Budget debate of the Government subsidy for White's Island sailing has caused us to think about just what Bermuda does to finance sport. When you think about it, we seem to do a great deal less for the sports in which Bermudians have great success than we do for sports where there are problems and success is not a big factor. It is fair to say that the sports with the greatest support often involve the most people.

Yet in the wake of the PLP criticism, a sailor might well argue that when you look at Bermuda's continuing success at world class sailing the small amount Government spends at White's Island is a great bargain compared to the millions being spent at the National Stadium which will not benefit sailing.

That is not to knock the great successes some Bermudians have had at track and field but it seems to us that it is a valid comparison.

Cyclists who seem to have growing success might well make the same comparisons between what is done for them and what is done for track and field. Very little is done for cyclists. The same is true of other sports, probably because soccer is seen as a national sport and occupies large numbers of players and fans.

Because of this House of Assembly criticism, we think people will now start looking at the money spent on the trouble-prone soccer world and the Bermuda Football Association which is so often in turmoil and wonder just why soccer receives such substantial public and private support compared to much less troublesome sports which are producing world class competitors and international successes for Bermuda.

When you look at sailing and at Bermuda's world class sailors and the international success they have brought to Bermuda, it is very hard to understand why Bermuda is not putting its cash where the results are.

It may be that we are steering young Bermudians into the wrong sports. Perhaps as an Island surrounded by the sea we should be generally more active in sports associated with water. There is also an argument that more individual sports which do not require team play last a person for a lifetime of enjoyment and fitness whereas soccer and such are generally a young and short-term sport best played by schools and colleges where they occupy more people and create team spirit.

We are aware that the new Prospect complex is to be a national sports centre as much dedicated to recreational sport as to competitive sport and that takes care of any fitness concern. However financial support for the complex is not support for all sport and there has to be a balance. We may be in a situation where those sporting groups who do not make noise may now think that they should become a good deal more pushy.