ATLANTA -- Dressed in traditional Bermuda "costume'' of blue blazer, yellow shorts and navy socks, the Island's Games contingent will be led into the Olympic Stadium for this evening's opening ceremonies by triple jumper Brian Wellman.

But the honour of carrying Bermuda's flag might be considered a dubious one given the circumstances.

In temperatures which are still expected to be hovering in the 80s, athletes could be on their feet for between three and four hours as organisers attempt to shepherd more than 10,000 competitors, coaches and other delegates from a record 197 countries into the main arena.

It promises to be a logistical nightmare, and there are even more headaches for the Bermuda squad with five of the competitors facing four-to-five hour drives just to get to Atlanta.

Last night it wasn't clear whether equestrian Suzie Dunkley-Zandvoort would make the trip from her base in South Carolina. She apparently would prefer to skip the ceremony, although Bermuda 0lympic Association are encouraging all athletes to attend.

The Island's four sailors -- Peter Bromby, Lee White, Malcolm Smith and Paula Lewin -- have resigned themselves to a tedious bus journey this morning from Savannah, some 300 miles away, and a return trip this evening in order to take part in sailing's own opening ceremony on Saturday morning.

Attempts to fly the four sailors up from Savannah apparently failed because of security concerns. Organisers insisted that athletes could only travel on pre-arranged buses.

That means the quartet face most of today either in a bus or in a queue outside the Olympic Stadium -- hardly the ideal way to round off their Games preparation.

Security in Atlanta remains tight, perhaps even to a point of paranoia in the wake of the tragic TWA crash, as the countdown to Games opening continues.

And nobody, no matter what their standing, can escape the obvious inconveniences.

BOA president Austin Woods, Environment and former Sports Minister Pam Gordon and BOA secretary John Hoskins might have arrived at the Games Village as VIP guests on Wednesday. But the VIP treatment quickly ceased.

"Six soldiers descended on us before we could as much as open the car door,'' said Hoskins. "They virtually took the car apart.'' That said, a briefcase Hoskins was carrying wasn't even deemed worthy of inspection.

So just who's running these Games? The International Olympic Committee thinks it is, Coca Cola would like to believe it's their show, blanketing Atlanta in a coat of red and white ...

but the real shots seem to be called by NBC.

In yet another apparent made-for-TV decision, the athletic schedule was changed again yesterday.

Five of the most popular track events were pushed deeper into prime time, with Michael Johnson's attempts at gold in the 200 and 400 metres now starting an hour later than previously scheduled.

On each of the days Johnson runs, the schedule has been altered with the entire afternoon track and field session of July 27 (the day of the 100 metre finals) starting an hour later.

It was a case of unlucky 13 for Bermuda's Olympic cycling masseur Glen Robinson yesterday.

Bermuda Olympic Association were informed that because of the huge entry in this year's Games, the Island team would only be allowed to march 13 athletes and officials into the opening ceremony. With 14 originally having been told they could take part, it was left to chef de mission Phil Guishard to decide who should be omitted and then inform the odd man out of his decision.

Robinson received the bad news yesterday afternoon.

But there's still a chance he could be included, depending on whether or not equestrian Suzie Dunkley Zandvoort decides to make the long car drive from her base in South Carolina.

A definite absentee at the opening ceremonies will be sprinter Troy Douglas.

He's decided to remain at his home in Holland and won't fly into Atlanta until next week, shortly before the track and field programme gets underway on Friday, July 26.

(See Sport, Page 37 for profiles of Bermuda's Olympic athletes.)