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Gag order

By Don Burgess
There is a long list of exemplary athletes over the years who have spoken out against Government for a lack of financing. And Roy Burch wasn't the only athlete last year who complained about a lack of money. Olympic long jumper Tyrone Smith said he was forced into selling cars to help support his dream of making the 2012 London Games. Toriano Wilson's dad bemoaned the lack of support for his son and yet he received an award on Saturday night. The Bermuda Sailing Association had their funding slashed by $140,000 and also complained in this newspaper about what Government had done, yet they also received an award on Saturday night. If Burch wasn't given the award because he spoke out, then that sends the wrong message and it was the wrong decision to deny him the Athlete of the Year award. If it was because the Olympic athlete was deemed not worthy because of his accomplishments, then it calls into question who is worthy. Part of the reason that Stout won the award, according the Gazette, is that he is the world champion. If that's the case, then Government should have given the Female Athlete of the Year award to Teresa Perozzi a few years back when she won the world middleweight boxing title.

Who's the best?

Don Burgess
It’s time to get out the vote for the Sun’s Sports Personalties of the Year. There are a lot of worthy choices in the youth category – more so in either of the adult ones – and have acquitted themselves well across the globe in 2008. Unfortunately, it was a bit of down year for Bermuda’s sportsmen and sportswomen.

Don Burgess
Get out a pair of scissors and get ready to punch a couple of wholes in your belts. With Finance Minister Paula Cox mentioning that with the current economic crises looming, Government will be cutting back on expenditures — and in particular, on capital projects.
One of the first victims of all this belt tightening could be the long proposed swimming pool at the National Centre. The $20 million project may not seem like a necessary item in this skim-backed time, but Bermuda still needs an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Sports Minister El James as far back as February has been promising the pool will get built and built soon. He re-affirmed that in September so let's hope that it isn't cut from the budget next year.
But also just as important, many sporting bodies are already privately wondering if their grants will be cut or if the money just won't be available for special projects. The pessimist in me says many will have to be prepared to deal with a bit of pain in 2009.

What will happen to the swimming pool?

Don Burgess
Get out a pair of scissors and get ready to punch a couple of wholes in your belts. With Finance Minister Paula Cox mentioning that with the current economic crises looming, Government will be cutting back on expenditures — and in particular, on capital projects.
One of the first victims of all this belt tightening could be the long proposed swimming pool at the National Centre. The $20 million project may not seem like a necessary item in this skim-backed time, but Bermuda still needs an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Sports Minister El James as far back as February has been promising the pool will get built and built soon. He re-affirmed that in September so let's hope that it isn't cut from the budget next year.
But also just as important, many sporting bodies are already privately wondering if their grants will be cut or if the money just won't be available for special projects. The pessimist in me says many will have to be prepared to deal with a bit of pain in 2009.