PATRICK Singleton's name will go alongside such Olympic superstars as Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Katarina Witt and Cathy Freeman.

All those athletes and countless others have donated gold medals and Olympic objects to the huge Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland - home of the International Olympic Committee.

And now the museum wants a little bit of Bermuda for its showcases - namely the Bermuda shorts that luger Singleton wore in last Friday's Opening Ceremony at these Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Singleton caused a sensation when he walked out into the freezing weather at the stadium carrying the flag and wearing his red Bermuda shorts complete with long socks.

Marie Morsia-Villemin, who works for the Olympic Museum and is here in Salt Lake City, was watching the ceremony and knew she had to have those shorts for the museum. One of its latest exhibits are the shoes worn by Australian track superstar Cathy Freeman, who won the gold medal in the 400 metres in her home country during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Ms Morsia-Villemin said: "We have gold medals and many other objects from many of the stars in the Olympics. But the Olympics is not just about the winning athletes from big countries - it is about all the athletes and we are desperate to have Patrick's Bermuda shorts to put on display.

"I doubt we will ever see again an athlete walk into the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics wearing shorts. It was a special moment. It is something everyone who was watching will remember because it was so cold! "His shorts will be a great addition to our display."

Singleton, who attended a Bermuda Olympic Association dinner at a fish restaurant on Tuesday night in Salt Lake City along with BOA president John Hoskins, chef de mission Stan Douglas, his mother Sallie and father Derek as well as their attach?s and drivers, said: "Of course, I will give them the shorts.

"I'm really happy they want them. It will be a fun exhibit."

Singleton - disappointed to finish only 37th in a field of 50 in the men's singles luge after crashing on Sunday - will be staying in the Athletes Village until the end of the Games and will attend the Closing Ceremonies. But he is very unlikely to wear those now famous red Bermuda shorts!

See also Page 3 and 13.