witness a truly international spectacle, featuring several of the world's best runners in action.

However, within the Department of Tourism, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be a time to show the Island to the rest of the world.

And in this regard $27,500 has been invested in this year's event in order to ensure a smooth running success and maximum coverage.

The money breakdown has $22,000 going to the Bermuda Track and Field Association to aid in the total organisation of the event, while the remaining $5,500 is earmarked for overseas television production.

Sports network giant ESPN stands as the major facilitator, as they will air both the ADT Bermuda 10K and ADT Bermuda Marathon three times, on a tape delay basis, to millions of households across the continental United States and various other locales having a feed.

It is hoped that the colourful pictures of an island paradise in January would spur travellers from their frostbitten homelands to Bermuda.

"This event marks the first major event supported by the Department of Tourism in the year's calendar and we look at it as a kick-off for the year's activities,'' said assistant tourism director Randy Horton during a recent press conference.

"It follows our mission in the Department of Tourism to market Bermuda to special events groups. And there is no better group to market Bermuda to -- particularly in January -- than to people who like to run.

"We're very pleased to support this (television coverage) because we feel that many people will not only get to see the event, but also learn that Bermuda is a wonderful place to visit in January.'' Horton explained how sports provide opportunities to display Bermuda and are also great drawing cards for visitors.

The past year has seen foreigners and locals alike flock to take in events such as the recent inaugural Bermuda Bowl (American football) and ATP sanctioned XL Tennis Classic -- the latter being shown on New England's PRIME Network.

Meanwhile, several hundred students, alumni and family members flew in to watch Georgetown University defeat Washington and Lee 17-14 in the aforementioned football game in November.

Confirmed for this year is the Merril Lynch Shoot-Out, involving the worlds best golfers on the American PGA circuit, with the seniors possibly making the trans-Atlantic crossing next year and a second Bermuda Bowl and XL Classic are also likely.

"Sport is very important. It is a major tourist attraction...major events are big tourist attractions and we've always had that view,'' continued Horton, himself a former Bermuda soccer international and professional soccer player in the now defunct North American Soccer League.

"I think that this (International Race Weekend) was the first event tourism got involved with other than golf. Tourism became involved with the 10K and the Marathon from their inception.

"It was with the view that major events are important to have throughout the calendar year in order for Bermuda to be seen as a place with lots of activity and a place where the organisations could actually host, organise and run events.

"That's a major factor. Where top athletes can come here and feel comfortable about the organisation of these events and what happens is the word gets around that Bermuda can do it and it helps to attract other events.'' Not to be lost is the value of boosting the arrivals numbers during the shoulder season from November to March and presenting Bermuda as a viable year round destination.

Viewing dates for the ADT 10K and ADT Bermuda Marathon on ESPN are as part of the Danskin Running and Racing programme are as follows: January 31, 4 p.m.; Feruary 4, 2.30 a.m.; February 11, 6 a.m.