Championships to be held in Cuba later this month because of health concerns in that country.

Cuban nationals have complained in recent weeks of an illness that is causing blindness and temporary blindness and is affecting the central nervous system.

The unknown virus is serious enough that the World Health Organisation is presently investigating.

"The Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association committee felt it would be irresponsible to send the national team to Cuba during the uncertainty of this virus and wished to take no chances with the health of Bermuda's young swimmers,'' press officer Nancy Steynor said yesterday in a prepared statement.

BASA will instead send a 14-strong national team to Florida, under the guidance of coach Gareth Davies.

The event is the Florida Gold Coast Long Course Junior Olympics, which will be held in Coral Springs from July 29 to August 1. The team will leave on July 25 and spend three days training with the Fort Lauderdale swim team, who are the present US national champions.

Stanley Harris, who saw action at the Pan Am Games in Cuba two years ago, is the most senior member of the squad. The other seniors are Tiffany Gosling, Claudia Seymour, Alicia Mullan, Trevor Ferguson, Stephen Fahy and Sean Smatt.

The younger members are: 13 to 14 -- William Massey, Nicholas Vandeweg, Trevor Nelson, Craig Ferguson, Stephen Troake; and 11 to 12 -- Laura Farge, Matthew Hammond.

Gillian Farge will travel as chaperon and Richard Goodwin is the assistant coach.

Olympians Jenny Smatt, Ian Raynor and Chris Flook are unavailable for the trip due to work commitments.

Coach Davies sees the Florida meet as an ideal warm-up for the senior swimmers who will take part in the CAC Games in Puerto Rico in November.

Before the team leave, they will take part in the Bermuda Summer National Age Group Championships this weekend at the BASA pool.

The event runs from Friday to Sunday at which time awards for the High Point Swimmer, male and female, in age group will be presented.