there will be more questions than answers.

Less than three months before the start of the quadrennial sports festival, athletes, coaches and even Bermuda's Chef de Mission, Joan Taplin, remain foggy on many details.

The when -- August 2 to 24 -- and the where -- Maracaibo, Venezuela -- are set. But exactly who's going and the conditions they'll face when they get there, are dilemmas that won't be answered for a while.

One of the biggest problems has to do with another major event, the Commonwealth Games, bigger, more prestigious, and only one month after the CACs -- much closer than normal.

Do sports such as athletics and swimming skip CAC? Do they send athletes to both? Or do they send a B team to Venezuela and an A team to Malaysia? Or vice versa? "We're right now trying to ascertain the timing of it,'' says Jim Ferguson, president of the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association. "We haven't come up with the magic answer yet.'' To date, four swimmers have met the tough qualifying standards for the Commonwealth Games. They and others are eligible for the CACs but Ferguson says it is "not possible'' for them to taper for both.

"That would not be fair to our swimmers or to the organisations involved,'' he said.

Even Austin Woods, president of the Bermuda Olympic Association, which oversees selection to the Commonwealth Games, didn't anticipate two appearances by the same top athletes a month apart.

"I don't think you'll see the Brian Wellmans of the world going to both,'' he said, referring to Bermuda's world-class triple jumper.

Which begs the question, who will attend CAC? At least 50 athletes, according to Woods.

This includes two teams -- Bermuda's men's and ladies hockey squads -- and it could grow even more with the addition of the national under-20 soccer team.

The Bermuda Football Association confirmed they were contemplating an invitation from CONCACAF to attend the Games. But before saying yes, the BFA first have to find out: a) if there are any qualifying games to play; b) how it impacts on their World Cup qualifying matches in the first week of August in Jamaica; and c) how much it would cost.

"The number of teams (going to CAC) has not been identified, so ultimately it would be a financial decision and a logistical decision based on a possible qualifying round,'' BFA general secretary David Sabir told The Royal Gazette .

"Certainly, any opportunity we can get to go out there and play quality opponents, we'll take it . .. it could be a month of football (for the under-20 team).'' Sabir said he was expecting answers shortly.

Cycling, sailing, gymnastics and shooting are other sports that Bermuda will likely contest in Venezuela.

But after hearing what Taplin is expected to tell them tonight, some sports groups may think twice about sending their best to CAC. Taplin returned last week from four days in the coastal city of Maracaibo and while reluctant to discuss her findings until after talking to national governing bodies, she did say "things are in a state of flux.'' In addition to conflicting reports about what events will be held where -- hockey, for instance, seems to be flipping between Trinidad and Caracas, about 250 miles from Maracaibo -- there is disorganisation, searing heat and, most worrisome, the possibility of incomplete facilities.

Taplin, however, said she had assurances from Venezuelan officials that refurbishments to the running track, soccer pitch, velodrome, outdoor swimming pool and athletes village would all be completed in time and would be of a high standard.

Unlike the Commonwealth Games, there are no qualifying standards for the CACs, except those set by the national governing body, who must also pay their own way to and from the competition.

Woods said he expected Bermuda to send probably their largest team ever to the Commonwealth Games.

In addition to track and field and swimming, Bermuda are expected to send for the first time a gymnastics team and a squash team against the best from Canada, Australia, Great Britain and others.

Last week, Christina White became the fourth local gymnast to meet the Commonwealth Games standard, when she competed at the USAIGC Regional Championship in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Needing an all-around score of 34, she totalled 34.4 and joined Laura Murphy, Leila Wadson and Jenny Wright as candidates for the trip to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, White and seven others qualified for the US national championships next month in Florida. Maria Darby and Sasha Christensen achieved the qualifying mark in Level Nine, Sara Cox, Alexandra Froncioni, Kristen Shrubb, Jackie Mayor and Rowan Hallett made it in Level Eight.