Barcelona is expected to be considerably smaller than the squad of eight that went to the Pan Am Games in Cuba last year.

With the prominent husband-and-wife team of Mike and Donna Watson passing up the chance to qualify, national track and field coach Gerry Swan said that the final count for Bermuda may be about five at the most.

Originally Swan had estimated that Bermuda could be sending close to 10, but he now admits that the figure was probably inflated.

"I would think that somewhere around five or six would be a more realistic number now,'' said Swan, who has been checking on various meets abroad so that athletes like sprinter Nick-Cole DeSilva and jumper Fred Lottimore in particular can attend in order to increase their chances of meeting qualifying times for the Olympics.

The coach revealed that although Watson was still training, the well-known middle-distance runner was not giving major competitions like the Olympics consideration at this stage. The coach also said that Watson's wife Donna, a recent winner of the Bermuda Government's Athlete of the Year award, has in fact retired.

"Mike is simply pretty busy these days finishing off a house and doing a lot of renovation. At this stage the squad for the Olympics looks as though it will be much smaller with no females likely to go, unless something exciting happens,'' added Swan. "It looks like it will be an all-male affair.'' Donna Watson said that the fact that she is not contending for a place in the Bermuda team for Barcelona comes as no surprise because she made her intentions known after the Pan Am Games. She and Mike were married in October.

"It was always my intention to take a break from track and field this year.

That was my view after the Pan Am Games and it hasn't changed,'' said Donna.

She added: "I needed a break . I've been at this since I graduated in 1981 and before that I was busy with CARIFTA. So it was easy to see that I was in bad need of rest from the sport after the Pan Am Games.'' There will definitely be no changing Donna's mind as she and Mike are expecting their first child later this year.

Donna was one of three women who represented Bermuda in Cuba, running in both the 800 and 1,500 metres. The other two members were Terry-Lynn Paynter and Anna Eatherley.

The five male members who went to Cuba were Clarance (Nicky) Saunders, Brian Wellman, Troy Douglas, Fred Lottimore and Watson.

Bermuda's team for Barcelona will no doubt by led by the three athletes who are presently based in the United States -- Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning high jumper Saunders, NCAA triple jump champion Wellman and sprinter Douglas. All three have already qualified.

For those attempting to qualify Swan is checking on meets in the south of the United States and when the weather improves further attention will be given for meets in the Boston area and Canada.

DONNA WATSON -- Expecting a baby late this year.