Bermuda International Race Weekend has been thrown an $80,000 lifeline by Government.

Sports Minister Dale Butler disclosed yesterday that acting Premier Paula Cox, on behalf of Cabinet, has instructed him to release that sum to Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) for the annual race series.

The money comprises $40,000 which BTFA usually received from the Ministry of Tourism - now from the Ministry of Sports - for sponsorship plus an extra $40,000 diverted from the budget for the Great Bermuda Walking Marathon.

Facing expenses of $120,000 to $130,000 to host Race Weekend 2005 and with no financial godfathers in sight, the BTFA on Thursday stated the series would be cancelled. Given the $50,000 shortfall which remains in sponsorship it's unclear if Government's assistance will alter BTFA's decision.

However, Butler said Tourism Minister Ewart Brown was working to secure further funds, thereby ensuring Race Weekend proceeds in mid-January as is customary.

The Sports Minister chided BTFA's manner of handling the crisis, noting that, as far as he was concerned, negotiations on the extent of Government's input were ongoing when he discovered the BTFA's final position.

He noted that various people called his ministry yesterday, interested in forming a committee to raise sponsorship for Race Weekend but, he reasoned, BTFA would be against that because this would necessitate accountability regarding any monies collected.

“The BTFA don't like that,” he said, adding that permanent secretaries from the ministries of tourism and sport would finalise conditions under which BTFA get the $80,000 with the national athletics governing body.

Meanwhile, BTFA director Wayne Raynor - who circulated the e-mail announcing Race Weekend's cancellation - said yesterday that financing that event “has been a challenge for the last four or five years”.

“It's something that's been happening over the last few years and we've been wrestling with how we could do different things to reduce the cost but at the same time keep the event attractive to athletes and spectators so it could be a success for all involved.”

At the end of the day, he reasoned, it was a business decision which BTFA's Board of Directors reached on Monday, August 30, when they finally agreed to cancel the 29-year-old running spectacle.

“You have to hold events that provide you with some funds and the ones that are not providing you with funds - failing all efforts - you have to take them off the books until you can revamp or reintroduce them,” he said.

“You're running a business. You can't expect to remain in business if you keep taking losses.”

Responding to those who contended enough was not done to save Race Weekend, Raynor argued “they don't know the effort that's been put in”.

“We have been to all the major past, existing and potentially new sponsors and haven't met with much success.”

The BTFA official explained that, apart from Government's $40,000 commitment, 2005 sponsorship was “pretty much non-existent” and BTFA lacked “the firm commitment we needed by now” from other sponsors who usually responded by this stage in past years.

Reflecting on Race Weekend's importance to Bermuda's tourism industry and economy overall, he expressed the hope that something would be done to effect an about-turn.

Raynor assured athletes would receive prize monies owed from the past two years, saying “to my knowledge” there is cash to cover such expenses.

Meanwhile, the cancellation's ripple effect is already being felt beyond these shores as several of those who visit Bermuda for the races learn of the latest developments.

A telephone call to Marathon Tours and Travel in Boston, USA, yesterday revealed they were unaware of the cancellation and were in fact still advertising Race Weekend package on their website.

This year, they brought nearly 400 people to the event and an employee there admitted it would be a significant blow for them if it was called off.

Letting out a low whistle, the employee reacted spontaneously to the news.

“Aye, aye, that's huge. No, I hadn't heard a thing about this. The race in January, that's off? I am stunned. I had not heard that at all.”

He was certain that company president Tom Gilligan who is currently in Europe, would be equally shocked to hear what's happened.