More than 150 companies and over 2,500 local and international competitors are expected take part in the inaugural Bermuda Corporate Games in October.

The event will be the first of its kind to be held in the Atlantic region, which comprises of the East Coast of the US and Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Nestled between the PGA Grand Slam and the 25th Anniversary of the Bermuda Rugby Classic, the Games are open to anyone and everyone with no restrictions on age or ability.

Participants will be able to showcase their skills in badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, six-a-side football, golf, field hockey, ball hockey, netball, running, rugby sevens, touch rugby, sailing, softball, squash, long distance swimming, tennis, tenpin bowling, triathlon, beach tennis, beach lacrosse and futsal.

The Games sporting director is Craig Brown, who has toured regularly as a physio with both Bermuda’s national football and cricket teams.

Brown, who is also director of Apex Physiotherapy, said the Games would be the perfect vehicle to promote team spirit and camaraderie.

“From my experience working with Bermuda’s national sporting teams, it is tough to replicate the camaraderie and team spirit that you experience in team sport when you move into an office environment,” he said.

“However, I am a firm believer that these Games are the perfect vehicle to promote these values. The Games will give local and overseas companies the chance to enhance team-building and most importantly to have fun doing it.”

He added: “The programme has been selected very carefully to offer a wide selection of opportunities to those living on the Island, as well as those who may travel from the East Coast, neighbouring islands and further afield.

“We are working with the Bermuda Department of Tourism and the Ministry of Youth, Families and Sport, to ensure that our events are located in as centralised an area as possible.

“Every sport encourages both male and female participation and many of our sports encourage participation in Open, 30, 40 and 50 age categories.”

The Games are expected to attract teams from multi-national corporations both Island-based and overseas, along with small to medium-sized companies, schools, colleges, clubs, associations and the local community.

They are also expected to generate over $2.5 million for the local economy and showcase the Island and its facilities as a place to play sport, socialise and to do business.

Gemma Godfrey, COO for the Games, has four years of experience staging Games in worldwide locations, including, Russia, Romania, Nigeria and the UAE.

She said: “Since arriving on the Island, we have been overwhelmed with the abundance of potential venues and the exemplary standard of sporting infrastructure for our event.

“We have approached all the sports federations for their support, whom have been excellent and enthusiastic ambassadors for their respective sports, the preference being to recruit locally to make this a true celebration of Bermudian sport.”

The Games will be held in Bermuda from October 25 to 28.