It will take more cold, hard cash if Bermuda is to again bask in the warmth of Olympic hardware.

That was the message from outgoing Bermuda Olympic Association president Austin Woods to those attending yesterday's gala reception at Camden for the Island's representatives at the recently completed Sydney Games.

Woods, attending one of his last official functions as head of the local body emphasised the need for Government and, indeed, all of Bermuda to better support athletes in order that they can reach the next level of greatness.

"There's absolutely no doubt about it, the six participants that we had were very capable of performing, and maybe it's reached a time for Bermuda to start to look at what it takes to bring a medal home,'' said Woods during a brief address to the athletes, officials, friends, family and gathered media.

"Because the Pan American Games certainly were successful by far. And certainly the Commonwealth Games were more successful by far. And at these Olympic Games I think we've had people that have come fourth and fifth many times and maybe it is time that we look at what it takes to get to the next level of winning medals.

"Everyone else is spending the money to do that and I think it behoves us as a country to take that step and look at what it takes to win medals at these Games.'' To back up his statement the president drew reference to the host nation, Australia, which poured out millions in an effort to assure medal success.

"There is one observation that I've made from these Games and I think that it probably behoves us to really take a look at,'' he added. "I think that in the four years leading up to the Games, Australia spent something like about three-and-a-half million dollars with the Russians to show them how to win medals.'' Reaction though was mixed among competitors, with sailor Sara Lane Wright agreeing that money would indeed make a difference in affording a professional type approach, while, conversely, counterpart Peter Bromby said the approach offered no guarantee.

"I think the hardest thing is I became a full-time athlete the week before the Pan Am Games, but up to that point and, still, up to now money is very important,'' said Wright, who endured her first Games, placing 25th in the Europe Dinghy Class.

Continued on page 15 Olympic plea for money Continued from page 13 Wright continued: "You never know where it's going to come from and you have to spend as much time knocking on doors as you do training, and I think it takes a lot away from the athletes' performance.

"So it would make a huge difference if there was something else developed here in Bermuda to help athletes who are out there.

"The other (young sailors) athletes coming up have lots of camps, training clinics, regattas on the sailing side all set up, but the ones that are further up and are actually trying to go to the Games it's very difficult, because it involves a lot more money.'' Meanwhile, Bromby saw the issue in a different light.

"I think that cases would have to be looked at individually, rather than being blanketed,'' said Bromby, who, along with Lee White, made Bermuda sailing history in recording a best ever fourth place finish this time around in the Star Class. "The reality is I don't think I would be able to give the time that would require me to go sailing for 365 days a year.

"Going into Savannah we moved there three months in advance and probably, as sailors go, was as professional of an approach that we've ever used and we were 13th. This time around, while the effort was still there, it was in short concentrated bursts. In fact we were the last people in our class to arrive at the Games.''