adorning jackets for a major international race on the Island.

And the organisers are calling for a change in the law to help promote Bermuda in other parts of the world.

The Bank of Butterfield Mile on January 14 will attracts runners from all over Bermuda and many international racers.

Trials will be held this weekend with all the qualifiers, race officials and volunteers receiving the colourful jackets provided by the Bank.

But plans to add the Bermudian Flag and the British Union Flag to the jacket were stopped because it was pointed out this would be breaking the law.

The white-based jackets include flags of many countries including Japan, Brazil, the United States, Canada, Poland, Israel, Jamaica, Cuba, Antigua and Barbuda, Kenya, Sweden and Greece.

Marketing Chief at the Bank Mr. Tom Lamont explained that in the past runners have taken part in the "Mile'' from many countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Sweden and Poland.

The Bank intended to use the Island's two flags but then it was pointed out that the Advertisements Regulation Act 1911 prohibited the use.

Section 5 of the Act states: "No person shall use the National Flag for, or in connection with, any advertisement, nor exhibit or display in any part of such flag, any name, device or mark intended for purposes of announcement or advertisement.'' Mr. Lamont said: "I wish someone would talk to Government about taking a look at that Act. It means it does not allow the use of the Bermuda flag or any replica of any of `jack' for advertising purposes.

"Other commercial interests use the Bermuda flag particularly on their shirts.'' A recent example of that was the World Rugby Classic which had the Bermuda Flag on its shirts.

It means that foreign athletes will go back to their home countries wearing jackets without the flag of the nation where the race took place. Mr. Lamont believed the inclusion of the flag could have been a boost to tourism if people recognised the Bermudian flag on the jacket.

Mr. Lamont said: "We are a law-abiding bank. If there is a law we will not break it by sporting the flag of the country.'' Qualifying for the Bank of Butterfield Mile begins on Saturday afternoon for primary school girls and tunes throughout the afternoon and begins again on Sunday morning.

FLAG JACKET -- Bank of Butterfield marketing research assistant Ms Angela Ackah models the new jacket -- minus the Bermuda flag.