Bad timing may hit track and field numbers at the forthcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, but Bermuda should be well represented in many other disciplines, according to John Hoskins, president of the Bermuda Olympic Association.

The CAC Games will be based in El Salvador between November 23 and December 7, although Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic will host some events due to damage caused when an earthquake struck the host country in 2001.

Final decisions on just who will be flying the flag for the Island have yet to be made, but Hoskins said there had been interest from a wide spectrum of sporting bodies.

"We are waiting for some confirmation at the moment but squash, probably gymnastics, triathlon, cycling, ten pin bowling, track and field and maybe swimming (have indicated they may wish to participate)," he said. "I am not certain of the numbers yet, but they are sports that have shown some interest."

Hoskins said he would be in a better position to confirm numbers in about a week's time.

The reason why track and field may not be as well represented as would ordinarily be the case was because of the unusual scheduling of the event.

"The problem is it's an unusual time for a Games," Hoskins said. "Late November is unusual, for instance, for athletes who are normally out of there usual training patterns at that time."

Judith Simmons, president of Bermuda Track and Field Association, confirmed Hoskins' belief.

"With little or no major track meets scheduled over the next few weeks there are a lot of local athletes who are not showing interest in the CAC Games," she said recently. "We don't really know what the situation is right now, but there could be one or two and not many more.

"It's a tough situation for many . . . Maybe if the event was being held earlier, like late August, we would have seen more athletes showing greater interest."

If any Bermudian sailors make the trek to the Games they will compete in Mexico, while plans to stage field hockey in Puerto Rico have been shelved, according to the president.

Handball and racquetball are to be held in the Dominican Republic, but Hoskins said the fact that events were widespread would not cause too many problems for Bermuda.

"We don't have anyone going to the Dominican Republic, hockey does not look like it's going to happen and the only problem we have is sailing," he said. "Most of the costs are borne by the federations and the teams that don't appear in El Salvador we won't have very much to do with.

"We will obviously have to process paperwork, but we won't be so actively involved - I don't think we will send a separate chef de mission to Mexico for instance."

Bermuda's chef de mission is Joan Taplin, who recently travelled to El Salvador on a scouting trip.

"She came back about two weeks ago and she basically said it will take place and there will be some problems but nothing too major," Hoskins said.

Asked if the level of organisation would be somewhat less than what was experienced in England for the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, the president said: "Quite a bit less, I think.

"The volunteer programme won't be as good and there will be a language problem. But I think our chef de mission is Spanish speaking so we should be able to cope."