Business leaders and their staff are expected to do battle at bubble football, zorb racing and human bowling when the Xtreme Sports Games returns in April.

The inaugural games last year were hailed a success, bringing 16 companies and organisations together for a light-hearted day of fun and games, and raising $8,000 for charity.

Marquel Waldron, the organiser, is gearing up for a bigger and better games this time, with the maximum number of teams expanding to 20, and the event’s charity prize donation also increasing.

“Based on last year’s feedback from the companies that participated, they were excited and enjoyed it,” said Mr Waldron.

The 2016 event was oversubscribed, with many companies looking to take part event after the 16 team places had been filled.

Businesses and organisations at the 2016 games enjoyed fun team-bonding and being able to interact with other companies and groups they would not normally meet. The games also promoted health and fitness to staff.

Anchor Investment Management were the overall winners. Jeffery Brewer, the company’s managing director, speaking after last year’s event said his favourite games were bubble football — where players wear inflated “bubble suits” — and dodge ball. He also said he had been impressed by the strategy his colleagues used during the dodge ball challenge and how the sporting environment had brought useful insights into their skills and talents.

Anchor’s chosen charity, WindReach, received the $4,000 prize, which the company matched to boost the total to $8,000.

This year’s event prize pot has been raised to $5,000, and there will be ten sporting challenges.

Mr Waldron said: “There will be some new games. We are keeping them secret for now, although one game, football darts, will have an added twist.”

Among the games featured last year were volleypong and human hungry hippo.

Mr Waldron first saw bubble football being played in a field as he travelled on a train in England. He was inspired to bring the concept of a wacky sports competition for companies and corporations to Bermuda.

The venture started as an entrepreneurial pitch for a business start-up at the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation’s Rocket Pitch competition in late 2015, where the idea was one of the winners. The BEDC was a participant and title sponsor for last year’s Xtreme Sports Games.

Mr Waldron was hopeful that companies and corporations would go on to book their own fun days involving the unusual games, as a way of rewarding staff and fostering team-building opportunities.

He said: “Some companies did reach out directly to have their own corporate fun days.”

This year’s Xtreme Sports Games will be held at the National Sports Centre’s North Field, on April 1.

Mr Waldron hopes residents will come along to watch the sports.

“We want to encourage people to come and watch and see what we have to offer. It is free to spectate.”

Videos, event details and information on how to enter are available at the website: http://xtremesportsbmd.com/xtreme-sports-games-2017/. You can also e-mail to info@xtremesportsbmd.com