luggage and the hopes of 60,000 people.

A slightly nervous Singleton was busy making last-minute arrangements and saying last-minute goodbyes yesterday before embarking on the circuitous trip that will have him arrive in Nagano -- via London -- on Thursday as only Bermuda's second ever Winter Olympian.

There he will spend two weeks training on the luge track built specially for the February 7-22 Games -- his first time on ice since returning to the Island last month for the Christmas holidays.

"I'm looking forward to getting back to it,'' said Singleton, who, with the exception of a day spent shooting an IBM commercial here, spent his time home relaxing and weight-training.

Far from the romantic notion of an elite athlete taking Japan by storm, Singleton will spend his nights in a small, inexpensive hostel in the country and his days making as many trips down the track as possible, to learn the nuances of the course. He said will be the only non-Asian training on the Nagano track in January, the other competitors having used up their allotted time last month.

The world's top sliders will likely all come together in Germany for a World Cup race on January 24 before arriving en masse at the Athletes Village.

Singleton said he may stay on in Japan "but only if I need more time (to prepare) ... The most important thing is getting time on the track in Japan.'' It will be during his initial stay that IBM will launch their official Olympic web site -- featuring Singleton and his improbable rise. He will have his own E-mail address where well-wishers from around the world can send him messages.

By the time the luge competition rolls around a month tomorrow, Singleton could be an international folk hero.

Singleton, who expects to stay in Japan until February 18, will also be joined by Bermuda Olympic Association general secretary John Hoskins, acting as Chef de Mission, as well as his father, Derek, acting as manager/coach.

Derek Singleton may not know a lot about the intricacies of luge but as an Island tennis coach he knows the ins and outs of physical and mental preparation, finances and international procedures, Patrick Singleton said.

His mother, Sallie, will also attend as a spectator.

Meanwhile, the Olympic flame yesterday began its trek from the corner of Japan. But Nagano's fickle weather presents far more concern than does the path of the 1,200 runners who will carry the flame through all of Japan's 47 prefectures.

Forecasters say the El Nino warming pattern could mean less snow on venues at lower altitudes.

"It is a very severe situation,'' Nobuyuki Fukushima, mayor of the village where downhill skiing and jumping events will be held, told reporters at a news conference on Monday.

Such anxieties were eased a bit as snow fell on the Nagano area yesterday, covering all sites of the Games in a white blanket for the first time this winter. By last night, snow on the downhill ski course was three feet deep.

But the forecast calls for less now than usual in the weeks ahead.

These Olympics are expected to be the largest ever, with a record 71 countries registered to participate and a schedule that includes three new sports -- curling, women's ice hockey and snowboarding.

OLYMPICS OLY