BERMUDA went into these Olympic Games with a small team and even fewer expectations. And they emerged this week with some hard lessons learned.

Nobody could argue that any of them gave anything but their all, and in any athlete's career it doesn't get much better than being chosen for the Olympics.

But these days, and perhaps it's been that way for some time, the Games are big business.

Many of those who grabbed gold over the last two weeks are unlikely to have to ever work. And if they do, it will be on their terms.

But then again, in general terms, they never have worked. The word 'amateur' is virtually obsolete.

Those who grabbed Olympic glory have been concentrating solely on their particular sport year after year, with few distractions.

It's a fact that will have not gone unnoticed by Bermuda's Olympians, most of whom have had to combine education with training.

And for the likes of triathlete Flora Duffy, swimmers Kiera Aitken and Roy Allen Burch, long jumpers Tyrone Smith and Arantxa King and any other Bermudians who aspire to make their mark in the next Games in 2012, sport has to become a full-time profession. Even trying to put education and training on the same level, as will be the case for King, is unlikely to work out.

Bermuda Chef de Mission Phil Guishard, who has travelled to previous Olympic, Commonwealth and Pan American Games, realises the standard is increasing with every year, making it almost impossible for a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic to compete. It's noticeable that every one of Bermuda's six in Beijing are based overseas.

"The number one achievement is that we in Bermuda should recognise is that's incredibly difficult to get to the Games," said Guishard.

"We have to realise we are a population of 65,000, we are really honoured to have six people represent us at these world events.

"In my opinion we had six who were carefully selected, we have no qualms about the choices.

"I think they all did the best they could in the circumstances.

"But some of the factors mean that they can't perform at their very best.

"Generally speaking we have been quite pleased with their efforts and happy with their performances while they've been here."

At the very least, Bermuda's small squad will leave Beijing with memories that will last a lifetime.

All Olympics have their own characteristics, but China's ancient culture, the efficiency demanded under a Communist regime and the overwhelming desire to teach the rest of the world that the East can compete with the West in every way, have been the hallmarks of these Games.

Guishard, certainly, has been impressed.

"The whole event has been very well organised," he said. "The Chinese people and the organisation should be very pleased with the way things have gone.

"The Village is probably the largest I've ever stayed in and it has been very efficiently run. It is a very clean place, very eco friendly and there is high concern for the environment.

"And the food in the Village which is always, of course, dear to athletes has been excellent. There is a good variety and generally speaking I'd have to say these Games have been well run."