News this week that sailing is about to be designated a national sport will have been warmly received by the sailing community, although some might quietly be mumbling 'not before time'.

At least, without naming names, that certainly will have been the opinion of one of our leading competitors over the last 20 years, with whom I talked at length just recently.

Many would argue that the sport deserves such recognition and should be elevated to the same plateau as cricket and football.

However, the question remains how a small country such as ours can support three national sports.

If they all deserve that recognition, will they all be given the same financial support?

And another question might arise as to exactly what constitutes a national sport.

Is it because that activity is regarded the most popular in terms of public interest, is it because that sport has achieved more international success than any other, or is it because it has the most participants?

Sailing might meet two of those criteria – glory overseas and the number of those who take to the water. As for the landlubbers, well some might say watching yachts crawl from one buoy to another with no wind to push them along is about as entertaining as watching grass grow.

Sailing, however, is a sport which provides terrific entertainment and enjoyment for the competitors and much appreciated whenever our best make a name for themselves overseas.

As for cricket, many will have long considered this the most worthy of recognition. We've produced world renowned players such as Alma (Champ) Hunt and Clarence Parfitt, we're the only the country in the world that holds a public holiday to celebrate the game, and historically the Island has been associated with cricket more than any other game.

These days, however, interest continues to dwindle. Apart from Cup Match and County games, the number of spectators can be counted on one hand.

A surge of support emerged as Bermuda became the smallest nation to compete in a World Cup tournament . That international success perhaps overshadowed any previous achievement by any sport. But ever since, it's been one defeat followed by another to the point that, having once been considered one of the leading Associate teams, we are now wallowing near the bottom of the pile.

Whether new coach David Moore can inspire a dramatic revival remains to be seen.

Cricket, as it stands now, meets none of the requirements to be regarded as a national sport.

Football, without doubt, is the most watched sport, day and night, and it has more players than any other . . . but despite this fan support, few of our footballers are good enough to play professionally and collectively they continue to be a disappointment on the world stage, even on the regional stage.

It could be a force, if only the internal wrangling would stop, and backing given to those administrators who are attempting to find a programme which would encompass all age groups, and would work. They are on the way to achieving that goal.

Three national sports for a population for some 60,000 . . . that might be a record.

Perhaps we're hedging our bets.

Most of the European, Central and South American and African countries consider football their one and only national sport, Canadians don't go past ice hockey, most of those on the sub-continent are such cricket fanatics they support the game with almost religious fervour, Australians might be split between cricket and rugby (even Aussie Rules), while their antipodean neighbours New Zealand put rugby above all else.

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NOW, exactly who was responsible for proposing that sailing be given this new found status?

It seems that Minister of Youth, Families, Sports and Community Development Glenn Blakeney wants to take the credit.

Yet it was former minister Dale Butler who first raised the subject, but stirred little interest among his colleagues, and it was just days before Ewart Brown stepped down as Premier that he expressed a wish that sailing become a national sport.

But during his last term in office, we never heard a peep from Sports Minister Blakeney.

In the past Blakeney has directed vitriolic attacks on this columnist, claiming that I held a personal vendetta against him.

Not true. I simply disagree with the way he handles the sports ministry. It's not personal. I've attacked sports ministers from the UBP and the PLP in the past.

He's sports minister, I'm a sports writer. Maybe he thinks we should enjoy a cosy relationship.

So here's an oliver branch. Join me for dinner Glenn, I'll even pick up the tab, and we can discuss our differences. There may be some matters we can actually agree on.

– ADRIAN ROBSON