Cost and distance could rob Bermuda of the opportunity of hosting the 2011 Natwest Island Games.

A three-man inspection team from the International Island Games Association team have spent the past few days touring the Island and have been impressed with what they have seen.

But at a Press conference to conclude the three-day bid inspection, IGA vice-president Jorgen Pettersson from Aland was as quick to bring up the difficulties as he was to praise the ?superb facilities?.

?We have had a very enjoyable three days here,? said Pettersson, whose Scandinavian home island are hosting the 2009 Games.

?The facilities are very, very good and they will be even better when this Centre Core is ready. But, to be honest, the infrastructure is already there and Bermuda would be able to host the Games next year if asked.

?But we do have some concerns as well. Bermuda is very far away and it is very expensive to travel into Bermuda. Many of our 25 members are in Europe and it could be a difficulty.

?And Bermuda is not really cheap. I have to say it is worth it, but it is expensive for maybe some of the Islands where there is not a lot of funding.?

Over the three days, Pettersson and fellow inspectors Eric Legg (IGA treasurer, Guernsey) and James Johnston (IGA executive member, Shetland) visited sites as varied as BAA Field and gymnasium, Saltus gym, BASA pool, WER Joell Tennis Stadium, the National Sports Centre, Port Royal Golf Course and the Royal Bermuda Dinghy Club. They also met with Sports Minister Dale Butler and sports director Brenton Roberts.

The team also inspected plans for the much-vaunted Centre Core, due to be completed in 2008, describing the proposed multi-sports facility as a ?jewel in the crown of the bid?.

?Bermuda is well-equipped and would have no problems putting on an event like this,? continued Pettersson.

?There are probably just ten or so islands out of our 25 members who would be capable of putting on the event. We have been very impressed with what we have seen, the facilities really are world class.?

Bermuda?s bid, which now has the backing of the Sports Ministry, would see 14 sports played over six days at the back end of August in 2011.

The only other bidder is the Isle of Wight ? cheaper and more geographically convenient than Bermuda but unlikely to have such a range of top-class facilities ? and the IGA panel will visit there next before making a recommendation.

The final decision will then be made on July 8 at the AGM in Rhodes, the venue for next year?s Games, with all 25 islands having two votes and the executive committee one vote each.

The inspection team?s recommendation ? based on cost, location, environment, organisational structure and facilities ? has been ignored by the voting members in the past, with islands often voting for locations offering the sports they favour.

Bermuda will be offering athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, football ? despite previous concerns over finding pitches in the middle of the cricket season ? golf, gymnastics, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, tennis, triathlon and volleyball.

Organisers are confident that there would be enough hotel rooms to cover the 2,500 athletes for the $3.5 million event and there wouldn?t be a need for cruise ships, such as those brought in for the Shetland Games.

Bermuda have collected a host of medals in their two outings in the Island Games, beginning in Guernsey in 2003 and then competing again in Shetland last year. Next year?s Games will take place on the Greek island of Rhodes.