Team Isle of Man will depart for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia this Monday.

The 33-strong team is heading Down Under early for a week of acclimatisation in the Sunshine Coast before moving to the athletes’ village in Gold Coast.

The Games will take place over 12 days, between April 4 and 15, and temporarily be home to more than 6,600 athletes and officials from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories.

His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney, Patron of Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, will be at Ronaldsway Airport to wave the athletes off and wish them the best of luck.

Basil Bielich, IoMCGA president, said: ’It is astonishing how quick the past few months have gone since announcing the team in January.

’The athletes have been working incredibly hard in preparation, fully committed to their intense and varied training schedules, both on-island and across the waters.

’I am sure that the team will do the island proud next month and I hope the whole of the Isle of Man is behind them!’

Leonie Cooil, Chef de Mission at IoMCGA, added: ’After years of planning and preparation it is finally time for Team Isle of Man to fly to Australia to represent our island.

’We are so proud of how hard the athletes, team managers and coaches have worked, and are looking forward to settling into the Sunshine Coast ahead of the Games.’

Team Isle of Man champions Auxesia, Escape the Rock, Isle of Man Sport, Manx Telecom, Paysafe, Skanco and SMP Partners, have supported the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association with the costs involved in getting the team to the Games.