Sixteen companies and organisations have signed up to take part in the first Xtreme Sports Games. They will compete against one another at such fun and bizarre activities as bubble football, human hungry hippo and Zorb racing.

A raft of international businesses, together with a few home-grown companies and groups, jumped at the chance to take part in the event on April 9, after it was announced at the start of the year.

And not only will they benefit from the chance to team-build, bond and de-stress at the end of a work week, they could win $4,000 to be given to the island charity of their choice.

Marquel Waldron, the man behind the event, said he was impressed by how quickly the corporate world and local business community had responded to the opportunity, after it was highlighted by The Royal Gazette in January.

“Most of the companies realise the value of the event,” he said. “All 16 teams we were looking for have signed up, and we have secured some sponsorship and partnerships.”

Among the companies taking part are Aon, Markel, Endurance, Anchor Investment Management, Ironshore Insurance, RenaissanceRe and KPMG. Also in the mix are the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and title sponsors the Bermuda Economic Development Agency.

Mr Waldron runs Xtreme Sports Ltd. He had the idea of bringing the fun games and activities to the island after seeing a game of bubble football being played in England. Bubble football is played in the same manner as regular football, except that the players are each inside a large inflatable bubble so they can bump into their opponents.

Mr Waldron hoped that exposing corporations to the fun activities like human bowling and volley pong, would lead to further bookings from companies and businesses seeking to organise their own team-bonding and fun day events.

That has started to happen and Mr Waldron expects more private bookings to follow in the wake of the Games, which take place at the National Sports Centre North Field next month.

The Xtreme Sports business plan was created after the idea won the Pitch Town category in the BEDC’s Rocket Pitch competition for entrepreneurs in November.

Mr Waldron said the success of the Games would highlight the work the BEDC does to support small and medium-sized business in Bermuda, and particularly the value of the Rocket Pitch initiative.

Looking ahead to next month’s event, he said some of the equipment for the various games is already on the island, while more is en route.

“We will have four or five new sports for this event and then we’ll look to bring in other stuff.”

The winning team will be given $4,000 to be awarded to the Bermuda charity or non-profit group of their choice.

Mr Waldron said another aim of the event was to provide advice on healthy lifestyles, and in order to do this, Xtreme Sports has linked up with the Northshore Medical and Aesthetics Centre, which is helping to sponsor the event.

Other sponsors include hosts Bermemes, Barritts, Powerade, and Coors Light.

There is free admission to watch the Xtreme Sports Games, which are scheduled to take place between 12pm and 6pm.

For more information, visit https://www.xtremesportsbmd.com/