Claims from Bermuda's track and field chief that standards at the forthcoming Island Games are not high enough to warrant sending a team have been described as "disappointing".

Jon Beard, chairman of Bermuda's Island Games Association, said track and field would be one of the most popular sports at the event in Guernsey in June and it was a shame Bermuda would not be there flying the flag.

Beard was responding to comments in yesterday's Royal Gazette, from Judith Simmons, president of the Bermuda Track and Field Association, who blamed her perception of the standards, a commitment to IAAF sanctioned meets and a lack of funds for the organisation's non-involvement in the Games, which will see 23 nations with populations of 125,000 or less competing in 15 sports.

"Some of the records that have been set since 1989 or 1993 are not even comparable for our senior athletes who are trying to get to Worlds or Commonwealth Games or even CAC Seniors," Simmons said.

"The records (in the 100 metres) are like 10.70 seconds for the men.

". . . nothing that they would get from the Island Games - other than competing against other people - would help prepare them for meets that would put them up where they need to be."

Beard, however, begged to differ.

"I don't think anyone is saying it is the same level as the Olympics," he said. "If they were there would not be any sense in us going anyway!

"For me, the whole point of the Island Games is to allow people with the potential for the Olympics, or the wish to represent Bermuda at a high level, to be able to do so.

"If we have got a bunch of people who can run 10.70 in the 100 (metres), then great, fantastic. And if they don't feel they need to be running in the Island Games, then OK also.

"But I am yet to see a large contingent of adults representing us in a track meet internationally. The Island Games gives us that opportunity."

"The reason (that the BTFA give) that the Island Games are not of a high enough standard disappoints me," Beard added. "As I say, if we have got people who can run quicker than 10.70, fine. Whether we have got a lot of athletes who can do that . . . if we have perhaps we are fantastically richer in track stars than I thought."

Ironically, although Simmons has said she will not be sending a squad, some of the athletes themselves have expressed an interest in going.

"I have had athletes calling me, asking if they can take part in it," he said. "I said 'yes' if your national association agrees to it. If Judy called me and said I have a couple of guys who want to run a half marathon, a couple who want to do a 1,500, fine, it doesn't have to be the sprinters if we have sprinters who, in their opinion, are well above this level."

Unfortunately, no sanctioning has been given by the BTFA and so those athletes who want to go, and Beard was not naming names, will have to miss out.

"Whether Judy's words were ill chosen, I don't know," said Beard. "She is a good friend of mine and I am certainly not going to knock track and field and everything they are doing, but I was just a little bit disappointed to read something like that when I know it is not the case. Having been there, I know it is not the case."

Addressing Simmons' comments over a lack of funds, Beard agreed it was an issue, but he disputed how the athletics chief would know the exact figures.

"Track and field have not actually been to any of our meetings when we have discussed funding, so that, in itself, is disappointing," he said. "But I understand her issues about needing to compete in the area if that is what she is looking at for funding from the IAAF."

Just how to pay to send a squad to Europe encompassing a great many other sports was something that was being addressed, Beard said.

"Obviously, the major issue, and Judy was right, is making sure we can get the funding," he said. "We are working hard on trying to get that sorted.

"We have been to the main businesses and there is one that has come on board and helped us significantly and we are just waiting to hear from one or two other ones.

"That we are competing in an international financial centre, where a number of our big financial institutions have representation already, would, I would have thought, be good exposure for them and would certainly show a sense of community."