BERMUDA'S medal-scooping gymnasts have an action-packed year ahead but winning the Island Games is the number one priority says head coach Tina Williams.

Last time around gymnastics was not included in the main games and so the Bermuda Gymnastics Association were forced to go to a side-show event in the Isle of Man where it took first place.

"It is so much better to be part of the official team and have all the delegation together," she said.

In 2005 the team came second in Shetland, behind the Isle of Man, who are seen as the main threat to Bermuda's effort to get gold this summer.

"This year we are hoping to win it. After winning in the Isle of Man the pressure is on us to win it in the official event," said Williams who will be taking a five-girl squad to the Island Games in Aaland.

And there is plenty of action beforehand.

Early next month the girls are off to the Chicago Navy Pier invitational in a 170,000 square foot competition hall hosting six complete gyms.

With each gym running its own competition there are over 4,000 gymnasts competing at the February 7 event.

Kaisey Griffith will be competing at the top level.

"She did really well last time. This time she will be performing some new skills. We have a new tumble on the floor ¿ it's a double somersault in a pike position. You go up in the air, twist in a pike position and come back down to your feet. It's a difficult skill to do."

The rest of the squad includes Hannah King, Caitlyn Mello, Morgan Beckles, Morgan Cleave, Tabytha Hofheins and Rosie Finnigan.

And on the February 21 the juniors are off to the Winter Invitational, Raleigh, North Carolina. Eleven gymnasts will attending in total include new girls Tais Burgess-Allen, Tomei Talbot, Trinity Wilson, Jadaizha Washington, Terae Dill and Sadia Wilson. They will be joining Samantha Soares, Amy Outerbridge, Andrea Burrows, Zantae Dill and Zekiah Lewis who competed last year.

Coach Wendy Garrett who joined in the summer will be going with head coach Michelle Strenk to the meet.

The Bermuda Gymnastics Association, which coaches around 700 people each week, has also opened a new open set of classes called Play Gym at its baselands headquarters in St. David's ¿ open to the under fours on Tuesday mornings at just $5 for those who turn up on the day.

The association is also looking into the possibility of holding gym parties for the under sixes.