By KARAN MINNIS, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter

In one week, The Bahamas will once again celebrate the accomplishments of its Olympic athletes on the world stage in a week of celebrations set to span the whole country.

Set to kick off on Friday, October 10 with a National T-shirt day and a proclamation read by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Hubert Ingraham, these events, which will conclude on Saturday, October 19, are all about celebrating their accomplishments, says Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Desmond Bannister.

"As you are aware, The Bahamas took a 25-member national team to this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, China, where they represented our country in an extraordinary manner, showing the world that even though Team Bahamas has an origin in a small nation of islands, it continues to be a world power on the world stage - at the highest level of competition where the world's best athletes are invited," said Bannister in a recent interview with The Guardian.

"The statistics from the games in Beijing, China revealed that out of 205 nations which participated in this year's Summer Olympics, Team Bahamas accumulated two medals, one a silver medal in the men's 4x400 meters relay and a bronze medal by triple jumper Leevan 'Superman' Sands. These results show that on a per capita basis, The Bahamas is the most successful team at this year's Summer Olympic Games."

Just last week Bannister, who described this year's feat by the Olympic team as the best showing by any small nation in the world, asked The Bahamas to join him and his ministry in welcoming the team back home during a series of celebratory events.

The athletes, who are expected home on Saturday, October 11, will parade through the streets of the capital immediately after their arrival during a motorcade to celebrate their return. Activities will then continue with a church service on Sunday, a visit to the House of Assembly on Wednesday and trips throughout the Family Islands.

According to Bannister this year's celebrations will be held in two parts, a meet and greet the athletes and a fundraiser for islands which received devastation from hurricanes (tropical storms) this year. The first being "The 'Breakfasting Bahamian," which is the first of two morning breakfast meals and will be held on the Discovery Day Holiday (October 13) at the Hotel College Restaurant at 9:00 a.m. Then at 7:00 p.m. that day, the second event entitled "Cruising with the Stars," will be held aboard the MV Yellow Bird. It will leave the Prince George Dock.

This will be followed by a week of touring the Islands and visits to various schools and institutions. See below for the week's events.

Schedule of Activities

Friday, October 10

* National T-shirt day sponsored and coordinated by the Bahamas Olympic Association in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

* Proclamation of Team Bahamas Week by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

Saturday, October 11

* 12:00 noon - Arrival of athletes and airport reception

* 1:00 p.m. - Motorcade ending at Arawak Cay: Route from Airport - continue on airport road, past Lake Cunningham to Gladstone Road, south on Gladstone Road to Carmichael Road, east on Carmichael Road to Blue Hill Road, north on Blue Hill Road to Soldier Road, east on Soldier Road to East Street, south on East Street to Cowpen Road, Pinewood Boulevard junction, east on Pinewood Boulevard to Charles Saunders Highway junction, north on Pigeon Plum Boulevard to Sapodilla Boulevard, west on Sapodilla Boulevard to East Street. North on East Street to Robinson Road, east on Robinson Road to Marathon, north on Marathon to Wulff Road, west on Wulff Road to East Street. North on East Street to Ross Corner, west on Ross Corner to Market Street, north on Market Street to Lewis Street, west on Lewis Street to Blue Hill Road, north on Blue Hill Road to Cumberland Street to Bay Street, west on Bay Street to Arawak Cay.

* 6:00 p.m. - Transfer of athletes to Atlantis.

* 9:00 p.m. - Musical concert at Arawak Cay in tribute to Team Bahamas featuring local artists.

* 11:00 p.m. - Transfer of athletes to Atlantis.

Sunday, October 12

* 10:00 a.m. - Transfer of athletes from Atlantis.

*11:00 a.m. - Service of Thanksgiving: Christ Church Cathedral, George Street .

* 2:00 p.m. - Lunch hosted by Scotiabank. To be held at Sandals/Fort Charlotte.

Monday, October 13 - Public Holiday

* 8:00 a.m. - Transfer of athletes to Hotel Training College.

* 9:00 a.m. - Team Bahamas Hurricane Relief fundraiser: 'Breakfasting Bahamian' - Hotel College Restaurant on Thompson Boulevard.

* 7:00 p.m. - Team Bahamas Hurricane Relief fundraiser: 'Cruising with the stars' on the MV Yellow Bird - Prince George Dock, Bay Street.

Tuesday, October 14

* 8:00 a.m. - Transfer of athletes to Hotel Training College.

* 9:00 a.m. - Breakfast at Police Headquarters.

* 10:30 a.m. - School visitations along with visits to the Williemae Pratt and Simpson Penn Centers.

* 2:00 p.m. - Luncheon at Government House.

Wednesday, October 15

* 9:00 a.m. - Transfer of athletes to Hotel Training College.

* 10:00 a.m. - Courtesy Call on the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, M.P., PC. Cabinet Office, Rawson Square.

* 11:30 a.m. - Visit to Parliament as guests of the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture. Resolution by the Minister of Youth Sports and Culture honoring Team Bahamas for its achievements at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

* 12:30 a.m. - Luncheon sponsored by the Bahamas Olympic Association.

* 2:00 p.m. - Public Service Ads and Tape Messages for Schools.

Thursday, October 16

* 6:00 a.m. - Departure from Hotel for Airport.

* 7:00 a.m. - Travel to Eleuthera.

* 8:00 a.m. - Welcome and Reception at Rock Sound Airport.

* 8:30 a.m. - Breakfast and Press Party.

* 10:30 a.m. - Junkanoo Reception and Schools Rally in Rock Sound.

* 12:00 p.m. - Depart for Grand Bahama.

* 2:00 p.m. - Arrival and Reception at Grand Bahamas Airport.

* 2:30 p.m. - Junkanoo Reception and Schools Rally at Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

* 3:00 p.m. - Courtesy Call on Senator Kay Forbes-Smith Office of the Prime Minster.

Friday, October 15

* 6:00 a.m. - Athletes Transfer to Airport.

* 7:00 a.m. - Depart for Mathew Town, Inagua.

* 10:00 a.m. - Arrival and Reception at Airport in Inagua.

* 10:30 a.m. - Schools Rally at the Baseball Park in Inagua and distribution of gifts by athletes.

* 12:30 p.m. - Lunch

* 2:00 p.m. - Athletes Depart for Cat Island.

* 3:00 p.m. - Arrival of Athletes in Cat Island.

* 3:30 p.m. - Rally for school children at the Airport and distribution of gifts by athletes.

* 4:30 p.m. - Athletes Depart for New Providence.

* 6:00 p.m. - Athletes Arrive in New Providence.

Saturday, October 16

* 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Poster Autograph and Radio Remote at Robinhood. Live Remote by ZNS.

* 7:00 p.m. - National Reception and Presentation of Incentive Awards, held under the Distinguished Patronage of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minster in the Imperial Ball Room of the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.