The 33rd Annual Carifta games opened to great fanfare and excitement before thousands of spectators at the National Sports Centre yesterday.

Premier Alex Scott gave a rousing speech about the positive attributes that Carifta encourages in young people.

?Some will go home with medals, some will not, but all have achieved some goal by being here,? he said. ?All of the participants? lives will be better due to the Carifta experience.?

While the young people competed in a variety of events yesterday, one athletic veteran picked up a long overdue honour.

Triple-jumper Brian Wellman was presented with the bronze medal he won 11 years ago at the World Track and Field Championships.

The medal was presented to a surprised Mr. Wellman by Bermuda Track and Field Association president Judith Simmons.

At the games held in Toronto in 1993, he placed fourth after jumping nearly 58 feet, but when the third place medallist was disqualified for drugs, Mr. Wellman was bumped up to the bronze medal.

Standing on the podium in front of thousands of Bermudians was ?worth the wait?, he said. ?At the SkyDome there weren?t many Bermudians in the crowd.?

The colourful opening ceremony yesterday saw all participating athletes parade around the track while the Bermuda Regiment band played, majorettes danced and the Bermuda Gymnastics Association tumbled.

The rafters of the Stadium nearly shuddered when the Islands? athletes were announced as the stands reverberated with applause and cheering.

Each team was accompanied by flag-bearers wearing national dress who held flags aloft in Bermuda kite shapes.

Most spectators were impressed with the opening of the games but at least one wondered why the Gombeys were absent.

Another wondered why flags with Bermuda printed on them looked a lot like French tricolours and not the Bermuda flag but it was clear everyone enjoyed cheering Bermuda on.