The Bermuda Debate Team is showing the flag in London at the World Championships.

Speaking from his hotel room last night, coach Gladstone Thompson said the team's jump of two spots overnight to sixth place was "tremendous''.

He said: "The message that I would like to tell everyone is: the competition is so fierce, any team into the final 16 tomorrow can go all the way.'' Mr. Thompson continued: "Our kids have done a tremendous job. We'll celebrate if we go through or not. This has been a learning experience.'' "They are a team, and some have realised that others may need to be pushed to the front,'' he said."They are all really doing Bermuda proud!'' The five member team defeated Spain and the Ukraine yesterday in unanimous decisions from the judges.

The results are weighted by the relative strength of competing teams.

Bermuda is now in sixth place behind such superpowers as Scotland, Australia, England and the US, who Bermuda meet this morning.

Mr. Thompson concluded: "Thursday is basically a day of reckoning for them.

We meet the USA in an impromptu debate. If we lose we still go through to the final 16 -- the octo-finals -- but that becomes a knockout competition.'' He added: "This is what they trained for.''