Bermuda's athletes will have little or no room for excuses if they do not perform to the best of their ability at the Island Games.

Jon Beard, chairman of the Bermuda Island Games and chef de mission for the event in Guernsey which begins on Saturday, believes it will demonstrate beyond doubt just how good our competitors are compared with those from like nations.

While Bermuda competes at the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, among other high profile meets, due to the nation's size we rarely come away with any tangible success.

However, Beard says, though many of the competitors will be tasting international competition for the first time, the chances for success will be there.

"The cyclists and the swimmers know what they are up against because they have been away enough times before. It's the likes of the volleyball, basketball, badminton and table tennis that I think will be stepping into the unknown a little bit," he said.

"But that is the exciting thing. The athletes will be competing against islands the same size as themselves and there is really not a lot of excuses to be made - you cannot say `well, we were competing in the States or against much bigger places'

"You are either good enough or you're not after this."

The first contingent of athletes, archers, triathletes and cyclists, leave Bermuda today with remainder of the team, some 70 competitors, leaving on Thursday evening.

Beard paid tribute to those who had assisted the team with financial aid, be it governing bodies or Island companies.

"XL have been the title sponsor and Bank of Bermuda have been the team sponsor but there has been a whole host of other companies that have come in to sponsor athletes and so we are very pleased," he said. "It's all come together, everyone knows where they stand and they are all just waiting to go."

All of the athletes, coaches, managers and administrators have been drug tested prior to leaving and all 104 people were found to be drug free.

"I find it a little hypocritical for coaches and administrators to demand testing of the athletes if they are not prepared to be tested themselves," said Beard. "The testing agency offered their praise for the efficient way each sport organised themselves to get everyone tested."

Meanwhile, those competing in the event will be energised by local drinks firm John Barritt and Son.

All the athletes will be given a special pack by the firm consisting of a Powerade sports drink, Crystal Clear water, ginger beer and other goodies.

Bruce Barritt, soft drinks sales manager, said: "The idea behind it was to give them a taste of home to take away with them and at the same time water and Powerade are two of the things they are going to need as they get into their final build-up."