Ten pin bowler Antoine Jones led Bermuda's Pan-Am Games contingent at last night's opening ceremony.

Jones, who along with fellow bowlers Steven Riley, June Dill and Dianne (Bobbie) Ingham, will begin his medal quest today, proudly carried the flag at the parade of nations held at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium.

Organisers put to one side organisational problems in this Caribbean nation, to put on a star-studded extravaganza that included Boston Red Sox baseball ace and local hero Pedro Martinez and the Island's President Hipolito Mejia. New York Mayor and Bermuda resident Michael Bloomberg was also scheduled to be in attendance.

A cast of 10,000 took part in the show which came to a climax with a massive fireworks display.

Many of the Island's top singers entertained the crowds along with the National Symphonic Orchestra, National Chorus and Dominican National Ballet.

Not all of Bermuda's competitors had arrived by last night due to the staggered approach being taken towards accommodation.

However, those who are here, Sunfish sailor Malcolm Smith and diver Katura Horton-Perinchief and the aforementioned bowlers did take part in last night's festivities.

Bermuda will also be represented by track and field competitors Ashley Couper, Tamika Williams, Xavier James and Brian Wellman, cyclists Kris Hedges, Geri Mewett and Julia Hawley, Laser sailor Zander Kirkland and swimmers Kiera Aitken and Ronald Cowen.

Though not Bermudian, Island resident and sailor Martin Vezina is also here representing his native Canada in the Sunfish class.

Bermuda's chef de mission Christine Hoskins was pleased with the way preparations had gone, despite the headaches caused by staging an event of this magnitude.

"Everyone here has been very, very helpful," she said. "They are very friendly.

"There have been a number of challenges with the sizes of the delegations that are arriving but they have been tremendous and have gone the extra mile in trying to get things smoothed out."

As for the athletes, they cannot wait for the serious business to begin.

"They are all very keen to get started and are all training," Hoskins said. "They are desperate to get in as much as they can beforehand."

The Games run until August 18.