Government yesterday officially appointed a National Hosting Committee that will scrutinise submissions on behalf of local sports governing bodies seeking to stage major international events in Bermuda and recommend the amount of support or financial assistance each should receive.

The new initiative was first brought to the attention of all local governing bodies during a sports conference held last September at the National Sports Centre where Sports Minister Dale Butler unveiled a guide which set out the criteria required to seek Government support and partnership for hosting international events.

Former educator and Postmaster General Clevelyn Critchlow will head up the five-member national Hosting Committee which will also include past Bermuda Football Association president Neville Tyrell, Government MP Dennis Lister, Judy Siddle-Simons and William Madeiros.

Addressing the media at a press conference at Cabinet, Butler said the new committee were currently working closely with the respective sports governing bodies to host the 2011 Small Island Games and a major international squash championship on local soil.

?The appointment of the committee means we now have in place a fairer decision-making body who will be able to assess the many financial assistance applications that the ministry receives on an annual basis from numerous sporting groups,? Butler said.

?The National Hosting Committee will use the following criteria to review each submission before making their recommendation on how much support should be given to each event: economic benefits and impacts, social benefits, Bermudian identity, youth involvement, gender equity, volunteerism and disabilities.?

Butler believes these assessment guidelines will serve all parties well in the future by enabling applicants to incorporate them in their initial application submissions, and also enable the new committee to evaluate applicants based on the same criteria.

?I am happy to announce the appointment of the National Hosting Committee that has been tasked with screening and overseeing all applications for Government assistance with regard to the hosting of major sporting events in Bermuda,? Butler added.

?And I would like to thank the committee for agreeing to come onboard to serve the ministry and our sporting community in this valuable capacity.?

Critchlow commented: ?Bermuda has been good to me and it?s my duty to give back to my country. So wherever I can help out I will.?