One Classic event has only just finished but excitement in some quarters is already building for the next Classic clash of world-class sportsmen on the Island.

The rugby stars departed on Sunday and Monday after between 20,000 and 30,000 fans had been entertained at the National Sports Centre last week with South Africa emerging as champions for the second year in a row in the unofficial Over 35s World Cup.

And just as the top international rugby playing nations were represented in that event, in just five months the best retired stars from the world?s top cricketing countries will descend on that same venue for a high-impact, visual spectacular of their own.

Stellar names such as Joel Garner, Aravinda De Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Merv Hughes, Clive Rice, Robin Smith, Kim Hughes and Collis King will be flying into to compete in the 20-20 World Cricket Classic, a festival being put on by the same local organisers as gave Bermuda the rugby.

And international organiser of next year?s festivities, Get Fit Foundation chief executive Keith Pont, was here to enjoy the rugby ? along with all its trimmings ? and look ahead to next year?s sports orgy.

?Just sitting here, looking around at the crowd and the lights and the facilities, it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end,? said Pont, surveying the pitch while enjoying some of the Classic hospitality last week.

?Having seen the rugby last year, which I think was a wonderful event, we began to make plans to bring a cricket event here run along similar lines.

?Just coming back here and looking around shows us we made the right decision and we are already getting very excited about next year?s cricket.

?Seeing this place full of cheering fans gives us an idea of what it is going to be like for the cricket. And although we haven?t even had the first event yet, we want to be able to build the cricket into something like the rugby which has enjoyed 18 years of great success.?

One criticism of the rugby locally ? despite what it does for tourism and sport in general on the Island ? has been the lack of Bermudian fans turning out on the bleachers, with many of those who make up the nearly 7,000 crowds ex-pats supporting their various nations of origin in a sport that hasn?t had a strong following here for years.

That is a problem the cricket organisers won?t have to concern themselves with, given the national sport is high on everyone?s agenda following the Island?s most successful international summer on record ? including qualifying for the 2007 World Cup.

This fact has not escaped the attention of organisers who are looking to cash in on the cricketing craze that is sweeping Bermuda by opening up their tournament with Bermuda at centre stage.

Gus Logie?s side will take on a West Indies team of legends that includes Garner and King with names such as Curtley Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Viv Richards also being bandied about.

?We are expecting a sell-out for the opening game, nothing less than that,? continued Pont.

?With the Bermuda boys preparing for the World Cup, having a 20 overs thrash against a team of legends that their own coach was once part of will be a great event.

?People are going to be flocking down to what should be a spectacular week of cricket.?

Accredited travel agents in each of the seven other participating nations ? England, South Africa, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, West Indies and Sri Lanka ? are selling packages to the Island and interest internationally in the event is high.

As well as just the cricket, the Get Fit Foundation are also organising a massive health expo to take place at the adjoining National Stadium throughout the week as part of their wider message of spreading the word on general health and fitness.