‘Tis the season of goodwill.And it was in the Christmas spirit that the Commission of Inquiry unveiled their findings this week.The Commission was set up to determine how Bermuda Football Association and Bermuda Cricket Board spent the special grants provided by Government.Nothing was untoward, said the panel, and there had been no financial irregularities.The report said a lot but said nothing at all.It told the public almost everything they already knew, except how the money was spent!“There is no evidence that the governing bodies did not use the grant amounts set out in the specific categories as explained to the Bermudian Government,” said the report.Of course there wasn't. It seems they didn't look for any!Eleven million dollars were gifted to the BCB and $15 million to the BFA on what is known as ‘a drip-feed' system; specific amounts over a specific period.But the $64,000 question has yet to be answered. How WAS that money spent. What benefits resulted.While there appears to have been significant improvements within the BFA regarding programmes and ultimately results, the same can't be said of the BCB.Standard of play at the international level has plummeted so fast that the national cricket team now play in the division three of the World Cricket League.When the money was handed over they were two divisions higher up.There has been no development, only decline.The Commision reported that both governing bodies are of good financial standing, which was encouraging.But what that report lacks is far more detail.As a result of the grants, in the case of cricket, what has changed?Facilities are no better than they were six or seven years' ago.There's been very little change in terms of staff, thus salaries. Indeed there was a lengthy period between Gus Logie leaving as national coach and replaced by David Moore, a saving on the wage bill.If new programmes have been implemented why haven't they produced results?As for the numerous trips overseas to play other Associate countries, the world's governing body, the ICC (International Cricket Council) have picked up the tab.These are the areas which should have been probed by the Commission yet appear to have been ignored.If any of us won the lottery, it would be pretty clear how that money would be spent; new house, new car, new boat etc.Well, the BCB and the BFA did win the lottery but where are the improvements? We don't see any new clubhouses, new or improved pitches and not a great deal of new equipment.BFA will point to a new artificial training pitch at Prospect but thanks in part to funds provided by FIFA.Instead any blame for wastage appears to have been shifted over to to the clubs.“Local clubs, both governing bodies feel very strongly that they do the best that they possibly can to act as good administrators for the sports over which they have responsibility in Bermuda. At the same time, however, it is the very strong opinion of those people involved in discussions that certain of Bermuda's social clubs are “not delivering the goods” at the end of the day,” said the report.But isn't it the club representatives who run the association? Their various committees consist of club members.And shouldn't the governing body as a whole be monitoring how monies distributed to the clubs is being spent? Ultimately that's their responsibility.One valid criticism that came out of the report was the lack of transparency within both the BFA and BCB.“Public Relations: The Commission feels very strongly that both governing bodies need to work harder at their own public relations. The Commission believes that the Bermudian public is well served by both governing bodies. At the same time, however, the age old adage is that “it's not good enough to do what you got to be doing, you got to be seen to be doing it” and, as such, the reliance on traditional media and reporting in Bermuda simply does not work anymore.“Case in point, had the governing bodies been far better at their public relations efforts, the Commission believes that at some stage when the Government grants were no longer available, those grants, in fact should have been made up by corporate sponsorship assistance. This could only come about as a result of people being aware of the good works that are being done by the governing bodies,” added the report.Will that change? Not a chance.If they do something wrong, the door closes. The media and the public are kept in the dark. ‘No comment' is the standard reply to any questions posed by the newspapers, TV and radio.And wasn't that the whole point of the Commission in the first place?We all wanted to know where the millions of dollars was spent. We were never told.And despite the Commission's report, we're none the wiser now!* * * *HAVING said all of that, I'd still like to take this opportunity to wish all of those who served on the Commission a very Happy Christmas.And the same goes to my readers; both of them.ADRIAN ROBSON