The island's has been a competing nation for 50 years

The Isle of Man is now the official host nation for the Commonwealth Youth Games, which will be held in 2011.

Organising committee chairman Geoff Karran said they received a great response from other countries at the closing ceremony in Pune, India.

"With the efforts of the federation we're very confident that we're going to get all 71 nations over here in 2011 and that is tremendous for our island.

"It's a real chance for the Isle of Man to shine," he said.

"Based on the Bendigo situation, and in view of the fact that we are not paying for teams to come to our island, we thought we would probably get around 35 of these nations over."

2008 is the 50th anniversary of the island's involvement as a competing nation.