Deliberations have begun to find the next inductees to Bermuda?s Sports Hall of Fame.

Sports Minister Dale Butler announced yesterday that the inductees would be named at a gala banquet at the Fairmont Southampton on July 1 ? the same day on which Bermuda?s cricketers will open their campaign to qualify for the 2007 World Cup with an ICC Trophy group match against hosts Ireland in Belfast.

Butler said the Hall of Fame?s board of directors had received more than 300 nominations last year and because of this ?overwhelming response? they had decided not to ask for public submissions this time around.

Instead, said the Minister, they would use the current list of ?outstanding? nominees to carry out their deliberations.

Among those nominees is former heavyweight boxer Clarence Hill, winner of Bermuda?s only Olympic medal, a bronze, at the 1976 Montreal Games. Hill was controversially overlooked last year.

Butler said the Board would put particular emphasis this year on a list of 25 from the top 50 nominees established in the inaugural year.

?The Board has also given consideration to the outstanding sporting contributions that have been brought to its attention since the 2004 Hall of Fame banquet,? added Butler.

He noted the public would get chance to view the special features of those who have already been inducted and the opportunity to offer comments about those in the new list of 25 during a special Hall of Fame TV programme due to be aired on ZBM at 8.00 o?clock tonight.