The curtain has only just come down on the 2007 Island Games but organisers are already preparing meticulously to ensure Bermuda has a shot at hosting the 2013 showpiece.

Bermuda’s Island Games delegation have until next summer to make sure their bid is “rock solid” when they will present the package to the Island Games executive committee in Aland.

With the Faroe Islands withdrawing their bid it is believed Bermuda’s sole threat to host the Games will come from Prince Edward Islands — a Canadian province — with the deadline to enter the race at the end of September.

Following an encouraging visit from Island Games bigwigs, chairman of the Bermuda Island Games Association John Beard is quietly confident they will receive the green light. The Island had been bidding for the 2011 Games but it was awarded to the Isle of White at a meeting at Rhodes in July, 2006, who beat them by the narrow margin of 30 votes to 25.

“The Faroe Islands dropped out to give us a clear shot and we believe our only rivals will be Prince Edward Islands for 2013 — it will be an interesting battle,” said Beard.

“The cost for an island to put the Games on is estimated at $3million, but if marketed properly from a tourism point of view you can make that money back.

“The deadline to enter a bid is late September and we believe it will be a straight battle with Prince Edward Islands.

“They pose a threat as they can easily get hold of more buses for transport from Canada whose government are really pushing for them to host it.

“But our government are also backing our bid and we must make sure our presentation is rock solid, especially in terms of transport as you need to be able to move thousands of athletes across the Island each morning. Maybe we can make more use of boat travel.

“We’ve already had a group from the Island Games committee inspect the Island and they have told us that we have the facilities to host the Games tomorrow. With our many hotels, accommodation should not be a problem either.

“By 2013 as well, the Centre Core of the National Sports Centre should be complete, with the facilities on offer there unlike anything any other island can even dream of.”

The Island’s largest ever contingent of athletes arrived back on home soil from Rhodes earlier this week after scooping 40 medals at the picturesque Greek island.

Despite finishing ninth in the overall medal table, Beard is adamant the Games were a success for Bermuda.

“Although we would’ve liked to be a little higher in the medal table Bermuda can still view the Games as a success.

“The Games offer islands like ourselves a great to chance to compare ourselves against similar sized islands — that’s their strength.

“They also allow sports to send development squads like the Bermuda Under-23s football team to gain some valuable experience and build towards their Olympic qualifiers in September. Conversely, veterans like sailor Stevie Dickinson can go and gain some well deserved recognition and glory.

“It was a great Rhodes 2007 saw Bermuda send their first ever track and field team and men’s football team and hopefully we can send an even bigger squad to the next Games in Aland depending on finances.

“The atmosphere was terrific and all athletes tried to support each other when possible. John Gardener — one of the sailing team — got hold of an conch shell which makes a distinctive noise associated with Bermuda and played it at some of the events.”