Fears over the war in Iraq have hit preparations for next weekend's Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior Squash Open.

A total of 50 American youngsters, scheduled to arrive on the Island for the event, have pulled out because their families do not want to be parted from them during the conflict.

Organisers have said the withdrawals are unfortunate but say that the event at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association's Devonshire Courts will still be a success.

The tournament, which will be held between April 4 and 6, would have enabled local players aged nine to 18 the opportunity to compete against a large number of top overseas opponents without having the expense of travelling. They will still get to play, of course, but their foreign rivals' ranks have been severely depleted.

Sanctioning by the US Squash Racquets Association (USSRA) had ensured a quality field and, coming as US circuit winds up, it gives a final opportunity for players to compete for rankings.

"Unfortunately, we have had our entries greatly reduced," said Ross Triffitt, Bermuda's director of squash yesterday. "We have had 50 international entries withdraw due to the current war. As a result of the unsettled circumstances they are not prepared to travel.

"We have had some large groups from Philadelphia and New York, the main contingents, withdraw."

Those players that have still shown a willingness to come were described as "very enthusiastic players" by Triffitt.

"I think come hell or high water they would have made the trip and come out to play," he said. "It's really perhaps a reflection of the parents. I am sure all the kids that were originally entered that have withdrawn would all be very keen to come out and play but I think it's really the concern of their parents (that has led to them pulling out).

"Speaking to a few of the parents, they have really suggested that they wanted to have their children close to them in these difficult times."

Triffitt said he had tried to allay parents' fears, but, at the end of the day, he had to accept their decision.

"We have gone through the process of contacting them and really suggesting that Bermuda is probably the safest place for them to be," he said. "However, the comeback was that they just wanted to know where they were; they wanted them close to them, which I guess is obviously understandable."

Triffitt said postponing the tournament was not really an option.

"We did consider it but we are very restricted in terms of the timeframe of the US calendar," he said. "We have arranged for our event to be the last one on the calendar and delaying the event would mean that it would not happen in this calendar year, it would have to happen next year."

Triffitt said it would still be a "great tournament" despite the headache.

"The majority of the tournament will be filled with local entries," he said. "They are going to miss out on the opportunity of playing a lot of international competition, except for those age groups that do have the international entrants still competing."

Triffitt said The Bank of Bermuda had been very supportive and had never wavered in their backing of the tournament.

"They have been excellent," he said. "As soon as I started to follow up on a lot of these withdrawals and realised that we couldn't talk them around, the first thing I did was contact the Bank and their reaction was 'life goes on', so we are very pleased that they have made this commitment to continue with the event this year."

Today is World Squash Day and Bermuda will join hundreds of other countries in marking the event.

In a major initiative endorsed by the World Squash Federation (WSF), World Squash Day encourages clubs all over the world to open their doors to showcase the sport and attract new players.

"We are offering our facilities for free between the hours of 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.," said Triffitt. "We will have coaches available between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and many of our members will be down playing on the courts and introducing new people to the sport.

"We are hoping to attract as many families as possible and are certainly encouraging that side of our sport as it's an excellent way for them to be involved in something together."