A top Olympic official made a whirlwind visit to Bermuda this week in connection with a book he is writing on global politics.

Mr. Mario Vazquez Rana, president of both the Association of National Olympic Committees and the National Olympic Committee of Mexico, met with both Governor Lord Waddington and Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan as part of his research for the book.

The book -- to be called "Dialogue with History'' -- will consist of interviews he has conducted with various world leaders.

"The world is going through a political and economic crisis,'' Mr. Rana said through an interpreter at Government House. "It is important for us to be asking these questions of our leaders.'' A media magnate in his native country, Mr. Rana said he has had a wealth of opportunity to meet with heads of state during his travels on behalf of the Olympic movement.

He added that he often travels with International Olympic Committee president Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch and that the two recently completed a tour of southern Africa.

"I met (South African) President (Mr. Nelson) Mandela while I was there,'' Mr. Rana said. "And I was able to speak with the Prime Minister of Namibia for some time.'' Some of the other leaders Mr. Rana has interviewed on previous trips include Russian President Boris Yeltsin, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Cuba's Fidel Castro.

He said he was also able to meet with President Eduard Shevardnadze "when he was having his crisis'' in Georgia.

In 1993, rebel forces in Georgia's Abkhazia region fought with Government troops in a bid to secede from the country.

"I'm very lucky to have been able to interview some of the most important leaders in the world,'' Mr. Rana, who is also president of the Pan American Games Committee, told The Gazette .

"Sport has allowed me to travel to these countries, but it is these interviews that have opened the doors to their leaders.'' The author of two previous works on politics, Mr. Rana said he hoped his books provided as many answers about the world as they asked questions.

He did not say how either the Premier or the Governor might figure in the new work.

Mr. Rana was hosted on the Island by Bermuda Olympic Association president Mr.

Austin Woods. The next leader he will interview will be Bahamian Prime Minister Mr. Hubert Ingraham in Nassau.

OLYMPIAN GESTURE -- Author and Olympic official Mr. Mario Vazquez Rana presents a copy of one of his books to Governor Lord Waddington at Government House this week.