WITH two Winter Olympic Games behind him, the question now is whether Patrick Singleton will keep on going and race in the luge in four years time at the Games in Italy.

Singleton said this week from Salt Lake City: "I don't know if I will go for another Olympics. I will have to think about it. I would like to think I can continue but it involves a lot of dedication and a lot of work - there's no question about that."

But there is one thing the 27-year-old Bermudian slider is certain about. And that is he will not let the luge programme in Bermuda die.

"I would like to find a company in Bermuda that would be willing to sponsor the Bermuda Luge Association - whether it is me or someone else competing. I know that in this day and age with the kind of coaches I can get, there is no reason why we cannot put an athlete in the top 20 in the world. It might take six or seven years but it can be done. I really believe that. If we could get a company who would be willing to take on a team, we could be very successful."

And while a Bermudian in the Winter Olympics does draw curiosity and definitely some attention, Singleton said: "Let's be honest. You do not have to live in cold countries to compete in the luge. The fact that Bermuda is a hot country doesn't make a bit of difference because many countries who are winter countries do not have luge tracks.

"They have to travel to luge tracks around Europe and North America just like me. For instance Russia does not have a luge track - at least not now.

"They used to have one but that is now in Latvia. In fact the guy who won here, Armin Zoeggeler from Italy, doesn't have a luge track in his country.

"Bosnia used to have a luge track in Sarajevo but that was blown up in the war. And then you have Norway who do have a luge track but they do not have any decent lugers. It may help a bit if you have a luge track but it should not make a big deal of difference."

Singleton said the most important thing is to have a well prepared programme. "That is what it comes down to," he said. "There is no reason why we in Bermuda cannot have good lugers in the future. We have always had good athletes.

"In the next year or so I want to help develope a really good programme in Bermuda. I want to make the Bermuda Luge Association the best association in Bermuda. At the moment, and I know a lot of other (sports) associations will cringe when they hear this, but the support for many sports, especially summer sports, is not there.

"It's not the fault of anyone in particular - but you need more support and development from everyone. You cannot just get some kids and throw them into something like the Olympic Games. You need a well-thought out programme and the Bermuda Luge Association has really helped me."

And Singleton made special mention of Simon Payne who first brought the sport to Bermuda after competing in two Olympics. "People in Bermuda never recognised how good Simon was," he said.

Singleton, who will return to his job soon in Japan as a financial reporter for Bloomberg, said introducing youngsters to the sport of luge properly is the way to go.

"You want to get them early - but not too early otherwise they may become gun-shy. I feel that if we could get them at about 16 years-old, it would be a good time."

And while he very proud to have actually qualified for these Salt Lake City Games, Singleton was not happy with his performance where he finished in 37th place out of 50 athletes.

"I know I could have done better. But it was not to be. After that crash (during the second run on Sunday) I knew I was out of the competition.

"In this sport you cannot make up time. It is always a question of how you do not lose time. But I hope I can learn from this experience. A lot of other lugers have come up to me here and said `you could be in the top 20'. And to be in the top 20 at the Olympics in the luge is very good."

"It is not like women's ice hockey where you have only six teams or whatever and have a good chance at a medal. Here you have the best 50 lugers in the world and there are 100 who didn't qualify."

If Singleton decides that he will hang up his sled he wants the sport to go on. He said: "If I can't continue I want to pass the torch on - there is no way I will allow this association to die."