the sport that will take him to the Winter Olympics.

He can also give a big thank you for indirectly paying his way.

Payne, the Island's first Winter Olympian, represented Bermuda in the luge in the 1992 and 1994 Games. But those were in the days before the Bermuda Olympic Association's elite athlete fund, a pool designed to financially aid the Island's international competitors, had really become established.

"Simon did it mostly by himself,'' said BOA secretary general John Hoskins, who accompanied Payne to both Albertville, France, and Lillehammer, Norway, and will do the same when Singleton goes to Nagano, Japan, in February.

Winter sports and Bermuda didn't -- and don't -- exactly have a rich history, meaning Payne was pretty much a lone wolf on the World Cup luge circuit.

Almost four years later, Singleton has not only met IFL standards -- qualifying in Austria last week -- he's also in line for public funds to help cover training expenses in the lead up to the February 8-9 luge competition.

In fact, he's already received some financial assistance, although Hoskins said it "wasn't a lot.'' Payne did have his Olympic expenses defrayed by the IOC but struggled to make ends meet on the circuit. Payne, who says he spent about $10,000 annually plying his trade, ultimately founded the Bermuda Luge Federation prior to the Albertville Games.

"A lot of the groundwork was done for (Patrick),'' Payne said recently.

And Singelton is grateful.

"John and Simon have been instrumental in my success,'' he said. "I wouldn't have been able to do what I'm doing now without their help.'' Singleton is currently training on his "home track'' -- the Olympic course in Calgary, Alberta -- where he'll likely remain until a brief trip home over Christmas. He expects to hit Nagano in early January although it was not known whether he would stay there until the Games begin on February 7.

"It's all very exploratory at this stage,'' said Hoskins, saying he would sit down with Singleton to address what his needs are.

"This is all very new to us.'' There is also the possibility of some corporate sponsorship coming Singleton's way.

Singleton's name had already been submitted provisionally to the IOC and the BOA is awaiting confirmation from the IFL before pressing on with the paperwork.

When Payne competed, IFL standards were not even in place. "We just looked at his results (through the season) and said whether he was good enough,'' Hoskins recalled.

Now that Singletown has his ticket into the big dance, the big question is, of course, what to wear.

Bermuda do not have a national winter uniform and likely won't start now.

Payne and the BOA were able to take advatnage of a sponsorship deal with Columbia sportswear the past two Olympics and Hoskins is hoping a similar arrangement can be worked out.

Then there's the matter of wearing Bermuda shorts at the opening ceremonies.

Singleton only chuckled at the prospect but Hoskins hinted he might, as both he and Payne did in France.

What about Lillehammer? "It was 18 (degrees) below (zero),'' laughed Hoskins.

In other words, get real.

While he allowed himself some frivolity over the issue of shorts, Singleton is taking his task very seriously. Even after learning he qualified for the Games, there was no celebrataion. "I was elated for about 15 minutes, then I had to focus on work that night,'' he said.

"I want to show everybody that this wasn't a fluke.'' Even after his bronze medal in the Nations Cup meet in France ten days ago -- the Island's first in a Winter event -- Singleton said he has a long way to go.

"What I've done doesn't measure up to the things Simon's done in his career,'' he said. "He was definitely a better slider than I am.'' Payne's best finish in his six years was tenth in a World Cup event in Lake Placid in 1991. But Payne's utter fearlessness on the track has made him somewhat of a legend among veteran luge athletes, Singleton said. "Even now, when people find out I'm from Bermuda they all ask when he's coming back.'' Singleton said he would like to see Bermuda put together a national luge team -- with Payne as the coach.

SIMON PAYNE Bermuda Winter Olympian in 1994