Canada resigned to low-key Games

TORONTO, March 7 (Reuters) With virtually the whole of ice hockey-mad Canada gearing up for the NHL playoffs, it is little surprise the Commonwealth Games have failed to generate much interest.

Olympic gold medal gymnast Kyle Shewfelt and world champion diver Alexandre Despatie will lead Canada's 253-strong team to Melbourne for the March 15-26 Games, but many of the country's top athletes will not be making the trip.

Among those missing will be world championship 400 metres bronze medallist Tyler Christopher and 2000 Olympic triathlon champion Simon Whitfield.

Canada, the first country to host the Games in 1930, will not be sending a basketball team as the country felt it could not field a sufficiently competitive squad.

The country's national television network, CBC, was not going to televise any of the Melbourne Games until an 11th hour deal was struck. It will now broadcast a nightly highlight package.

''It's unfortunate there is not much interest in the Games because of the timing,'' Canadian Chef de Mission Ross Outerbridge told Reuters.

''The Olympics, Paralympics, world figure skating championships, world curling championships, NHL playoffs will all be going on in Canada -- that timing issue is very unfortunate.

''It has also impacted on who will come and perform in Melbourne because it's six months out of sync with our normal competitive year.

''So there are things like that are impacting on how people will notice and pay attention to the Games.'' HIERARCHY ''But on top of that there has also been a perceived hierarchy in Canada of the importance of different Games and unfortunately from a media and public stand point I don't think the Commonwealth Games have been given the profile it deserves.'' Despite some notable absentees, Commonwealth Games Canada is confident the team can match or better its performance at the 2002 Manchester Games when Canada finished third in the overall medals table behind Australia and England on 116.

The diving events are likely to be a major contributor to Canada's medal total.

''The Commonwealth Games are a high profile event and of course I'll always have a soft spot for it,''' said diver Despatie, who made his international breakthrough at the Games when he won gold on the tower in 1998 at the age of 13.

Brittany Reimer will be looking to build on Canada's success at the world aquatic championships, while cycling could also produce medals from Marie-Helene Premont, Lyne Bessette and veteran Gord Fraser.

High jumper Mark Boswell will be back to defend his Commonwealth title while Paralympics champion wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc, winner of five gold medals in Athens, will be looking to add to her trophy case.

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