Six days of competition at the Commonwealth Youth Games 2017 gets underway today with 72 Team England athletes all set to make the nation the proud in the stunning setting of Nassau, Bahamas.

Team England will compete across seven of the nine sports at the Games with young athletes aged 14-18 hoping to bring home medals in athletics, swimming, judo, tennis, beach volleyball, boxing and rugby 7s.

British U20 Beach Volleyball Champions Javier and Joaquin Bello will be the first English athletes in action when they being their campaign against New Zealand. 

The twin brothers, competing just two days before their birthday, will be hoping for a win to get Team England off to the best possible start.

They will be followed onto the court by teammates Ellena Austin and Yasmin Kaashoek who will face Australia on the opening morning of competition at Malcolm Park.

Later in the afternoon, focus will switch to the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium as the first medals the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games will be decided on the judo mat. 

Seven English judoka will be vying to claim the honour of winning England’s opening medal of the Games.

The day concludes with the opening ceremony where European Youth Long Jump Champion Holly Mills will lead the team into the stadium as opening ceremony Flagbearer.

The Andover based athlete spoke of her excitement at being asked to take on the prestigious role.

“I felt so honoured when I was told that I had been chosen to carry the flag.

"My friends and family are so proud and so happy, it been exciting sharing the news with everyone.”

Just before the action begins Team England Chef de Mission Sarah Winckless, herself an Olympic rowing medallist, issued a good luck message for the young English team.

“Representing your country is a huge honour and everyone here will forever be able to say that they are part of Team England.

"I’d like to wish the young athletes on our team all the very best and I am sure their efforts will be rewarded with some fantastic results.”