Butterfield's revelation this week that their extraordinarily generous offer to continue sponsorship of International Race Weekend was snubbed by Bermuda Track and Field Association? What other governing body on the Island would look such a gift horse in the mouth, or more significantly could afford to? But isn't this just what we've come to expect from the BTFA in recent years -- an arrogant, clique association with little or no idea how to help itself or the hundreds of athletes it purports to represent.

Track and field in Bermuda has been a shambles for as long as many of those connected with the sport can remember and events this week will only reinforce the call that has been made all too often in the past -- that the current administration and directors step down forthwith.

Do the BTFA, with their pitiful track record, honestly believe that by rejecting the bank's offer, other corporate sponsors will be queuing up with cash in hand? If they do, they could be in for a surprise.

Indeed, if the BTFA couldn't return a profit on International Race Weekend over the last two years when the bank were forking out some $65,000 in sponsorship, exclusive of prize money, bonuses and other expenses, one wonders how the association's books will look after they've distributed the $25,000 promised in pre-race brochures for the 2001 event.

Is there any wonder the BTFA were reluctant to divulge their accounts when the bank sought information on how their money was actually being spent? There's a few others who wouldn't mind taking a look at those same books.

For years, the BTFA have been stripping cash from the profits of road running while ploughing next to nothing back into that area of the sport. Instead, money has been spent on sending the same select few coaches and athletes to track and field meets abroad with relatively little success.

The fact that Brian Wellman, an athlete who no longer has much to do with the BTFA's programme, was Bermuda's only track and field representative at the recent Sydney Olympics, illustrates just how badly we've failed in that area.

And while on the subject of the Olympics, it's still to be explained why coach Gerry Swan made the expensive trip Down Under -- reportedly on funds provided by the BTFA -- when president Judy Simmons had already been designated as Bermuda Olympic Association's track and field representative.

Was there really a need for two BTFA reps, and what could they really accomplish as regards helping Wellman, a seasoned international athlete who trains and is coached overseas? If BTFA money was used to fund Swan's trip it would have been in the region of a hefty $5,000 -- and couldn't that have been better spent on the so-called junior or senior developmental programmes? As we've seen before, the BTFA executive rarely explain to their athletes or the public any decisions which impact on the sport.

It was therefore somewhat of a surprise that Judy (`no comment') Simmons even bothered to respond to the bank's statement with a press release of her own yesterday.

But there was no surprise in the content.

"We wish to point out that Bermuda Track and Field Association are the (owners) of the Bermuda International Race Weekend ...'' proclaimed Simmons.

"Over the years we have had several sponsors for this event, each with different levels of sponsorship ... but at no time has the BTFA sold the rights of ownership for any or all of the events to a sponsor.'' Perhaps we missed something, but there's been no apparent indication that the Bank of Butterfield were attempting to buy Race Weekend. Quite naturally they were interested in how their cash was being spent, and on request for a substantial amount more, simply wanted the BTFA to be accountable.

Lest Simmons forgets, the BTFA was formed not to serve the interests of its executive members, but those of every one of the Island's hundreds of junior and senior athletes, many of whom have played a far more significant role in the success of Race Weekend over the years than anyone on the current executive.

Judging from their contempt for the Bank of Butterfield, they haven't served them very well.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON