ANGLESEY'S 2025 Island Games bid committee are becoming increasingly confident of securing the rights to host the major sporting event.

Officials say their bid has taken a big step forward following the executive committee responsible for the games' visit to the island last month.

Committee members were given a tour of the island's attractions and facilities as the Môn 2025 bid committee pushed forward in their attempts to present a convincing bid.

The bid committee hope to tie down the rights to the 2025 games in the next 18 months, ahead of potentially welcoming some 3,000 athletes, officials and spectators to the island in seven years’ time.

Ynys Môn’s Men’s Football Team Coach Gareth Parry is the Project Manager for the island’s bid committee and he is confident that their bid can be successful.

“We are now in a stronger position than ever before to host the 2025 games on Ynys Môn," he said.

“We have been invited to present our official bid at the International Island Games Association AGM in Gibraltar this summer – the only island to have been extended that privilege.

"We then have a year to present a detailed business plan for hosting the games, so it is in our hands.

"These are very exciting times for Ynys Môn, but we need the entire island to support our cause in order for us to bring the games here in 2025.”

Ynys Môn’s elected representatives, Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth and Labour MP Albert Owen have also been involved with the bid committee’s work throughout the process.

“Ynys Môn has a fantastic sporting heritage, with some of our nation’s best sporting talents coming from the island," said Mr ap Iorwerth.

“We’ve consistently produced excellent athletes over the years, many of whom have had their grounding in The Island Games.

"It would be a fantastic source of inspiration and pride for the local people to have the games on their doorstep in 2025. Together, we can make this happen.”

Labour MP Albert Owen added: “The 2025 bid is at an important juncture and it is vital that we put together a bid that embraces the best of our sporting talent.

“We want this to involve all sections of the island’s community, sporting clubs, community groups & societies, the public and voluntary sectors and the business community.

‘Ynys Mon is winning the support of other islands and we need to continue to build a great bid to showcase the island's potential.”