WHEN Paula Cox announces the Budget today, the current state of the economy combined with Government mis-spending and reckless accounting should be reflected in the way taxpayers' money will be distributed over the next year.

And there's little doubt that Bermuda sport will be a victim.

It's likely that very little will be handed over to either of the Island's two national sports – cricket and football – not that they should be seen as priorities given the millions of dollars invested in recent years.

But other popular activities – athletics, swimming and tennis to name a few – won't expect too much either as traditionally sport finds itself on the bottom the heap when Government announces its financial allocations, football and cricket excepted.

The writing on the wall might have appeared earlier this week when Bermuda Track and Field Association president Donna Watson revealed that her association's plea for money to sustain a burgeoning programme which continues to unearth plenty of natural talent, had fallen on deaf ears.

That resulted in the non-renewal of national coach Gerry Swan's contract —not that that should particularly hinder the sport. Some believe it was time for new blood to occupy that position several years ago.

But it will have frustrated the BTFA executive who have made tremendous strides in the last couple of years under a fresh administration.

The number of athletes now competing abroad, and making an impression, is probably higher than at any time during the last 20 years.

How they might have benefited from the nearly $30 million collected by both the governing bodies of cricket and football!

While our MPs gallivant around the world on taxpayers' money in the same vein as someone who has just won the lottery, the hundreds of athletes who wear Bermuda's colours with pride will again largely have to depend on sponsors and their own resources to remain competitive.

Much like athletics, swimming has had to depend on the generosity of others in order to continue an ambitious programme which has sent a number of swimmers to compete overseas, many with extraordinary success.

Wasn't it just a year ago that finally the go-ahead was given for work to begin on an Olympic-sized pool at the National Sports Centre?

Maybe it has, but there's no evidence that it will be completed anytime soon.

Another broken promise?

Of course, when the Financial Minister reveals how much will be afforded the various Ministries later today, she may prove me wrong.

But with so little in the kitty, it's likely she'll find better ways to spend the sportsman's cash.

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KIM SWAN was on the button earlier this week when he placed the demise of local golf squarely on the shoulders of Government's Board of Trustees.

There was a time not too long ago when anybody who wanted to play regularly at a reasonable price had the option of three public courses – St. George's, Ocean View and Port Royal.

Now for the ordinary man, all three are practically out of reach.

St. George's has been closed for almost two years and if and when it eventually opens it will be hotel-controlled. Both the working man's Ocean View club and the more up market Port Royal have been priced out for the very people for whom they were designed.

They were supposed to cater to all groups – tourists and locals alike. Now there are no tourists and Bermudians have been shoved aside.

Regardless of whether they were making money or not, Government has a duty to provide a facility affordable to all. If they can give millions of dollars to support cricket and football, then they can afford to support the hundreds of golfers who don't have the means to join a private club.

As Swan pointed out, we've reverted to an age when golf was only a rich man's game.

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HOPEFULLY Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney will be attending tomorrow night's annual Sport Awards as guest of honour and observer only.

And we sincerely wish him well as he continues to recover from his latest health problems.

But after last year's farce when he overturned the selection panel's decision for Male Athlete of the Year, it would be better if he be kept in the dark regarding the recipients, like the rest of us.

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ACCORDING to reports, Tiger Woods has been attending 'sex therapy' sessions, whatever they might entail.

But when he's finished, he might want to pass on some tips to the entire England football team. And after that, he might also be invited as guest speaker by the US Congress.

– ADRIAN ROBSON