Bermuda's athletes will face competition from 25 different Islands from around the world when the NatWest Island Games begin in Aland on Saturday.

The competition, which runs until July 4, will see 99 competitors from Bermuda taking part in a variety of events.

This will be the 13th time the Games have been held since their inception on the Isle of Man in 1985 and the second time the small Finnish island has been the host. Åland is the main island in an archipelago of 6,500 islands between Finland and Sweden.

Some of the islands taking part, such as St Helena and Falklands, are so remote that their teams had to set off on their long journey to the Games more than a week before Saturday's opening ceremony.

The Games themselves will consist of 14 different sports in a competition that will last eight days at venues all across the Island.

The local contingent will represent the Island in archery, athletics, basketball, golf, gymnastics, sailing, shooting, swimming and volleyball.

Among those making the trek to the Games will be a lot of youngsters looking to make a name for themselves early in their fledgling career.

The gymnastics team, led by captain Hannah King, will be looking to defend their 2007 crown while the basketball team will be looking to take back their 2005 crown after surrendering it the last go round to Menorca.

The local volleyball side will also look to try and continue their rich vein of form that saw them beat their Caribbean counterparts on their amazing run in the early qualifying stages for 2010 World Championships to be held in Japan.

Two months ago Bermuda cruised through the opening round, thumping Anguilla, St.Kitts and Nevis and Dominica, all by a score of 3-0.

The athletes will be looking to go one better then the 40 medals won in Rhodes, Greece two years ago.

Bermuda will host the 2013 Island Games – the first edition of the biennial event to be held outside Europe.

The Island faced no bidding opposition to host the Games after rivals Prince Edward Island pulled out of the race after their government withdrew support for a bid.

It is believed the event will bring in an estimated $10 million in revenues to the Island with a cost of $2.1 million. It is also expected to attract more than 4,000 international athletes and visitors, as well as more than 300 media organisations.