medals in the event for the Isle of Wight in the Games, including the 2003 event in Guernsey.

The Isle of Wight had applied to hold the Games next year but lost out to Rhodes. According to Hamon, this dented their confidence over 2011.

'We're optimistic but not confident because we thought we had the Rhodes Games,' he said.

'Three councillors, the chairman of our Island Games committee and the vice-chairman have gone over for the vote. They are pinning their hopes on the costs for Bermuda.'

It was the financial issue of sending a team out to Bermuda that led to the delegates of Guernsey Island Games Association last week voting in favour of the Isle of Wight. Giga secretary, Roy Martel, will carry out his member's wishes at the IIGA's AGM this afternoon.

Hamon said that the Isle of Wight public are excited about the prospect of being given the Games and that they would appreciate Guernsey's support.

Since 1993, IOW has improved its sporting arenas and supporting facilities. A table tennis centre has been built near Ryde and there is a new centre of excellence for gymnastics.

'We've got all the infrastructure and facilities in place,' said Hamon.

Jersey delegates arrived in Rhodes undecided on which bid to support.