Sport cuts across all social and cultural boundaries and nowhere is that more evident than at the Orbis World Bridge Championships, currently being held at the Southampton Princess.

Forty teams from 20 countries are pitting their wits against each other for the chance to win the 50th Bermuda Bowl or the Venice Cup -- and whilst on the bridge table it is just two against two, behind the scenes the differences are often stark.

Take the eastern Europeans or Asian teams. Some, such as China, are sponsored by their own governments while others, like the Bulgarians, have put their bid together on a shoestring.

And then there is the skill level. Bermuda, whose team play mainly for fun and have never qualified for the world championships, find themselves, as host nation, sitting next to professionals.

Bermuda's ladies team member Judy Bussell said it was wonderful to rub shoulders with the giants of Bridge.

"It is wonderful for us to have the opportunity to sit down at a table against these players and find out that they are just human beings,'' she said.

Using a sporting analogy, it really is like Bermuda's soccer team being pitched into a tournament against France, Brazil, Italy and England -- playing against teams they have only heard of or seen on television.

But in a bid to even up the odds, the Island brought in a top Canadian Bridge coach, who gave the players an intensive training session to set them on the right track.

Bermuda Bowl men's captain Kevin Comeau adds: "It is a chance in a lifetime.

We couldn't be more thrilled.'' A surprise entry in the contest was Bulgaria, who beat many experienced European countries to the final -- but after having qualified began the real work of funding their trip.

Captain Jerry Stamatov described their situation: "For us to come here, it is very, very difficult. The Bulgarian standard of living is low and most people have an average salary of $150 a month -- you can imagine what that means to pay $10,000 for air tickets to come here.

"Thanks to people in Bermuda who have let us stay in their homes, it was possible.'' As well as the Bermudian residents opening their homes to the Bulgarians, generous locals have poured cash into a "food account'' at Whites and Sons supermarket, to ease the burden even more.

In Bulgaria, bridge is not nationally recognised and there are only around 500 active players -- so for the country to come fourth in the European qualifications was something of a feat, especially when you factor in their age range of between 27 and 38.

All the equipment for the three-week contest had to be shipped in from current world champions France, including special tables and screens, card shuffling machines, official playing cards and computers.

Thousands of feet of video cabling and screens have been installed, so those not playing can keep up to date with the latest action the playing rooms.

No spectators are allowed inside the rooms, and inside all is quiet for up to three hours at a time as the battle rages.

Daily updates of the winners and losers is posted on a newspaper produced specially for the event, and bridge columnists from around the world let their readers in on all the action.

But before the first cards had been played, an army of volunteers had ensured the Fairmont Southampton Princess was transformed into a tournament arena.

And during the event, sponsored by Orbis Investment Management Ltd to the tune of $1 million, 200 volunteers are ensuring everything comes up trumps.