Organisers put on a brave face, but the numbers speak for themselves: Next weekend's International Race Weekend will see half as many competitors as last year.

This was a point almost completely avoided at the launch Press conference yesterday, where the 539 entrants for the athletics showpiece were merely described as "a little down on the previous year".

Although a similar calibre of elite athlete will do battle on Bermuda's roads over three days of intense action beginning next Friday, the 1,000-plus fields that have flocked to Bermuda's shores for the past five years will be absent while overseas competitors ? the perfect January boost for the tourism industry ? are down from 683 to a paltry 147.

The names reeled off by Race Weekend Elite Athlete Liaison Manager and Bermuda Track and Field Association president Judith Simmons were as impressive as last year, with five of the seven overseas winners returning.

But the big problem is the lack of numbers for the Department of Tourism-sponsored event.

Although Race Weekend chairman Wayne Raynor claimed that "due to a hold up with the US mail", there were more entries on the way, even a late flood of applications wouldn't push the number of competitors anywhere near the 1,203 mark of last year ? that figure already more than 200 down from 2004.

In order to arrest the slide, Simmons revealed that a film crew had been invited in for this year's event to create a more marketable product for the future competitions and that individuals rather than the traditional charity groups would be targeted ? a response to the massive impact that the withdrawal of Boston travel agent Thom Gilligan's group had.

Gilligan withdrew his group of approximately 300 this time around after 27 years of running here amid claims of a lack of co-operation from the Department of Tourism and the race organisers.

He also labelled the event the "forgotten marathon".

Although mass participation is down ? and the 500 fewer overseas entrants would be particularly worrysome for organisers ? Raynor and Simmons were keen to pump up the event ? one of Bermuda's showcase sporting spectacles.

"In order to maintain and/or increase the number of overseas participants each year, we have successfully negotiated with a production firm to film our event (including vignettes of Bermuda), show our event over various cable networks in the USA and Canada as well as in 50 countries throughout the world and give us DVDs that can be used to promote our event and Bermuda in the future," said Simmons.

"Naturally we are excited about growing our event and having the overseas exposure that is vital for Bermuda and tourism during the shoulder months of the year."

This year will see the return of Kenyan Front Street Mile winner Elkanah Angwenyi, perennial 10K and half-marathon winner Dmitry Maximov and last year's marathon joint winner El Afoui Boubker of Morroco.

Women's marathon champion Marina Bychkova of Russia also returns, while a new champion will be crowned in the 10K and half-marathon.

"We are happy to report that elite athletes of a very high calibre have shown interest in participating in this year's Bermuda International Race Weekend once again," said Simmons, who signed up a number of athletes ? none of whom receive performance money ? at last year's World Championships in Helsinki.

"Even at this late stage, call and e-mails from athletes and agents of runners who are still seeking an invitation to our event are being received on a daily basis.

"All of the ingredients are here for an exciting opener to the weekend."

New improvements to the event include bibs with athletes first names ? to help spectators and the media ? and emergency medical information printed on them as well. Mile markers have also been upgraded.

KPMG have been brought in as Front Street Mile sponsors.