Confronting the pitfalls plaguing local cricket and football, uniting the community through sport and helping the Island’s athletes reach their full potential are among the objectives newly appointed Sports Minister Wayne Scott intends to achieve during his watch.The veteran cyclist was unveiled as the Island’s newest Sports Minister at yesterday’s swearing in ceremony at Government House.Shortly after the ceremony concluded, Scott expressed his concern over the standard of local cricket and football - two sports that were elevated to national sport status under the former PLP government - which has declined sharply despite being heavily funded by millions of taxpayer’s hard earned cash in recent years.“That concerns me and Bermuda as a whole that we haven't got a lot of results that we've looked for,” he said. “And our goal is to approach things from a collaborative policy because we need to put together a concrete plan and take it forward.”Asked would cricket and football retain their national sports status under a OBA government, Scott replied: “It’s too early to give a definite but let's just say there's a lot of talent in Bermuda and I think we need to find a way to really move all of our collective athletes forward.”In recent years Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) and Bermuda Football Association (BFA) have both had their annual government grants slashed due to the ongoing financial crunch.Asked could both sports be facing further budget cutbacks in the future, Scott replied: “That's really not a question I can answer at this time.”During his tenure as Sports Minister Scott has vowed to bring the community together using sports as a means to achieve the objective.“I have a lot of love for sports and I think sports is really important because when you look at community and cultural development sports is about bringing the community together and that’s what we need,” he said. “I look at this as a huge responsibility and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get working.“My short term objective is to sit down and go through all the ministerial briefs and really get a big picture of where we are. I will talk with the civil service as part of our whole concept of doing things as a team. I need to sit down and figure out where we are because it’s not just about coming like a bull in a china shop, we have to sit down collaboratively and move Bermuda forward.”Scott, who is also a successful businessman, has represented Bermuda in cycling at the Caribbean Cycling Championships, World Championships and Island Games. He also competed in Florida as a semi -professional and is one of only two cyclists to have won the annual Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race (May 24) at least three times.Commenting on Scott’s appointment as Sports Minister, Premier Craig Cannonier said: “It was a natural fit because I’ve known the honourable member Scott for most of my life and he’s always been someone who has been in touch with the people and a sportsman as you know and I believe with his business experience that combination brings so much to the table.”