Five of Bermuda?s students will attend the World Scholar Athlete Games this year. The event ends on Sunday at Rhode Island University in Kingston. Former president Bill Clinton will be the keynote speaker for the Games.

The Games, conceived by the Institute for International Sport, are derived from the tradition of the Olympic Games but have an added dimension.

The aim is to promote understanding and friendship among youth establishing open, non-political, long-standing relationships between tomorrow?s world leaders using sports and the arts as means of communication.

This years five scholars from Bermuda are Warwick Academy?s Akil Smith, Berkeley Institute?s Rochelle Minors, Somersfield Academey?s Shakira Warner, Mt. Saint Agnes graduate Jabar Tuzo-Smith and Fredrick Wade of Berkeley. The young people partake in a tribute to personal achievement and cultural diversity.

Special events and speakers have been lined up for participants. Speakers include Claes Nobel, of the Nobel Peace Prize family and Mr. Clinton, who will deliver the keynote address.

Today participants will celebrate United Nations Day and hear from Dr. Djibri Diallo and Alan Shawn Feinstein on World Hunger, and the Institute will honour the UN Sport for Development and Peace project.

They will also hear from the former coach of the US Olympic Women?s soccer team, Tony DiCicco and Bode Miller, world champion and Olympic medallist skier as well as Senator George Mitchell, and Governor John Rowland.

Having recently graduated from Warwick Academy, 17-year-old, Akil Smith will be playing basketball at The Games. ?I have been playing basketball ever since the beginning of middle school,? he said and has played on Warwick Academy?s school basketball team.

In anticipation of The Games in Rhode Island he said, ?I am very excited. I just want to get out there and meet new people.?

Berkley Institute student Rochelle Minors, 16, will be involved in the theatre programme in Rhode Island. She said that she has been involved in drama since primary six and recently performed in Macbeth for her GCSE Drama course. She also does community theatre. Describing herself as fun, out going and open minded she is very excited about this trip: ?I like new things and experiences,? she said.

Shakira Warner, 14 will also be participating in the theatre aspect of The Games. She told the she had performed in her first play at six months old and has been involved in various plays since then.

Frederick Wade is an avid tennis player, which will be his area of participation at The Games.