ANOTHER driver was handed the reins of the Sports Ministry merry-go-round last week as Glenn Blakeney took over from El James who in turn succeeded Randy Horton who himself had inherited the post from Dale Butler.

And, of course, Butler was brought in to replace Horton.

That's five changes in almost as many years.

Nothing new there.

It's been the same tale for so many years in a ministry which, given its history, could be perceived as a dumping ground for anyone who hasn't been considered capable of taking care of the more high profile portfolios.

Bermuda has welcomed in more sports ministers than it has cruise ships.

Former Director of Sport Brenton Roberts, who retired a couple of years' ago, reckoned he had served more than 20 ministers during his time in the post.

Just as one settles in, he or she is booted into touch and another recruited from the subs' bench.

Is it any wonder sports-related projects never get completed?

But we were assured this week by the new man at the top that work on building the long-awaited aquatics centre could begin as early as next May, six months from now.

Blakeney was bubbling with confidence as he appeared at his first press conference, proudly announcing that Government had put aside $15 million to be spent over the next three years to build an Olympic-sized swimming pool, complete with diving pool at the National Sports Centre.

That was the good news – to reignite a project that had been promised by this Government and its predecessor year after year for the last two decades or more.

The bad news? No start date could be announced for construction, let alone completion, there still wasn't enough cash in the kitty to make it happen, and once again Government would be approaching the private sector, cap in hand, to meet the shortfall.

In short, nothing much has changed. Ten years' time our swimmers might still be treading water.

And furthermore, the ambitious plan to build a so-called 'Centre Core' at the NSC, containing a multi-purpose auditorium suitable for basketball, badminton and volleyball, as well as dining and changing facilities, has been scrapped.

Yet Blakeney told his audience: "I think we have all come a long way from the start of a dream."

More likely the nightmare continues.

It never ceases to amaze why ministers call a press conference to make promises which invariably are never fulfilled.

It was only a few years' ago, with much fanfare, a press conference was held to announce Government's grand plans for the NSC Centre Core.

Predictably, those plans won't come to fruition.

Take note, nobody called a conference to announce such plans no longer exist.

As for the much-needed pool, Blakeney claimed that public support had been assured once Government's $15 million had been put in the bank. But with the economic climate remaining bleak, it's difficult to imagine that too many companies will want to add to their current losses by splashing out on such a facility.

Of course, wouldn't it be wonderful if Blakeney can get the job done and silence the sceptics?

But then, what chance he'll still be around given the ministry's ever-changing leadership?

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GOVERNMENT'S latest brain-wave is to train their own journalists – at our expense.

Sports journos will be included, no doubt, who could offer us a detailed account of the sparring that frequently takes place inside Cabinet walls.

Not enough, it seems, that they intend to squander taxpayers' money on their own TV channel. According to last week's Throne Speech, they now want to 'strengthen communicative media skills' by training reporters through internship programmes, who once 'qualified' will presumably be assigned to promulgate the required propaganda through their own press office and CITV.

That's journalism?

Why not go the whole hog and put their students in a room with Laverne Furbert for a week? Same result.

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RUGBY might rank among one of the least popular team sports in Bermuda for 51 weeks of the year.

But for one week in November it seems to attract the attention of half of the population.

The World Rugby Classic might have served to put Bermuda on the map more than any other major sports event, golf's Grand Slam included.

And nobody could argue that it doesn't considerably boost arrival figures on what would normally be regarded as a slow period on the tourism calendar.

As usual, crowds at the National Sports Centre this week were as large as those witnessed at any major football final.

If action on the field isn't everyone's cup of tea, the partying inside the tents around the perimeter seems to more than compensate.

It's a combination that has stood the test of time.

If only founder John Kane's winning formula could be adopted by more of our sporting bodies . . .

– ADRIAN ROBSON