IN THEORY, Bermuda Olympic Association's plan to find individual company sponsors for individual elite athletes could enhance the Island's chance of producing competitors who could make their presence felt at the major Games and World Championships.

In practice, it's difficult to see in the present economic climate how the private sector could even consider taking on an unnecessary expense.

In the 1980s and 1990s and even at the beginning of this century, it might have been a viable proposition.

These days, with no end of the recession in sight, it would be difficult to persuade even the most philanthropic of companies to part with their cash.

Sprinter Tre Houston recently headed off to England to train under renowned coach Tony Lester thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Delhi Commonwealth Solidarity Fund.

Tyrone Smith was handed the same grant. But that came about only because Bermuda Track and Field Association president Donna Watson, one of the most proactive leaders in BTFA history, made a special application to those who administrate that fund.

It's aimed at preparing athletes for this year's Commonwealth Games in India.

Whether Bermuda will be able to draw on that fund again remains to be seen. Other small countries will almost certainly be making the same application and there's only so much in the kitty.

For years Bermuda's elite athletes have benefited from a Government grant but clearly it hasn't been sufficient to sustain a professional career.

Olympic sailor Peter Bromby had to rely on selling Christmas trees to fund his pre-Games training, which included several trips overseas.

Swimmer Roy Allen Burch had to find a way to juggle work and training in the USA in order to make the qualifying standard for the last Olympics in Beijing and his Games companion Kiera Aitken, perhaps the most successful international competitor in recent years, has had to live on a shoestring budget in Barcelona to make the grade.

There are numerous others, even with partial sponsorship and Government help, who have had difficulty making ends meet.

The BOA understand the athletes' dilemma and president Judy Simons is cognisant of the fact we'll never add to the one Olympic medal earned by Bermuda since the modern Games began – a bronze won by boxer Clarence Hill in Montreal in 1976 – unless more funds become available.

Almost every athlete who stands on a medal podium these days at the Olympics, Pan-Am and Commonwealth Games and Worlds, has got there because they've been able to concentrate purely on their particular sport.

Simons' dream might be just that – a dream.

Hopefully her plea won't fall on deaf ears. And clearly an assurance would have to be made that every cent provided would be spent wisely.

There are many in the community who believe that not only in the BOA but with other sports governing bodies, there has been too much wastage.

Two e-mails received by the Sports Desk this week questioned why, when only one athlete, Tucker Murphy, has qualified for the upcoming Winter Games is being accompanied by five officials – his coach, team manager Michael Murphy, chef de mission Carol Bromby, BOA president Simons and BOA general secretary Phil Guishard.

It's more than likely that expenses for both Simons and Guishard are being met by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but that should be explained to the public before efforts begin to raise money through company donations.

As it is, the plan is already an adventurous one.

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IN a frank interview with this newspaper earlier this week, long-time Bermuda Cricket Board president Reggie Pearman discussed the frustrations which have made his tenure so difficult.

His criticism echoed much of what the cricketing public have been saying for years.

He talked of how in the 1970s Bermuda had an abundance of talent but not the resources to send national teams abroad, while today we have the money but players who show far less commitment.

He talked about the fact that since $11 million was ploughed into the game since qualification for the last World Cup, standards have declined rather than improved.

He talked about how certain players and clubs still see Cup Match and County games as the pinnacle of Bermuda cricket rather than the international game.

He talked about why the gap between clubs and the governing body has widened rather than shrunk.

As a servant of cricket for the last 38 years, the last ten as president, Reggie's seen it all.

As he begins his last year in office, it would be fitting if his wishes for a national cricket academy, improved discipline and greater national pride were granted.

He deserves nothing less.

If they aren't, then his successor will inherit the same problems that have been so evident for so many years.

– ADRIAN ROBSON