Bermuda's contingent for this year's Pan-American Games in Argentina is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever to represent the Island at the quadrennial sports festival.

Besides the Under-23 soccer team who qualified in Jamaica in December, the squad will also include a strong sailing team numbering as many as ten, a track and field delegation and at least one cyclist.

Bermuda Olympic Association, who will name the final Games party in mid February, are also understood to be considering sending a karate team and the Island's leading water skier Kent Richardson.

Bermuda's top tennis players, who will make history next month when they travel to the Dominican Republic to compete for the first time in the Davis Cup, are also given an outside chance of taking part in the Games.

However, both local equestrians and swimmers who have met the qualifying standards, have decided against making the March trip to South America.

In total, the squad could number more than 50 including competitors, coaches and managers. Equestrian official Michael Cherry has already been named as chef de mission.

A party that size would make it one of the largest to have represented the Island at any international event since Bermuda's successful Pan-Am squad of 1967. That year saw Bermuda's soccer team, including a brilliant young Clyde Best, return from Winnipeg, Canada, with the silver medal.

This time around, much attention will again focus on the soccer team as they attempt to regroup and reproduce the form that eliminated both Canada and Jamaica in qualifying matches before the morale-sapping events that followed December's Miami drug arrests.

However, against teams such as hosts Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile, not to mention the USA, their medal hopes remain slim.

Bermuda's best chances appear to rest on the track and on the water.

Commonwealth Games triple jump bronze medallist Brian Wellman will be a favourite to at least emulate his performance in Victoria last summer although his competition, including his coach and world number one Mike Conley, will be just as stiff.

Sprinter Troy Douglas, who is likely to fly to Argentina directly from the World Indoor Championships in Europe, is another who could make an impression.

Douglas has a habit of producing his best on the big occasion as shown by his success in Victoria when he stormed through to the final of the 200 metres, one of the track's most fiercely contested events.

Others who are currently being considered for the track and field team include steeplechaser Terrance Armstrong and middle distance runner Jennifer Fisher.

Armstrong endured a baptism of fire at the Commonwealth Games when he came up against the might of Kenya in the steeplechase and trailed home last. But he's continued to improve, and his recent showing during International Race Weekend when he led home the locals in the 10K a day after holding his own against some world class milers during the Front Street Mile suggests he should be given another chance in the international arena. It's understood he's met the qualifying standards at both 1,500 metres and in the steeplechase.

Fisher, meanwhile, qualified for Pan-Am with her times at both 1,500 and 800 metres in Victoria, and on the local scene since has been invincible.

Like Armstrong, she also has upped her training, winning every event in the cross country season and leading the way in the Front Street Mile and International 10K.

In sailing, Bermuda will turn to world champions such as Peter Bromby and Malcolm Smith to make a move on the medal table.

Former IOD champ Bromby turns his attention to the J24 class where, with an experienced crew of Lee White, Dennis Correia and Blythe Walker, he'll be considered a serious medal contender.

Smith, who was crowned world Sunfish champion two months ago after the regatta came to Bermuda, will also hope to build on that success when he sails in the Laser class.

Another medal hope will be Paula Lewin, who has performed well at international level in the past year, and will bid to carry over that success into the Europe Dinghy class.

Elizabeth Walker will compete in the Laser Radials while Stevie Dickinson and crew Heath Foggo take a wealth of experience into the Snipe division.

France-based cyclist Elliot Hubbard, outstanding at the Commonwealth Games when he finished 24th in a field of 84 over a torturous 180 kilometre course, gets another chance to rub shoulders with the elite, particularly the renowned Colombians.

And Kent Richardson is expected to make history by becoming the first Bermudian water-skier to participate at a major Games.

As with Richardson, however, the BOA have yet to make a firm decision on whether a karate team will be included in the party. But it's understood Bermuda Martial Arts Society are keen to compete and believe they have met the qualifying criteria.

The Island's swimmers, normally among the first to be considered for Pan-Am competition, have cited a conflict between the timing of this year's Games and school exams as the main reason for their absence.

National coach Gareth Davies noted recently that of those who travelled to Victoria, Jenny Smatt had stuck to her decision to retire from international events, Geri Mewett had taken a break from training and Chris Flook was still troubled by a shoulder injury.

Others such as Stephen Fahy, Trevor Ferguson and Stanley Harris all faced school commitments.

The prohibitive cost of transporting horses from Europe -- where many of Bermuda's riders are based -- to Argentina, is largely responsible for the decision not take an equestrian team to the Games. The Island's top riders are reportedly more focused on ensuring qualification for next year's Olympics in Atlanta.

Pan-Am competition is due to open in the Atlantic coastal resort of Mar del Plata on March 11 and will continue at various venues, including Buenos Aires, until March 26.

However, the soccer tournament is scheduled to begin a day earlier on March 10 at two venues some 100 miles outside Mar del Plata.

Brian Wellman