With his bags packed, and the ring volume on his phones at maximum, Patrick Singleton is waiting for the call that could keep his Olympic dream alive.

After failing to qualify for a spot in the skeleton competition, and seemingly doomed to miss his first Games since Nagano in 1998, the Bermudian is desperately clinging to one last faint hope that he will still be able to compete at the Winter Games in Vancouver.

That those Games begin on Friday only makes the matter more pressing, the time spent waiting for the call more nerve-wracking, and the feeling in the gut that the slim chance might have already gone, all the more sickening.

"I think the door looks very closed, but the one avenue we were pursuing hasn't closed yet, so I haven't given up hope," said Singleton, who spent yesterday anxiously waiting for a call at his base in England.

Singleton's hopes actually rest in two places; a letter written by the FIBT, his sport's governing body, which centres on the two unfilled spots for the skeleton competition, and a court case involving the Australian women's bobsled team.

Qualification for the 30 available skeleton places required athletes to be in the top 60 by January 17th, Singleton was 71st at that point, but subsequently rose to 57th two weeks later.

So far the IOC have only allocated 28 of those places, and the FIBT are bidding to have two more competitors, of which Singleton would be one, included.

"It's partially that, and the way the rules were applied, and my ability within the top 60 (that we are looking at)," he said. "I could easily finish in the top half of the field (in Vancouver), it's ridiculous that I'm not there.

"It's not like I'm going to come last, that's the frustrating part about it, it's not like other sports where you have someone who can't swim competing in the pool."

Certainly the FIBT seem to be on the Bermudian's side.

In a letter from David Kutz, FIBT Vice President of International Affairs to IOC bosses Christophe Dubi and Gilbert Felli, the governing body make a strong case for Singleton's inclusion.

"The purpose of this letter is to formally request the IOC Sports Committee and Executive Committee consider the reallocation of the two (2) vacant Quota positions in Men's Skeleton to the next two ranked athletes from NOC(s) without representation above the published qualification threshold of the 60 top ranked athletes," writes Kutz.

He later goes on to advocate special assistance to emerging nations, such as Bermuda, and also backs Singleton's 'athletic ability and competence'.

"It is my duty as FIBT Vice President of International Affairs to advocate for emerging nations that require special assistance for competing in the OWG," continues Kurtz.

"I don't argue for exceeding the established quota, only to fill the quota with athletically qualified skeleton sliders who are measured for competence by a fair and non-discretionary ranking system.

"I have been a USA Skeleton Coach, Race Director and President of the 2006 FIBT Skeleton Challenge Cup Jury. I can attest to the athletic ability and competence of each of the recommended athletes."

If the FIBT fail, then there is still the court case, but the Island's most successful Winter Olympian is reluctant to expand on the case, or how it might help his bid to be included.

"I don't really want to say what that is, because I don't want to give it away, but we are just looking at what is going on, and waiting for a decision that is being made in Vancouver," he said.

"Depending what the decision is, it might fling the door wide open for us to walk right in (to the Games).

"The Bermuda Olympic Association, they are just following whatever the IOC says, and that hasn't changed since January 17th.

"But, I'm hearing different things, different possibilities. I would say the chances are very small, but if someone from the FIBT makes a suggestion, and there is a possibility I can go, my bags are packed."