It was a billed as a fun event and not a serious sports event, which was just as well judging by some of the performances.And it seems a good time was had by all.Many of those who took part in last weekend’s Corporate Games, held on local shores for the first time, were quick to offer their compliments.Despite the horrendous weather which led to cancellation of some events, the combination of sport in the daytime and socialising in the evening enjoyed some success.But the plaudits handed out by those who competed weren’t necessarily shared by the public and the retailers. Part of that was because results weren’t posted on the website on a running or daily basis and nobody appeared to know who had won until Sunday evening’s presentation.In fact, the website offered little information once the Games got underway.In the majority of events, individual and team scores were all recorded by points total with the company gaining the most declared the winners.When first announced, organisers estimated as many as 2,000 company employees would compete and hundreds from overseas.As it turned out, according to the same organisers, only 70 came from abroad and that might be a slight exaggeration.The final results showed not a single overseas company featured in the awards, which may itself tell the real story.As for individuals, our reporters could find only two — both from Turkey taking part in the road races.Did the Games really attract 1500 competitors as claimed?Cut that figure by a third and we might be closer to the mark.No doubt those pulling the strings learned some valuable lessons if the Games were ever to return to the Island.Much like the Grand Slam of Golf earlier in the same week, it clearly needed more promotion overseas. The number of visitors who came to the Island specifically to watch the Slam could be counted on one finger.These two international events held within the space of a week did very little to help the flagging economy. Wasn’t that the intention? Attract more tourists and make Front Street a little more vibrant than seen during the summer months.Years ago one of the most popular road races was the Corporate Relay when teams of five ran from St George’s to Somerset.Entries came from all sectors of the business community and it was highly competitive. Emphasis on this type of event in the Games might have attracted a much larger entry than the 10K and 5K, perhaps over a shorter distance.Because generally the standard at the Games wasn’t good, nobody but the competitors were particularly interested . . . other than in the social events.In these times of recession, the entry fee of $150 per person regardless of the sport, may have served as a deterrent.If the companies didn’t pick up the tab, not too many employees would have considered entering.Yes, the festival has enormous potential but on this occasion it didn’t quite live up to expectations.Even our Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert voiced a measure of disappointment.* * * *Meanwhile, a couple of days after the Games finished, Furbert announced that half a million dollars would be invested in an attempt to attract more sports-related events to the Island.“An additional 14 weeks of crowd-drawing sports festivals events is to be added to the Island over the next three to five years.”The budget would be raised from two and half to three million dollars.Yet another pre-election promise, no doubt.The argument to promote Sports Tourism has been ongoing for more than a decade and Government haven’t taken a scrap of notice. Now, as Bermudians prepare to go to the polls, they’re rolling out this initiative as if it were something new.Half a million bucks doesn’t go far these days. It’s difficult to see how such a small budget would serve to bring in “an additional 14 weeks of crowd-drawing sports festivals.”Next week’s Rugby Classic is one of the best. These days, thanks to founder and organiser John Kane, it’s become so established that rugby-playing nations beg for an invitation.International Race Weekend (road running), The Gold Cup, International Race Week, Newport-Bermuda Race, Marion-Bermuda Race (sailing), The Belmont Invitational, Bermuda Open, the Goodwill (all golf), this year’s Carifta Games (track and field) and next year’s Island Games to name but a few, are organised by governing bodies, clubs or individuals.Government have injected some cash into these events and they could probably use a little more, but they have yet to come up with their own ideas. And if they do, it’ll take more than $500,000 to implement them.And just to emphasise how little our Tourism bosses know about sports related tourism, take a look at some of the comments from this week’s press conference.Minister Furbert said: “There is no doubt that corporations have been cutting back on their budgets but hopefully next year (the Games) can be much better.”Chairman of the Tourism Board, Maxwell Burgess: “We are going to grow it. I think we have had a good start . . . it could have been better, without question.”Sorry guys, it won’t necessarily be here next year.It’s an event that travels from one country to another. A number of Corporate Games can be held in a variety of countries in any one year.So far it’s visited 25 countries and there could be more next year. However, there’s been no indication yet that Bermuda will again be one of those countries.But then with half a million more in the kitty, Government could organise their own Games.— ADRIAN ROBSON