The possibility of an elite women?s mile was the highlight of a positive Press conference yesterday to promote the future of International Race Weekend.

In a break from the secrecy shown in past years with last-minute media gatherings, race director Anthony Raynor called the meeting a good few months ahead of the January showpiece to discuss changes to the event.

As well as announcing the various race directors, Raynor also revealed some interesting initiatives for an event which has suffered from decreasing numbers in recent years ? initiatives designed to drag it into the 21st century.

An event-specific website ? www.bermudaraceweekend.com ? has been set up to allow online registration, something that many other rival marathons already have, while chip timing will be used for the first time to streamline the registration and results process.

?We all remember what a great event this has been in the past and we want to return to those days,? said Clarence Smith, new president of the Bermuda Track and Field Association.

?We have a million ideas but we wanted to share some of them now. There are many other things we are doing but we don?t want to make too many announcements and promises now.

?We want to get the event back to where it was and, although it might be a little late for the next one, we are really focussing on what we can do for 2008.?

KPMG, sponsors of the Invitational Front Street Mile, have been working with the BTFA on all aspects of International Race Weekend aside from just the opening event ? although a new, improved PA system and spectator raffle will be introduced next year to try and improve the overall image and attractiveness of the event for spectators.

Smith said the prospect of bringing elite females to Front Street for the first time ?cannot be ruled out, nothing can be ruled out?, suggesting that the new BTFA executive are keen to explore a number of avenues to modernise the event which was actually cancelled in 2005 before being resurrected within days of that announcement.

For next year?s event, Mike Charles will serve as race director for the Mile and Peter Lever for the 10K while Smith, race secretary Pam Shailer, treasurer Stephen DeSilva and BTFA publisher Bob Oliver are also part of the race team.

?I believe we have a very strong team and collectively we bring years of experience to the table,? said Raynor.

?We have already begun to meet on a regular basis and each one of us is equally committed to boosting overall numbers and raising the profile of the event so that it is once again the highly-regarded international fixture it once was.

?While we are not at liberty to share all of our plans with you at this time, we can tell you that we are doing everything possible to ensure this is a premier international event.?