Manx athletes descend on GC Games Village

Athletes from all over the world including the Isle of Man have begun arriving at the village for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as the event counts down to the April 4 start.

Some 909 athletes from countries and territories as diverse as Botswana, Wales, the Isle of Man and Ghana began arriving at the Games village on Sunday.

A total of 6600 athletes and officials from 71 nations and territories will move in to the village before the start of the Games.

Queensland's Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said welcoming the athletes to the village was a big day for the state.

"People on the Gold Coast have seen the village come out of the ground. Now we're going to see it come to life," Ms Jones.

"Now we're going to see it get its heart."

Among the dignitaries at Sunday's welcome was Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive David Grevemberg.