A squad of about 25 athletes will represent Bermuda at this year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

President of the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA), John Hoskins, estimates that roughly this number of athletes will make the qualifying marks in their respective disciplines.

They, plus officials, will make up a 40-strong contingent for the Island, about the same size as that which attended the last Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998.

"We have agreed (on) most of the qualifying standards with the different federations and certain people have already made the standards and we're already processing them. We will actually formally approve the team in June but once someone has made the standard that's normally it," he said, elaborating on the selection process.

Asked if he could disclose names of the "definites" in the squad, Hoskins replied: "I'd rather not start calling names but obviously people like Brian Wellman (triple jump) would have qualified. We have a couple cyclists, shooters and, I think, swimmers who have also qualified.

"We are still examining the qualifying times which have been sent to us and, as of when people qualify and we get advised of this, we will start making preparations for them."

The BOA chief noted, however, that Bermuda was likely to be represented in diving and triathlon, the latter making its Commonwealth Games debut.

It is understood that top triathlete Tyler Butterfield, who trains in Australia, has qualified to make the trip to Manchester.

As for diving, Hoskins said 19-year-old Katura Horton-Perinchief, now enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin, is expected to carry Bermuda's hopes in that discipline.