They may have been phenomenal cricketers in their time or Bermuda's best in athletics, football or some other sport - yet their real class is now being put to the test.

Starting today, the Island's greatest sports personalities - dead or alive - will face a unique challenge, battling each other, for the honour of being the inaugural inductees in the Sports Hall of Fame.

Nomination forms (and an accompanying letter from Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Hall, Rick Richardson) will appear in newspapers from today, inviting recommendations from the public on outstanding Bermudian sportspersons and officials to be considered for the first induction into this inner circle.

"We are looking for extremely outstanding individuals - not just a good or great individual. We want those persons who have been legendary figures in Bermuda sports and sports administration. It must also be someone who is of outstanding character," said Richardson, acknowledging the mammoth task his Board is undertaking.

"It's not going to be an easy process - especially the final selection - but we want to be swamped (with nominations)."

Though Bermudians are being given just two weeks in which to submit nominations, he is confident the Board will receive a high calibre of names reflecting the wide spectre of local sport.

"Without wanting to taint the process in any way we expect to have people such as the late Alma (Champ) Hunt and W.F (Chummy) Hayward. In soccer, we would expect to see the name Clyde Best - people like that.

"We expect the first set of inductees to set the standard and we encourage people to think along such lofty lines in all sports," noted the chairman.

Adding his voice to the issue, Sports Minister Randy Horton underlined the Hall of Fame's status.

"This is going to be a highly exclusive club for persons who have made a significant and enduring contribution to Bermudian sports over a period of time; people who are role models for our sportsmen today and tomorrow."

Following an exhaustive selection process, including going back to the public and asking them to rank their nominees and researching the nominees' exploits, the Board expects to announce the first inductees by June. The list, Richardson said, will be short.

"When we first started we were thinking about five or six and we would be willing, if it really is compelling, to look at about eight. It certainly won't be over ten people," disclosed the chairman.

Confirming that a banquet, featuring foreign celebrities, will be held to celebrate the Hall's launch, Richardson disclosed that various other options are being considered to salute the honourees. One possibility is that portraits or busts of the inductees will be commissioned.

He acknowledged that regardless of the Board's choices for honourees Bermudians will have some criticism. However, there is a positive side, he noted.

"We will get that (criticism) but we believe there will people who are not selected this time but we will have gathered sufficient information on them that we can consider them on the next occasion."

Horton indicated that while a permanent site for the Hall of Fame was not immediately on the cards, a temporary location would be chosen to display information and memorabilia related to the cream of the Island's sporting legends.