Government this year splashed out more than $1 million on adding fresh glitter to Bermuda's sporting reputation.

Some $750,000 was funnelled into televising events and plugging them by hiring public relations experts.

And about $350,000 went into helping people organise sporting occasions.

The figures were revealed yesterday by the Tourism Department's assistant marketing director Mr. Peter Smith.

He pointed out the statistics were bumped up by a $450,000 Government injection into the Merrill Lynch Shoot-Out.

The money was for ABC's coverage of the golfing tournament at Mid Ocean, which will be seen by some 200 million viewers on November 13.

Mr. Smith was quick to doff his hat to the efforts of the private sector.

"I cannot give them enough credit. I cannot imagine another country in the world which has the kind of energy and vision of the private sector here.'' He added: "You also have to bear in mind these people are volunteers who give up their time for free.'' His comments come after Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge hailed Bermuda's ability to stage international sporting events.

These included, among others, the Merrill Lynch Shoot-Out, the World Rugby Classic, Omega Gold Cup, the XL Bermuda Open tennis championship, and International Road Race Week.

Such events were just rewards for Government's strategy in promoting the Island's potential as a sporting venue, said Mr. Woolridge.

And it destroyed the myth Bermuda virtually closed down after Labour Day.

"I am delighted we are now staging these events, and people can see what a wonderful Island this is,'' said Mr. Woolridge.

Yesterday Mr. Smith explained Government was involved in two kinds of funding.

"One is to assist in organisation,'' he said.

Tens of thousands of dollars, for instance, were spent on such major crowd-pullers as the Rugby Classic, Omega Gold Cup, Bermuda Youth Soccer Cup, Goodwill Golf Tournament, and Marion-Bermuda yacht race, to name but a few.

Dozens of other smaller events, however, attracted "considerably less'' funding, said Mr. Smith.

These included squash, bridge and chess tournaments, dog shows, and some golf and yachting events.

Mr. Smith explained the second kind of funding was based upon "strict publicity value''.

"Many events have a publicity value and will receive an investment from the department in terms of public relations support or production of TV shows run in conjunction with the event.'' An obvious example was the Merrill Lynch Shoot-Out which received $450,000 from Government, he said.

Mr. Smith added TV shows have also been made of the Omega Gold Cup, Rugby Classic, and XL Bermuda Open.

The Triathlon, should it go ahead this year, would receive TV coverage as well.

"Our strategy for investing in TV is obviously to get publicity.'' He added: "If we can provide and guarantee a TV show then organisers have a product they can sell to potential local sponsors.

"As more new events come along our strategy is to provide organisers of events with enough selling opportunity to go to the private sector.'' Support from the private sector had developed enormously over the last five years, said Mr. Smith.

Government always laid down the condition it would not be the only sponsor of an event.

Merrill Lynch, for example, picked up a far bigger tab for the tournament than Government.

Mr. Smith pointed out Government also hired public relations specialists for certain events.

It had done so recently for sailing events, he said.

Mr. Smith added Government's expenditure on sport in 1994 -- excluding the Merrill Lynch Shoot-Out -- was more or less in line with that of previous years.

"It obviously does fluctuate from year to year.''