Twenty four years after the Island Games were launched in the Isle of Man, another edition of this unique and, in many people's opinion, underestimated sporting festival gets underway today in Mariehamm, the only town in this Swedish-speaking region of Finland which consists of 6,700 little known islands with a population of just 27,000.

And while those statistics alone should pique the interest of every one of Bermuda's 100-strong contingent, there will be other matters to attend to when competition gets underway in earnest tomorrow.

Yet, while boosting the medal haul will be the major objective of those taking part in nine different sports, there are some who have travelled with the Bermuda squad who will embark on a completely separate mission ¿ such as garnering information on what is required to host an event which, this year, has attracted 3,700 competitors.

When Bermuda stage the same Games in four years' time, that figure might have swelled to more than 4,000 and chairman of the 2013 organising committee, former Belco chief Garry Madeiros, wants to ensure his own island will be up to the task.

For the past two days he's been talking to Aland organisers and visiting the various venues. While impressed with what he's seen, he's in no two minds that Bermuda will prove to be the perfect hosts.

"Basically, I'm here on a fact-finding mission," said Madeiros.

"I want to see first-hand what it takes to organise these Games.

"There's no question that we can hold these Games. Facilities will not be a problem. And we want to ensure that we will be prepared. I think we will.

"But the combination of organising and providing the right facilities will be a challenge. I'm well aware of that."

Chairman of the Bermuda Island Games committee, Jon Beard, is of the same opinion and hopeful that by the time 2013 comes around, the biennial event will have grown in stature.

"People are getting a much greater understanding of the Games," said Beard who has travelled to the last three Games.

"I'm pleased that people such as Garry and Phil Guishard (Bermuda Olympic Association general secretary) are here to see what these Games can do.

"This is a great competition for finding your level. If you can't be successful in these Games, you need to be looking at your programme again. This is what these Games are all about."

If he has one regret, it's that Bermuda's team in Aland is much smaller than previous contingents.

"We wish we could have come here with a bigger team. We have no tennis team this time, no football team, no women's basketball team and that's a pity because those teams would have done very well.

"But it's up to each different governing body to do what they feel is best for their sport.

"Football is rejigging itself. This just didn't fit in with what they wanted at this time.

"Tennis wanted to go to the Caribbean Games which, unfortunately, has been cancelled, as did Bermuda Track and Field Association.

"But I've had a long chat with the BTFA and as we go forward I hope they can use this as a good tool for their development."

With a reduced squad, Beard says the Bermuda team have set no target in terms of medals.

"At the last Games we were looking to finish in the top three. That's not possible this time.

"Guernsey are bringing in over 200 athletes, Gibraltar over 230. Those are numbers that we don't have. They're in all of the sports and we're not.

"I think the gymnasts will do very well and the swimmers. The women's volleyball team and men's basketball team will be looking to medal. Anything else will be gravy."

When the action begins tomorrow, sailors - Brett Wright, Malcolm Smith, Rockal Evans and Sarah Lane Adderley, as well as boardsailor Alex Jones - will compete in two races, the track and field athletes face morning heats and evening finals, while the basketball team will play Cayman, and the men's volleyball team play Gibraltar and the women's volleyball team take on Rhodes.