Bermuda's squad Down Under gathered as a team for the first time yesterday as they were officially welcomed into the sprawling Olympic Village, some 10 miles west of Sydney city centre.

And for the six Island competitors, the traditional flag-raising ceremony held in chilly early evening conditions complete with Aboriginal dancers and music, may have come as a welcome distraction from the rigorous training regime that all have endured in the build-up to these Millennium Games.

That training now all but complete, Star sailors Peter Bromby and Lee White, Europe Dinghy sailor Sara Lane Wright, triple jumper Brian Wellman, swimmer Stephen Fahy and equestrienne MJ Tumbridge embark on a waiting game.

While the Games open amid what is expected to be Australia's own unique brand of glitz and glamour at the spanking new Olympic Stadium on Friday evening -- the biggest game of all in this larger than life city is guessing who will actually ignite the Olympic flame -- Bermuda's super six will be kept twiddling their thumbs until next Wednesday.

Then Pan-Am gold medallist Tumbridge, who will carry the Bermuda flag during tomorrow's opening ceremony, takes her mount Bermuda's Gold through the first -- and for her the most difficult -- discipline of the gruelling three-day event, the dressage; Fahy dives into his favoured 200 metre individual medley heat; and Wright sets sail on the first two of 12 races in Sydney Harbour. For Wellman, Bromby and White, the wait's a little longer.

Until then though, it's simply a matter of fine-tuning -- as well as enjoying the surrounds of a Games Village which is quickly being hailed as the best in Olympic history, with the competition facilities around it drawing similar praise.

Bermuda's chef de mission Phil Guishard, the man whose job it is to ensure that any headaches encountered are his responsibility and not a burden on the athletes, admits there's been little need for the Tylenol so far.

Guishard was the first of the contingent to arrive more than two weeks ago and as a veteran of major sporting festivals says he can't recall better planning.

"Things have gone delightfully,'' he said. "It's easily the best village I've experienced and I've been to two Olympic Games and about three Commonwealth Games.

"And the facilities are just outstanding. The Australians have done a magnificent job in organising and coming together as a country to ensure this will be one one of the best Olympics we've ever seen.

"There's been absolutely no problems with either the accommodation or the food.

"The apartments are brand new, never been lived in, first rate.

"The dining room caters to all tastes. Quite frankly we've got nothing to complain about.'' If there's been one hitch, it's been the arrival of more athletes and officials than were originally expected.

Several countries oversubscribed, leaving the organising committee SOCOG frantically searching for an additional 800 beds.

"They (SOCOG) only found out a week and a half ago and any problems I've had to deal with have basically stemmed from that,'' explained Guishard.

The larger than expected influx of athletes means that all countries, Bermuda included, have been asked to reduce their numbers for tomorrow's opening ceremony.

All six Island competitors will march, but now some of the officials, among them BOA general secretary John Hoskins, will have to be content with a seat in the stands.

Stephen Fahy: facing wait SWIMMING SW