small contingent of cyclists and swimmers who have been carrying the nation's flag so far at this, the 18th CAC Games.

Eleven track and field respresentatives, six from gymnastics and three triathletes are due in on three different flights early this evening.

And on arrival, in a strange echo of the infamous Island song, they will very much be entering another world -- one many miles both literally and figuratively from the pristine houses and greenery of home.

The term Olympic Village, where they will all be staying over the next ten days, is somewhat misleading.

The athletes' acccommodation is actually comprised of four hollow hexagonal concrete buildings, each 18 storeys high, arranged around a small courtyard, surrounded by steel fencing and protected by teenage armed guards.

The imposing structures look imperiously down over the neighbouring shanty towns which make up the majority of the old part of the city, where youngsters play barefoot in the running waters caused by thunderstorms which blow in, seemingly, from nowhere.

With upwards of 5,000 athletes and officials housed in the Village, there is constant activity and constant noise.

Climb up to the eleventh floor of one of the buildings where the Bermuda cycling and swimming teams have their rooms -- the lifts are perenially out of order -- and you might come across a team of sweaty female cyclists training on stationary bikes on the thin balcony which faces inwards.

The rooms themselves have a better view -- they look outwards onto the Lake of Maracaibo, source of the oil deposits which form the heart of Venezuela's economy and the spectacular General Rafael Urdaneta bridge, an eight kilometre concrete structure linking the west and the east sides of the lake.

Maracaibo, Venezuela'ss second city after the capital Caracas, with a population around the two million mark, is hosting the country's second CAC Games -- the first was in Caracas in 1959.

It is a competition which has grown from meagre beginnings -- the first Games, in 1926, attracted just Cuba, Mexico and Guatemala -- to its current position where 32 countries, the largest number yet, will participate in 32 sports.

Use is being made of a huge variety of venues, mainly in the city but also in surrounding areas of Zulia state: from the massive Polideportivo de Maracaibo -- the multi sports complex staging athletics, swimming, basketball and baseball -- to the city's lakeside five star hotel, where the racquetball takes place.

A new stadium, the Palacio de los Deportes de Combate will be utilised for the first time for judo, wrestling and taekwondo.

Bermuda's only sailors, Laser competitors Brett and Sara Lane Wright, are a 45-minute flight away on the coast at Las Piedras.

The majority of Bermuda's athletes are seeking late Commonwealth Games entry, so medals are not foremost in their mind. Besides, the competition is in some cases awesomely tough.

However, triple jumper Brian Wellman might have one eye on the winner's podium, despite his disappointing year so far, while Terrance Armstrong is tipped by coach Gerry Swan as the one most likely to bring track hardware home.

If either achieve ultimate success, they will be the first Bermudians to individually take gold away from these Games: Bermuda's only top honour came 20 years ago in Medellin, Colombia, courtesy of the women's softball team -- a year, incidentally, in which the Island's soccer team also medalled, picking up the bronze.

Bermuda's best year for medals was 1990 in Mexico City, when one silver and five bronzes were secured.

CAC SCHEDULE This week's competition schedule for Bermuda's athletes at the CAC Games: TODAY Swimming: Craig Roberts, men's 100m freestyle heats, Complejo de Piscinas, Polideportivo, Maracaibo, 9.30 a.m.

TOMORROW Ladies hockey: Bermuda v Venezuela, group match, Caracas Country Club, 3.30 p.m.

Swimming: Tamika Williams, women's 100m butterfly heats, venue as above, 9.30 a.m.

THURSDAY Ladies hockey: Bermuda v Mexico, group match, venue as above, 3.00 p.m.

Sailing: Practice races, Brett Wright and Sara Lane Wright (Laser class), Club de Falcon, Los Piedras, Zulia state, 9.00 a.m.

Swimming: Craig Roberts, 50m freestyle heats, venue as above, 9.30 p.m.

FRIDAY Sailing: First races of regatta, venue as above, 9.00 a.m.

Swimming: Craig Roberts, men's 200m individual medley heats; Tamika Williams, women's 50m freestyle heats, venue as above, 9.30 a.m.

Note: Full Games schedule was still not confirmed last night.