To the throbbing beat of Gombey drums, athletes from 22 islands got their first taste of Bermuda hospitality tonight.And if the smiles on their faces were any indication of what they can expect during the next week of competition, then both they and Bermuda are in for a treat.Opening the fifteenth Island Games at the National Sports Centre, Governor George Fergusson was greeted with rousing cheers from those in the stands, more than 1,500 competitors, coaches and officials along with a similar number of spectators.The culmination of more than two years’ of preparation, the Games were launched, not with pomp or ceremony, but with the welcoming warmth that Games Chairman Jon Beard will hope to extend throughout the biennial festival.The parade of athletes who will compete in 14 sports, represented islands as large as Greenland, 1.2 million square kilometres but with a population of just 56,000, and as small as Gibraltar, 7.2 square kilometres with almost 30,000 people.The Channel island, Alderney, have brought just five athletes but they were applauded as much as the rest during the opening march.Only two of the Island Games members, Rhodes and Sark, were missing.As expected, the hosts have the biggest contingent, 219, who between them will take part in all of the events.But they can expect some stiff competition from the party of 128 from Guernsey and the group of 80 from Jersey who host the next Games in 2015.Besides the Governor, Premier Craig Cannonier, Chairman of the International Games Association Jorgen Pettersson and Mr. Beard all extended their greetings but it was the athletes who stole the show as they will in their quest for gold, silver and bronze.Action begins in 12 of the sports on Sunday morning, the triathlon and the cycling road race both starting at 7.00, and finishing with the football match between Bermuda and Greenland that kicks off at 8.00pm.