Bermuda may be one of the smallest nations, in terms of both size and population, competing at these 18th Commonwealth Games.

But when the Queen officially opens the festivities at what promises to be a glittering ceremony inside the hallowed MCG later today, those among the capacity 84,000 crowd, most of whom will be oblivious to the Island?s geography and demography, could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

Led out by the flag-bearing Arantxa King, long jump?s current world youth champion, Bermuda?s contingent will likely number more than 40 ? dwarfing several other small countries, including many of our Caribbean neighbours.

With 24 of the 26 athletes ? cyclists Tyler Butterfield and Geri Mewett are the only two yet to arrive Down Under ? set to line up outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground along with almost as many officials, the Island squad?s presence is expected to represent the largest ever at a major Games.

Following behind King will be fellow track and field athletes and competitors from seven other sports ? swimming, diving, cycling, shooting, triathlon, gymnastics and squash ? along with coaches, managers and members of Bermuda Olympic Association.

All but two of the competitors ? full bore shooters Nelson Simons and Walter Trott, who are based almost 100 miles north of Melbourne in Bendigo ? are housed together at the Games Village on the outskirts of the city, and some 38 of them, including officials, turned up for the traditional flag-raising ceremony on Monday.

According to Bermuda?s chef de mission, Phil Guishard, who arrived at the Village over a week in advance and has been welcoming members of the squad on a daily basis, nearly all are eager to be a part of the Opening Ceremony.

The only question marks hang over swimmers Ronald Cowen and Michael O?Connor, and squash players James Stout and Nick Kyme, all of whom set the Bermuda ball rolling with competition tomorrow morning, less than 12 hours after the ceremony.

But, said Guishard: ?I think they?ll be there. I know they don?t want to miss it.

?Having said that, there?s no pressure on any of them to attend. It will be at their discretion. They have the option to march or not.?

With the formalities out of the way, it?s immediately down to business tomorrow, with Cowen and O?Connor entered in morning heats ? Cowen in the 400 metres freestyle, one of seven events for which he has registered, and O?Connor in the 50m backstroke.

Next door to the Aquatics Centre, Kyme and Stout face first round matches in the morning with the prospect of further action in the evening should they progress.

And from that point onwards, Bermuda will be involved in a continuous stream of activity throughout all 11 days of competition.

Kyme and Stout could also be called upon on Friday, while all four swimmers ? Cowen, O?Connor, Kiera Aitken and Graham Smith ? and the gymnasts ? Caitlin Mello, Hannah King, Kalena Astwood, Casey Lopes and Kaisey Griffith ? are scheduled to compete.

Saturday?s even busier with Bermuda potentially represented in four sports ? shooting, triathlon, swimming and gymnastics ? depending on results the previous day.

Triathletes Flora Duffy and Karen Smith will be moved out of the Games Village tomorrow and accommodated in a hotel on the doorstep of their ocean front course in St. Kilda where the big race begins at 9a.m. Saturday.

Guishard said it was felt two nights in a hotel would help their preparation.

?We just didn?t want the hassle and aggravation of trying to fight our way through traffic early on the morning of the race,? he explained.

?It also gives both of them chance to take a close look at the course.?

Meanwhile, the squad?s only absentees, cyclists Butterfield and Mewett, whose road race isn?t scheduled until the final day of competition on March 26, are expected to fly in this weekend.

Butterfield will arrive from his training base in Paris tomorrow and Mewett, from Tennessee in the US, on Saturday.

Along with the Island?s lone female cyclist, Julia Hawley, they are also entered in next Tuesday?s time trials, although a final decision has yet to be made on whether they will compete.