The 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, to be staged on the Isle of Man from September 7th to the 13th, is to be a royal occasion. His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation will officially open the Games during the Opening Ceremony celebrations. The Ceremony will be held in the newly refurbished Bowl stadium, in Douglas, on the evening of September 8th. His Royal Highness will deliver a brief speech to the hundreds of gathered athletes and their supporting teams during the spectacular opening proceedings which mark the start of four days of top class sport. Athletes from 67 Commonwealth countries will compete in seven sporting events, centred at the National Sports Centre in the capital, Douglas. Geoff Karran, CYG2011 Chairman and Games Director said “We are delighted that His Royal Highness will officially open the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games. We are grateful for the support of The Earl for this prestigious sporting event and look forward to welcoming him to the Isle of Man”. His Royal Highness has visited the Isle of Man four times, the most recent visit in 2006. Now just weeks away, final preparations are in hand to make sure they will live long in the memory. Tickets for the Opening Ceremony and Sporting events are on sale from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal and the Villa Marina Reception or via the Ticketing Hotline on 01624 600555. The finale, on September 12th, will be a Closing Ceremony in which the ceremonial Quaich, a Scottish two handled drinking cup and a symbol of the Commonwealth Youth Games, will be handed over to the next host nation, Samoa. -Ends-