Team Jersey were at the 2008 Jeux des Isles in Guadalope

The organisers of the Jersey team for the Jeux des Isles says the island will send a team to this year's event.

That is despite the host island not being announced until later this month, after Tuscan island Elba pulled out.

The Italians could not afford to hold the games because of the affects of the global economic downturn.

"It is definitely on, we've been told it is in a Mediterranean island and it's between 28 and 31 May," said Jersey organiser Hugh Raymond.

The Games has been reduced from its usual week-long schedule to three days in order to try and make it easier for the new host island to put the event on at short notice.

With the host island footing the bill for all the athletes' accommodation, food and on-island transport, a shorter games was necessary, according to Raymond.

"It will be a condensed games, I think basically because it's all about money," he said.

Jeux des Isles in which Jersey has competed: Gran Canaria 2004 Crete 2005 Sicily 2006 Corsica 2007 Guadeloupe 2008

"I can now confirm that we will be going. The six core sports have all confirmed that they will be taking part and sending athletes," he added on BBC Radio Jersey.

It means Jersey will be sending youngsters in athletics, swimming, sailing, tennis, table tennis and gymnastics.

Last year's games in Guadeloupe attracted more than 2,000 athletes from mainly French and Spanish-speaking islands such as the Balearics, Corsica and Martinique.

But with the venue not being announced until a meeting in Corsica on 21 February, the island team could find it tricky to get travel to wherever the games are held.

"It's a bit disconcerting and a bit worrying because of flights and costs. We can't even put a deposit down or hold flights because we don't know where we're going," Raymond said.

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