As parents of athletes preparing to head to India for the Commonwealth Games, David Lambert and Steve Thomson have more interest than most in the recent events surrounding the build-up to the competition.

Lambert's two daughters, Jacklyn and Tara, will represent Bermuda in tennis, while Steve's son, Nick, is one of three swimmers in the Island's 14-strong squad.

And while Lambert, who is also president of Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, expressed concern about the events of the past 24 hours, both he and Thomson said they were fully supportive of the Bermuda Olympic Association's handling of the situation.

"This concerns me being the father of two of the athletes," said Lambert. "As the president and as a father I am concerned. We will be in touch with the president of BOA, and will consult with the committee and work closely with them.

"With the news now of fever and so forth, it is of great concern and we must do what is best for our athletes. I will also have our BLTA representative, Ian Gordon, work closely with the local Olympic people and see how this can be handled."

Thomson had fewer concerns than Lambert, and was eager for his son to make the most of his 'opportunity of a lifetime'.

"I'm very supportive of the Bermuda Olympic Association and until I hear otherwise Nick will be going to Delhi," said Thomson, who will be on holiday hiking in Nepal while the Games are taking place.

"I'm very keen for Nick to compete at the Commonwealth Games as it will be the opportunity of a lifetime for him. There's been a lot of negative things written and there has to be some positives. Millions of dollars have been spent on these Games and I remember reading similar stories before the Athens and Beijing Olympics."

And like Thomson, Lambert believes that the Games provide a tremendous opportunity for local athletes and are evidence of Bermuda's growing stature in the worldwide Games. He also said that the players would continue their preparations with coach Coleridge Place as if nothing had happened.

"To be invited to the Commonwealth Games is a great honour and Bermuda is being recognised worldwide," said Lambert. "It is a tremendous opportunity to have our tennis players going to such a spectacle, but we will remain calm in the build-up with all the news circulating.

"Our players will continue their training as they are now at a higher level and the preparations have been intense. They are supposed to leave Bermuda on the 28th, and they arrive in India the next day.

"They aren't scheduled to compete until the 4th of October and that means they will have that period of time under more intense training. Obviously there is some concern with what is going on but I will need to sit down with the Olympic authorities here before any decision is made."