Winter Olympian Patrick Singleton has been flying Bermuda’s flag in London after taking part in a major debate on the impact of the Olympic Games on world peace.Singleton, who represented Bermuda in the luge and skeleton events, joined former England and Chelsea footballer Graeme Le Saux and Debbie Lye, international development director for UK Sport, for the recent lecture, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).The three panellists discussed sport’s increasing importance as a humanitarian, development and peace-building tool before an audience of MPs, members of the House of Lords and Westminster parliamentary staff.Topics also touched on during the debate, held at the Houses of Parliament in the run-up to the London Olympics, included the revival of the Greek Tradition of the Olympic Truce, now a force to bring together countries in conflict and the role of sport in communities at the grassroots level.The debate was chaired by Lord Bates who recently completed a 3,000-mile walk from Olympia in Greece to Westminster to raise awareness of the UN resolution on the Olympic Truce.“I was asked to go as a former athlete because they knew of me and I’m often asked to give presentations in the UK on sports development,” said Singleton, who finished 19th in the skeleton at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy in 2006.“It’s very interesting to be engaging at that level and meeting the kind of contacts I would like to bring to Bermuda.”One contact Singleton hopes to bring to the Island is fellow panellist Lye, who has visited Jamaica and Trinidad to discuss how sport can help solve gang-related issues in schools.Singleton believes such a programme would be tailor-made for Bermuda where gang violence has been on the rise in recent years, and hopes to introduce Lye to Premier Paul Cox and Sport Minister Glenn Blakeney who are both attending the Olympics.“Debbie discussed the ability of sport to help breakdown gang barriers in school in Trinidad and Jamaica and I thought it be fantastic to bring that to Bermuda,” said Singleton, who was elected to the World Olympic Associations executive board last November.“She said if one gang plays sport against another gang, if they can interact with each on the field of sport, then there’s a chance of helping reduce the violence.“Why couldn’t we have some of the hardened areas in Bermuda playing sport under a truce or amnesty? Maybe then they would get to know each other and it might just bring some of their differences to the table.”Singleton said he also shared plenty of common ground with Le Saux who hails from Jersey.The Bermudian said he was struck by the similarities between the two islands which are both leading financial centres, but are fighting to protect their cultural roots amid growing globalisation.“Graeme came to Bermuda after the 1998 World Cup and stayed at Cambridge Beaches and absolutely loved the Island,” said Singleton, who works for the Bermuda Monetary Authority. “We got into a big financial discussion about the ability of small islands to remain autonomous and keep their identity.“Some of the things Graeme talked about really related to Bermuda as well his country. He said there had been a commercialisation of the food industry in Jersey and it was wrecking the Island with big chains like McDonald’s coming in.“He explained how he is trying to promote the local food produce in his country and we discussed the financial service industry, which is similar to Bermuda, and the type of controls that regulators are trying to put in place.”Whether in his position at the Bermuda Monetary Authority or his role at the World Olympians Association, Singleton believes he has a responsibility to promote Bermuda whenever possible.“I think its always important to promote my country, whether its through sport or through my work or as a board member of the World Olympians Association,” said the 37-year-old.“Because larger western nations, particularly their media, will from time to time produce misleading stories that try to put us down.“They see our success and want a piece of it. We must promote Bermuda at every opportunity.”