We didn?t get the 2007 Cricket World Cup but Bermuda could well be in line to host the 2011 Island Games.

Officials from the local and international Island Games organisations revealed yesterday that Bermuda is equipped to host the multi-sport event for select nations and is undertaking a ?very serious? campaign to do so in six years? time.

?I think Bermuda has a great possibility of hosting the Games. The facilities are already in place for it,? declared International Island Games Association (IGA) chairman Bo Frykenstam who was highly complimentary of the Island?s sports venues.

?Your facilities are at the top in terms of what can be found in our member islands. The national stadium is among the best. When you consider the capacity for spectators, perhaps the Isle of Man comes close, but from what I?ve seen Bermuda has the top-standard facilities.?

Frykenstam and IGA treasurer Eric Legg have been here inspecting facilities and encouraging financial backing for Bermuda?s 2005 Island Games participation in the Shetland Islands and Gibraltar.

?The thing has been for them to look at the Island and see where we are in terms of whether we have the right infrastructure to put a bid in for the Games,? explained chairman of Bermuda Island Games Association (BIGA) Jon Beard.

The earliest that Bermuda could play host is 2011 as the 2007 Games will be held on the Greek island of Rhodes and bids have already been submitted for the 2009 edition, to be staged in either Aland ? a Finnish island in the Baltic Sea ? or the Isle of Anglesey in the British Isles.

Beard disclosed that the Island Games authorities toured the National Sports Centre (NSC) and the NSC?s Board of Trustees showed the visiting delegation plans for the long-awaited Centre Core.

?If the Centre Core is completed by then ? and one would hope it will be ? it would give us a fantastic sports village for the Island Games. It really would be a great setting.

?If it isn?t completed, we?ve still got all the facilities to hold the Games,? assured Beard.

He anticipated several Bermudian schools ? Berkeley?s new gym, Bermuda Institute, Bermuda High School for Girls (BHS), Warwick Academy, CedarBridge Academy and Bermuda College ? being utilised.

?We?ve got a lot of indoor space for the Island Games. It?s not as if we have to go and build a lot to accommodate the Games. A 50-metre pool would be ideal and a three-court basketball gym would allow us to have two games at the same time which makes a great atmosphere like we had in Guernsey.

?If the Centre Core is online, I think it would really be the icing on the cake and it would help our bid. We would be in great shape,? he continued.

Citing BIGA?s seriousness in pursuing this venture, Beard said his international counterparts ?have brought the documents for us to work through and prepare a bid? and that the Ministry of Sport will assist by providing relevant information from the unsuccessful Cricket World Cup bid.

Once again, accommodation ? or lack thereof ? will be a major challenge as the Island Games will attract about 3,000 people here at the height of summer.

?That?s a big issue. In the Shetlands we?re going to be staying on a small cruise ship. In Bermuda we have maximum cruise-ship capacity in June and July.

?Hopefully, the Ministry of Tourism can work with us on this and obviously there will be significant airlift out of Europe,? said Beard.

Outlining the bid process, Frykenstam said Bermuda should make its ?intention to bid known to member islands? at IGA?s general meeting in July.

?Then, before the end of this year, Bermuda should submit a bid document and at our general meeting in July, 2006, we will decide which island is awarded the 2011 Island Games,? he elaborated.

Frykenstam noted that a wonderful selling point for Bermuda is that the Island is considered ?an exotic destination? though travel costs could be prohibitive.

?I believe teams would be prepared to start saving from very early for the opportunity to visit your beautiful island,? he quipped optimistically.

While there is no IGA subsidy for host countries, some funding comes from the Island Games sponsors. However, it?s certainly far from enough to cover expenses.

Legg, a Guernsey national, revealed that ? minus capital expenditure ? it cost his homeland ?1.2 million to run the 2003 Island Games which only had three paid officials.

Beard declined estimating how much Bermuda would have to shell out for the 2011 sporting extravaganza for countries with populations of less than 125,000 but pledged to have it budgeted within the next six months.

?The thing is that each island is responsible for its own costs so it?s not as though we have to house anybody or pay for their flights.

?For us, the main costs would be the use of facilities, salaries for officials and various presentations.

?We have to come up with a very defined budget so that when we go to Government they are well aware of what it?s going to cost without any sudden, hidden surprises. The minister was very clear about this when we spoke to him,? said the BIGA chairman.

Divulging that Guernsey reaped a ?45,000 profit, the IGA visitors stressed that no previous Island Games had made a loss.

Frykenstam noted that most sports personnel he met here seemed very committed to the Island Games which was crucial if Bermuda were to put forward a winning bid.

It?s clear, he added, that sport here is thriving and enjoys much public, political and corporate support.

?It?s important for your local Island Games association to have that support. I?m very pleased with what I have seen and heard.?