lifeline by Bermuda Olympic Association, with the BOA council extending the qualifying deadline to Sunday.

BOA president Austin Woods revealed yesterday that Xavier James, Devon Bean and Terrance Armstrong could still make the squad if successful at the Canada Dry Canadian National Championships in Victoria, British Columbia this weekend.

At present Bermuda's Games squad consists of equestrienne Mary Jane Tumbridge, swimmer Stephen Fahy, sailors Sara Lane Wright, Peter Bromby and Lee White, along with triple jump specialist Brian Wellman.

"The council decided to give three athletes that hadn't qualified up to the meeting date yesterday (Wednesday) a chance to do that this weekend at the Canadian Nationals,'' explained Woods."Should they not meet the standard then, the squad will remain as is.'' Sprinter James, for one, was grateful at being afforded another shot and promised to give his all as he competes in the 100 and 200 metres on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

James has been nursing a sore right quadriceps muscle and only resumed training last Sunday, but was optimistic about his chances.

"I'm not planning on not making it, I mean to do it,'' said James when contacted in Victoria. "This is my last chance and I intend to put everything on the line and see what happens.

"As long as I warm up properly it (quadriceps) should be okay. It felt good on Tuesday and Wednesday, but I haven't tested it in race conditions.

"I'll blow it out in the 100 and see how I feel before going for the 200.'' Bean is said to be concentrating on the long jump as his ticket to Sydney, while there was no word as to whether Armstrong would actually make a final attempt in either the 800 or his favoured 1500 metres.

Meanwhile, news regarding a late bid to have top cyclist Elliot Hubbard awarded a place on the starting line was not nearly so bright, with Woods pessimistic as to his chances.

"We have not had a positive response from the IOC or the International Federation and the chances look pretty slim right now, because I believe that particular sport has been over-subscribed,'' said Woods, in his last year as head of the local Olympic body.

"The only chance they stood was if there was a pull-out by a team or country, but that doesn't look very promising at the moment.'' Despite the likelihood of Bermuda sending three less athletes to the Games than it did in 1996 in Atlanta, Woods rated it a good crop, one that could very well bring home a medal.

Said Woods: "I think that all of the individuals have worked extremely hard over the last four years and are very deserving to go.

"I have absolutely no doubt at all about any of the individuals that are going, because they've worked hard enough to go to Sydney and have been consistent in their performance over the last four years.

"I think they will represent us well and that there are some good chances for us, especially in the likes of Mary Jane, Brian and Peter.'' Phil Guishard will accompany the squad as chef-de-mission and team manager, and will be joined by eight other officials, barring any late qualifiers.

The team will begin departing around August 25, with the Games officially getting underway on September 15.

One more try: Terrance Armstrong (left) and Devon Bean's hopes of competing in September's Sydney Olympics will rest on a final bid to qualify this weekend.