Some of the world's elite triathletes will converge on the Island's shores this weekend to participate in the inaugural Escape From Bermuda Triathlon.

The popular international event, to be televised, kicks off at 7.30 a.m. on Sunday and will see competitors take the plunge off the Royal Naval Dockyard and swim the one-mile course to King's Stairs near the famous Clocktower.

Competitors will then cycle a 24-mile course from Dockyard to St. George's before completing the event with a six-mile run through the streets of the historic landmark.

Among those in the hunt for top honours are world class triathletes Matt Reed, Andy Potts and Becky Lavelle all of the US.

Weekend triathlon action officially begins at 8 a.m. tomorrow at Clearwater Beach with the staging of the Bermuda Shorts Triathlon that is open to adults and kids ages seven to ten and 11 to 14.

Registration for both events ends at 5 p.m. today at Fairmont Southampton Resort.

The event is part of a broad mandate to turn Bermuda into a top international sports destination and follows close on the heels of this week's successful PGA Grand Slam of Golf tournament held at Mid Ocean Club.

"The sport of triathlon is considered relatively young, having only made its Olympic debut in 2000 at the Sydney Games," Premier Ewart Brown commented.

"However, it has grown so rapidly in popularity in recent years that we couldn't pass on the opportunity to host this high-energy event as we believe it would only serve to enhance Bermuda's burgeoning reputation as a foremost sports tourism destination.

"Over the years we have been very fortunate to host some premier sporting events; the XL Tennis Open, the World Rugby Classic and most recently the jewel in the crown of sporting events for Bermuda - the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

"And we are equally proud and excited that Bermuda was chosen to be the featured setting of this prestigious event."