One is aiming to refocus plans for a motorsports complex while another wants certain matters on the National Sports Centre settled . . . and a third hopes a fresh look will be taken at the drug-testing policy.

These are some of the myriad of issues which the Island's sports leaders are hoping to discuss at the annual Sports Conference which opens this evening at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

Given their different activities, it's natural the men and women at the helm of Bermuda's sports organisations will have varying agendas but all will be hoping one thing - that Sports Minister Randy Horton can answer their questions if not immediately solve their problems.

"I have some concerns regarding the random drug testing of recreational athletes. I think we need to look at the policy again because it is impacting on every sports governing body's registered athletes," said president of the Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) Judy Simmons.

Noting that "if people don't want to be randomly drug tested" they will not register with their particular sport, she urged her peers to review the policy.

"I think the issue needs to be looked at again collectively. I am sure other sports governing bodies are having the same reaction from some of their registered athletes that we have had."

Meanwhile, spokesman for the umbrella motorsports group, the Bermuda United Motorsports Federation (BUMF), Chris Roque will be trying to revive plans for a motorsports complex at Southside.

He confessed that the initiative has waned in recent months following last year's announcement of Government's intention to provide BUMF with a racing area.

"Once I am there I will definitely raise the matter - the fact that things have lapsed - at the conference. I don't think it's Government's fault this time. It's us. I am not trying to knock anybody but the reality is that things have stalled and it's time to get back together," said Roque candidly.

As for Larry Mussenden, president of the Bermuda Football Association (BFA), he wants to know when the National Sports Centre will be completed and why it's so expensive to rent.

"The cost (of renting it) is prohibitive and it's an ongoing challenge," he told The Royal Gazette, adding that he will also raise the issue of funding for sports programmes.

Newly re-elected president of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) David Lambert hopes Horton will have something to say on the Sports Hall of Fame, something he considers integral to sports development among the youth.

"I am very interested in hearing what the Minister has to say on the progress of plans for a Sports Hall of Fame. I work with a lot of young people and many of them don't know the generations that came before them and those who contributed a lot to sports in Bermuda.

"We need a place like that where people can go and learn about the pioneers in our sports," said Lambert.

The Bermuda Triathlon Association (BTA) also want to ensure their place on the Island. President Charles Duffy is not attending the two-day session with a specific agenda but will certainly "bend somebody's ear" about a particular topic if given the opportunity.

"The main issue which we will be trying to promote is keeping Southside as traffic-free and as unbuilt-up as possible so we can train and have our events down there in a relatively safe environment."

Thus far, he said, various developmental plans for that area have not advanced to the degree which the BTA feared. However, they prefer being proactive rather than reactive in this instance.

"That's the main thing we would like to plant in the Sports Minister's mind that we need his help to ensure we have somewhere, especially for our juniors, to compete and train," said Duffy.

Asked about the validity of this annual gathering, Mussenden termed it "useful" since it allows Government to gauge the issues affecting sports.

"What has to come out of that is a real commitment to tackle such issues and to develop sports further."

He suggested the formation of a sub-committee involving officials from all Bermuda's sporting associations to deal with problems across the gamut of sports. This group, he said, could then report on its progress at the annual conference the following year

"I think that would be an effective way of identifying and overcoming our challenges," added Mussenden.

Ethics in sport - see Page 15