FRED STURRUP n NG Associate Editor, frederick@nasguard.com, frobertsturrup@gmail.com

As done throughout the tumultuous last 17 months, the executive nucleus of the Bahamas Olympic Association that now makes up a significant portion of the newly-elected administration, continues to move right along, doing the business of the country's most important sports organization. This past Saturday, the Beijing Olympic uniforms were unveiled during a special reception. Adidas, committed to sponsoring the competition attire for the team, is not bothered by the fuss and fighting.

The accreditation of athletes, officials and press personnel has been done by the BOA office. Preparation for travel has started and the wheels are indeed in motion. I don't understand the spin being put out there that if another election is not agreed to, a different set of persons will be conducting the affairs of the Bahamian delegation in China.

Is the Beijing Organizing Committee going to turn down the forms already filled in and sent along to be processed? Could it be that there is somebody hard at work attempting to frustrate the process? What will be the end result?

This BOA issue is becoming quite unsettling.

What we have, is a sports tragedy. Sir Arlington Butler still regards himself as the president and seemingly clings to the hope that the Pan American Sports Organization will force a new election and he will get back into the seat he held for 30-plus years. Meanwhile ignoring his utterances, the executives, headed by Rev. Enoch Backford continue to run the organization. Butler has nothing to do with the office. Before this month is over, one side should come face to face with reality.

If the PASO President gets his way and a new election date is honored by the majority of the BOA membership, just how the situation of officials already earmarked for Beijing will be handled would be up in the air. Nobody would have a clue. Some plane tickets at a rather nice sum collectively, have already been processed. Will the BOA be asked by PASO to eat all of that money and allow others to be put in place to coordinate The Bahamas' delegation in China?

Will the majority of the member federations agree to another election? If they don't and the PASO President insists on a new election, that would be a travesty. So, when one looks deeply at the affair, it's much more complicated than it appears on the surface. The will of the majority must always carry the day. Surely this is something the IOC and any of its representatives (like the PASO president) subscribe to. This is a very complicated situation that could end up in court again. The last court ruling was handed down by Justice Anita Allen, paving the way for executive officers to vote. There has been some talk about that judgment being appealed. What would stop an appeal of a new election process?

Nothing at all. Two can play the game. Round and around we go. Embarrassment sets in. There is a lowering of pride.

Although not wishful of getting into the issue, the IOC might soon not have a choice. If the PASO President is unable to get the matter resolved, the IOC, loathed thought it might be, will have little choice but to become closely involved. Perhaps it will be necessary for Jacques Rogge to use his influential IOC presidential hand to sort matters ultimately.

Amazing... truly amazing.