Bermuda may compete in as many as 15 sports in next year's International Island Games in Guernsey.

Chairman of the Bermuda Island Games' Association (BIGA), Jon Beard, said several national sports governing bodies had expressed enthusiastic support for the Island's debut in the tenth biennial competition and have indicated an interest in their particular discipline being represented.

This will be all the easier since there are no qualification standards for the meet - not sports-wise that is.

"None of the islands in the Games can have a population of more than 125,000 and therefore islands like Greenland - though it has a massive land mass - are eligible because there are not many people on it.

"There are now 24 islands participating in the competition of which Bermuda has the sixth-largest population," explained Beard.

Seventeen sports are expected to be on the International Island Games' calendar and, among others, Bermuda will be represented in track and field, swimming, archery, triathlon, cycling, football and basketball.

"It's now a question of us working together to get the finances to make sure we can do this. We are looking at whether chartering a plane would be cheaper than going the usual way. It's really a matter of logistics."

Beard, who attended last month's annual general meeting for the International Island Games, estimated it would cost Bermuda $2,000 per athlete to participate in the Games. Given a squad likely to consist of more than 100 athletes, plus officials, he reckoned the Island's contingent could reach up to 150 persons.

"If we can get this organised it would be an opportunity for more of our athletes to do very well and for us to compete on a more even level. It's a chance to show how good we are and to put Bermuda's name out there," he said, noting that as a tiny island Bermuda with fewer resources is at a disadvantage in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

Additionally, it could be seen as a precursor to larger, imminent sporting competitions.

"The advantage is that, with the Olympics being the following year, it could be a warm-up for the Olympics in Athens or it could be the opportunity to test somebody who has not been in international competition before," said Beard, adding that the Games were sanctioned by all the international sports governing bodies so any world records would count.

The Guernsey meeting gave officials from participating nations the opportunity to inspect facilities which will be used for the Games next June. The Bermudian was very impressed with what he saw.

"Their facilities are absolutely excellent and I think it will be a very positive experience for Bermuda and the Island's athletes who go," he said.