Two recent events on the Island have given the organisers of the Commonwealth Youth Games major boosts as they continue their preparations for the Games. On Thursday last week Isle of Man Sport held their Annual Sports Awards Night and Beth Tweddle the English Gymnast was the Guest of Honour. Beth competed in the first Youth Games in Edinburgh in 2000 winning 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal. She has since gone on to win 6 European and 3 World Titles and is now planning to set her sights on Olympic glory in 2012. “This shows the calibre of athlete that we can expect to see competing in our Games in September” said Geoff Karran, Chairman of the CYG2011 Organising Committee. In addition last weekend delegates from all the European Nations of the Commonwealth held their annual spring meeting on the Island. Delegates came from not only the Home Countries and the Crown Dependencies but also from Gibraltar, Malta and Cyprus. They were accompanied by Louise Martin the Hon Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mike Hooper the Chief Executive of the Federation , Richard De Groen the Games team Development Manager of the Federation as well as representatives from Glasgow 2014 OC and from Australia and Sri Lanka who are now in the bidding process for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. On Friday all delegates were given a tour of the 2011 sports venues and a presentation was made to them by the Commonwealth Youth Games Organising Committee updating progress on the September Games. Tonia Lushington the Secretary General of the IOM CGA who helped organise this event stated “The feedback from our European meeting was very positive and there were no concerns from the delegates. They were all delighted with the arrangements being made.” The Athletes are expected to arrive on the Island from the 4th to the 7th September with the Opening Ceremony taking place in the new upgraded Bowl on Thursday the 8th September. Competition will take place over the next three days, finishing on Sunday the 11th September and be followed by a day of Culture in Castletown on the 12th September where the Competitors will join in many activities linked to our heritage and traditions. Ends