Bermuda has another opportunity to put itself on the map as a sporting country according a local association.

The Bermuda Island Games Association (BIGA) was founded in 2001 and sent a variety of Bermuda's athletes to the Inter-Island Games - an event started in 1985 in the Isle of Man.

Jon Gazzard, General Secretary of BIGA, a registered charity, is trying to boost Bermuda's team for the next event from June 30 to July 6.

Speaking at the Hamilton Rotary Club's weekly luncheon, Mr. Gazzard called on Government and the Island's corporate community to continue to support BIGA.

He said: "I want to make it known that Bermuda has an opportunity in taking a larger group of athletes and young Bermudians to this event.

"Whether it is for ongoing success to measure where they are in the sports world, or to see where they need to go."

The International Island Games Association (IGA) is the event's organising body and comprises of 25 member countries.

Games are held every two years, with the next one taking place this year in Rhodes, Greece.

Its intention is to bring together islands from around the world for a friendly competition with others that have similar population sizes and development.

With the 2007 games approaching, more than 200 athletes on the Island are preparing themselves to compete in 15 sports.

Athletes must either be Bermudian or a resident for a year before the game's opening ceremony.

Around 73 percent of Bermuda's 2005 squad were Bermudian, and that number is expected to rise at the next IGA event.

Bermuda's men's basketball team excelled by capturing a bronze medal in 2003 and a gold medal in 2005.

Volleyball, football, sailing, swimming and cycling are just a few of the sports that make up the competition, which is described as a "mini Olympics".

Government has been a big supporter of BIGA, granting it $15,000 for the last competition held on the Scottish Island of Shetland.

BIGA has been lobbying to have Bermuda host the event in 2013 that also has the support of Government through the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

An additional $25,000 was given to the association in 2006, to travel to member countries to put on Bermuda's presentation to host the games.

"We want to make our efforts known in order to bring the games here to Bermuda," added Mr. Gazzard.

"We want the population to see where Bermuda's athletes are, as well as to see a major international competition."

It would see around four thousand people from around the world spend a week on the Island - providing a boost in tourism says organisers.

However, the association is confident that it will receive continued financial support from Government after holding talks with Ministry officials.

For more information, log onto www.biga.bm.