Track and field legends Troy Douglas, Clarence (Nicky) Saunders and Brian Wellman will all be giving motivational speeches at the Bermuda Track and Field Association's (BTFA) Christmas banquet.

Olympic long jumper Tyrone Smith will also return to the Island from his US training base to attend the festive celebration at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on Saturday, December 19.

Earlier this year Douglas, Saunders and Wellman (who was inducted into the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame last week) were approached by the BTFA to share their expertise with those local athletes already competing at international level.

During the mid-1980s to late '90s all three athletes performed with distinction on the world stage and BTFA president Donna Watson hopes their decorated careers can help inspire Bermuda's stars of tomorrow to follow in their footsteps.

"Things are looking good for the event with all three of our speakers confirmed. Brian Wellman, Troy Douglas and Clarence (Nicky) Saunders are all excited and ready to come home and motivate our athletes," she said.

Also expected to be in attendance will be all of Bermuda's overseas university athletes, past BTFA presidents, acting Sports Minister Zane DeSilva, while former top local athlete Debbie Jones-Hunter will be the MC for the night.

Wellman, who will be presented with his Hall of Fame award at the banquet, won the world indoor championship title in 1995 in Barcelona, Spain.

Douglas, a 200 and 400 metre runner, competed at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympics and is the only Bermudian athlete to have reached three Olympic semi-finals.

High jumper Saunders won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, and held the Commonwealth record.