Battling parents are celebrating a major breakthrough in their campaign to save a sports programme at the United States Naval Air Station.

Base commander Capt. Timothy Bryan said the Bermuda Government had told the US Navy it intended continuing the programme.

And now the Navy was handing over sports gear to Government.

Baseball uniforms, bats, balls, a concession stand which made hot dogs and chili, and pitching machines used in batting practice were among items being turned over, he said.

"We're very happy,'' Capt. Bryan told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

For several years, hundreds of Bermudians joined American youngsters in the Youth Athletic Organisation (YAO) programme at the St. David's Base.

They have enjoyed baseball March to May; soccer, October to December; and golf all the year round.

The programme, however, has been threatened by the US Navy pull-out from the Base -- prompting a campaign to save it by, among others, parents, coaches, trainers and umpires.

This week, a group of the Bermudian campaigners met Ministry of Youth, Sport & Recreation representatives to present a written "plan of action'' to save the YAO scheme.

Among them was Mr. Kelvin Hastings-Smith, chairman of the Round Table Hamilton No. 1, which has pledged its support for the programme, and has already put up $10,000 towards running it.

Mr. Hastings-Smith said he hoped the sum would encourage potential "corporate sponsorship'' for the programme.

"We are delighted to learn the equipment is now staying in Bermuda,'' he said.

He added campaigners had handed the Ministry a report outlining steps they would take -- if Government threw its support behind the programme. These included: Forming a club; Organising, among other things, fund-raising, advertising, league administration, sponsorship, and training; Seeking charitable status as a group; and Pressing Government for the lease of the land for a nominal rent.

In the long-term, the group told the Ministry of Youth, Sport & Ministry that it intended expanding the programme, by: Extending the age groups taking part. Currently, children are enrolled from the age of five, and have to leave after 14; Setting up summer camps; Restarting the basketball programme; and Exploring the possibility of a national little league baseball team and exchange programmes with the US little league teams.

In its report, campaigners stated: "This group wishes to give the youth of Bermuda an interest and the ability to take part in sport.

"Too much is heard of the youth of today not having `anything to do' which leads to children becoming disenchanted, bored and getting into undesirable habits and, regrettably crime.

"The YAO programme teaches youth discipline, sportsmanship, respect and the ability to have fun.

"Every youngster who takes part in the programme is a winner -- they all finish the season with a trophy.

"There will be a lot of disappointed young people if the programme cannot continue.

"Whilst the youngsters only think about the next game, this group have to think about how to prepare for the next game -- provision of equipment, umpires, grass cutting, provisioning the concession stand and more.

"This group have received pledges of support from over 400 parents and concerned individuals be it as a grass-cutter or server at the concession stand or coach or umpire -- the bottom line is that the community is willing to help and this group has the experience and the backing of the community to run the YAO programme.

"This group needs the support of Government to secure the programme and to negotiate the transfer of equipment from the US Navy for the benefit of the children of Bermuda.'' Yesterday, Capt. Bryan told The Royal Gazette the Navy received on Wednesday a letter from Government stating its intent to continue the programme.

The letter also implied the scheme would be carried on at the Base, he said.

Capt. Bryan said that of the 400 kids who played baseball on the Base, about two-thirds were Bermudians.

Of the programme, he said: "It's been here forever. You've got young adults now who started playing baseball down here on the NAS.

"It's been a really satisfying thing to be able to pass down after our departure. We feel pretty good about that.''