Athletes braved the rain for opening ceremony

More than 2,500 athletes from 24 islands have gathered in Shetland for the sporting event, which was opened by First Minister Jack McConnell.

He said the week-long games was another chance for Scotland to welcome visitors from across the world.

Heavy rain and a cold wind failed to dampen spirits, as athletes paraded around the Clickimin arena in Lerwick.

Sporting events

Shetland, with just 23,000 people, is the smallest island population ever to host the event.

Competitors from as far as the Falkland Islands and Rhodes are taking part in the games.

Other participants include the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Bermuda, St Helena and Ynys Mon (the Isle of Anglesey).

Orkney and the Western Isles will add to the representation from Scotland.

They will compete in 15 different sporting events including archery, swimming, sailing and volleyball.

As part of the opening ceremony, each island brought its own beaker of water to symbolise the coming together of the islands.

The first minister opened the games

Mr McConnell told the crowd: "Welcome to Scotland and welcome to a very very special part of Scotland, here in Shetland.

"From the Falkland Islands to the Faroe Islands and from Bermuda to St Helena you are all very welcome here this week.

"I am sure the weather is going to get better but I am also sure you are going to have a great time, enjoy great sport, great friendship and I am sure the winners are going to deserve the medals they receive.

"I am pleased to welcome the huge teams from the Shetland and Orkney islands but I am particularly pleased to welcome our third Scottish team from the Western Islands who are going to take part this week and show the Gaelic islands are alive and well."

Every two years

Mr McConnell, who was brought up on the Isle of Arran, joked that he hoped it would take part in the future.

The organisers of the games, which will take place from 9 to 15 July, have chartered two cruise ships to accommodate about 1,150 participants.

The remainder are staying on some of the 100 islands in the Zetlandic archipelago.

The games, which take place every two years, were established in the Isle of Man in 1985 by the International Island Games Association.