The games were held in Guernsey in 2003

The island, Ynys M�n in Welsh, has taken part in the games since they began in 1985 but has never held the event.

Committees have been meeting regularly over the last few months to prepare the bid.

The decision will be made in July during the 2005 Games which take place in the Shetland Isles.

The games, held every two years, promote friendship between the member islands.

The Isle of Anglesey County Council and the Ynys M�n Island Games Association are jointly bidding for the event.

The 2009 international island games could well be the biggest ever international multi-sport competition to be held in Wales Derlwyn Hughes

Anglesey faces competition from Aland, between Sweden and Finland, and Saaremaa in the Baltic Sea.

Its application was posted to the headquarters of the games on Wednesday.

Derlwyn Hughes, chair of the steering panel for the bid, said it was "an important day".

"It would be an honour to welcome our fellow member islands here in 2009," he said.

"We realise that we face stiff competition from our two rivals, Aland and Saaremaa, but we are confident that it would take an exceptional bid to beat ours.

He said the bid had received "unprecedented support from people on the island and beyond".

"The 2009 international island games could well be the biggest ever international multi-sport competition to be held in Wales."

Anglesey's campaign to host the 2009 Island Games was assessed by the event's organisers during a two-day visit to the island in October.

All 25 members of the islands games' association will vote on the bids received, and announce the decision during the Shetland games.