when a team of teenagers take part in the 2000 US Junior Olympics.

The event is being held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and takes place over four days.

Although it is called the US Olympics, the event is open to any nation who wants to participate.

The Island will be represented in a number of age categories.

Stephen Smith, fresh from the Island's AF Smith Corporate Teams tournament, is entered in the Under-19 section.

Justin Robinson and Richard Arnold feature in the Under-17, Graham Counsell plays in the Under-15 and Andrew Stout, Chris Sgobba and Iain Redford figure at Under-13 level.

Ross Triffitt, Director of Squash at the Bermuda Squash Raquets Association, said: "We are taking our best juniors in the age divisions and this is the second year we have done this.

"It's an open event, so when they call it the Olympics it means it's open to all nationalities.'' Triffitt said although the youngsters would be anxious to win, gaining exposure to overseas competition was more important than coming back with medals.

"We are expecting them to gain a lot of experience rather than excel in results,'' he said. "They recently travelled to the VASSAR Junior Classic, which is a lower tiered tournament and they did extremely well there and we are hoping that we will have a bit more success than last time.'' Among the other nations taking part will be Jamaica, Guyana, Canada, England, USA, several African countries and Mexico.

"They are competing in a singles event, so it's a knockout but they play as individuals rather than as a team,'' Triffitt said of the format of the competition.

Asked whether he thought the standard of squash at the younger end of the sport was improving on the Island, Triffitt said: "I think in some respects it is. Certainly our juniors are getting stronger and we are getting more depth with our players.

"Previously we have only had a few players come through of an excellent standard -- Nick Kyme, Tommy Sherratt and Sam Stevens -- and now we are getting younger players that are starting to get towards that level a little earlier.''