used to promote a local company's alcoholic products through the wearing of that company's hats did not go down well with those attending the Drug Free Sports conference at the Bermuda College on Friday night.

One, facilitator Clint Smith, who administers the affairs of the Bermuda School Sports Federation and is Education Officer responsible for Physical Education and Athletics, went one step further at the end of the night and challenged the Department of Youth Development, Sports and Recreation to "put its money where its mouth is'' and do something about it.

Youngsters `promoting' alcohol Director of that department, Anthony Roberts, then asked Joseph Morley, the administrator of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association to relay the concerns of those at the conference, which also included consultants for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports, Paul Melia and Casey Wade, to the organisers of the tournament.

Over the weekend when the tournament wound up the youngsters were not wearing the same hats but instead those with the wording "XL Bermuda Open''. "I was caught off guard and I'm really in shock,'' said Mr. Smith of what he heard on Friday night.

"From one of the groups in the break-out session it was reported that the XL Tennis Open organisers were using Gosling Brothers advertising in the way of hats on school kids. I think not only is it morally wrong but also distasteful and from my understanding it goes against everything that we're trying to accomplish at this seminar.'' The two-day conference was attended by some 30-odd representatives from governing bodies and clubs, as well as the media, Police and the National Drug Commission which financed the entire exercise. One of the main areas of concern is the messages being sent to children in regards to alcohol and illegal drug use in sports. In fact the Drug Free Sports Mission Statement banner, which was also hanging at the FA Cup finals yesterday at the National Stadium, reads: "We, the National Sports governing bodies and clubs of Bermuda are united in our pledge to achieve an environment free of illicit substance use and licit substance abuse.'' Mr. Smith wanted that pledge to be honoured, with the Department of Youth Development, Sport and Recreation taking the lead.

"If we're going to be stamping out the use of licit and illicit drugs which involves consumption and abuse of alcohol then one of the last things we should be doing is using youngsters to promote alcohol,'' said Mr. Smith.

"School children have been going back and fourth to the tennis and the message is getting to them as well. Further down the road the semi-finals and finals of that tournament will be shown on national TV and perhaps on television abroad and it does not augur well for local youngsters, with what we're trying to accomplish, and it does not reflect Bermuda in a good light overseas.'' Added Mr. Smith: "As I said at the meeting it's incumbent of the Director, Mr. Roberts, which is the challenge I issued to him, to intervene on behalf of those youngsters and instruct the organisers of the Open to have those hats removed off those young children.

"His response was that we had amongst us at the forum the administrator for the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, Joseph Morley, and since he is the administrator he asked him to convey the message back to the organisers.

"Of course that answer was not good enough for me. If I was in charge of a portfolio like that I would be on the phone right now to the organisers of that organisation strongly encouraging them to make sure that those children don't wear those hats in that competition anymore.'' Mr. Smith also hinted that the BLTA's request to have school children operate as ball boys and girls at the upcoming Davis Cup competition "might have to be looked at again by the administrators at the Department of Education'' if the hats were not removed.

"I'm more than certain that there is a policy in place. At school level you cannot promote companies that sell alcohol beverages. I can tell you for a fact that at the school level we don't accept any kind of sponsorship from any companies that promote or sell tobacco or alcohol.'' When contacted on Friday night, Director of Sports, Mr. Roberts said he was confident the matter would be handled by Morley. The following morning the message had apparently gotten across.

"We asked that it be brought to the attention of the administrators of the classic that it has been observed and it is contrary to what the Mission Statement that the organisations have agreed to here in the proceedings at the Bermuda College,'' said Mr. Roberts.

"We have asked the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association to convey that unanimous message of the meeting to the XL Open organisers.'' DRUGS DGS