Team TTO | Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee | teamtto.org

The idea that the London 2012 Games are the “first social media Games” seems equivocal at this point. More so than any other time in Olympic history, athletes and their fans have open lines of communication thanks to social media, and the International Olympics Committee (IOC) has taken a number of preemptive steps to support — and to a large degree regulate — those outlets. The Olympic Athlete Hub aggregates the official Twitter feeds of Olympic athletes and lets users interact with them in real-time in a safe environment. On the heels of two-time gold medalist Rebecca Adlington announcing her plans to quit Twitter during London 2012 due to trolling, the IOC’S move looks even more sensible.

At the same time the London 2012 Games are also the most “corporate” games in Olympic history. London’s original bid to host the Games was $5 billion. That number is now expected to surpass $15 billion. Global economic conditions being what they are, the IOC has to lean as heavily as it ever has on corporate sponsorships and participation to pull off such a logistically staggering feat.

Brands are diving in head first. Robust marketing campaigns now include fully realized social media concepts and content marketing efforts that are ten times what they were during the 2008 games. The result has been an all-out Olympic blitz that has left many — notably London’s very own residents who are in the midst wide-spread protests — in a bit of a sour mood.

Inevitably the question arises: Can the self-appointed “social media games” co-exist with the corporate image that has at times threatened to erode the euphoria?  Surely users and athletes would connect on Twitter and share YouTube videos on Facebook during the Olympics without the efforts of the IOC and its partners to facilitate the sharing for them, wouldn’t they? With Facebook at more than 800 million users and Twitter at 150 million, it would seem the London 2012 Games would be the most social games ever no matter what.

Yet it is precisely these inherent viral activities that the IOC is seeking to regulate. Fans could be barred from sharing on Facebook any YouTube photos and videos of themselves enjoying the action. Athletes have already been instructed that they will not be allowed to tweet photos of themselves with products that aren’t official Olympics sponsors or share photos or videos from inside the athletes’ village. Likewise, some protestors have already had their Twitter accounts suspended due to IP concerns.

In the context of the summer that produced the much-maligned Facebook IPO, a real danger can arise when corporate interests and social media appear too closely aligned, especially if it comes at the cost of the grassroots energy behind social media networks.

So how do brands, genuinely eager to partake in the uniqueness that social media lends to these Games, mitigate the risk of backlash? By adhering to a time tested Olympic trope:

Storytelling.

The Olympics are about stories — the stories of the athletes, the journeys they’ve taken to arrive at the Olympics in the first place, and quite often the legacy of their countries at the Games. And then there are the Games themselves and the inspiring narratives that arise from athletes expanding, and then transcending, our notions of what is possible for the human body.

Brands like British Airways and Coca-Cola have wisely invested in this notion with their “Boy” and “Move to the Beat” campaigns, respectively. The former is a moving 9-minute film about a father’s tribute to his son’s passion for cycling that invokes neither British Airways nor the Olympics specifically but instead makes subtle allusions to both.

Even the staunchest skeptic would be hard pressed to ignore the sheer emotive power of the video (and you’re looking at one!).

With its “Move to the Beat” campaign, Coca-Cola’s capitalizing on what it’s always been able to count on in its traditional ad campaigns — the “global youth” movement, for lack of a better term.

Embarking on an ambitious sound collage with the likes of British super-producer Mark Ronson to create an Olympic anthem, Coke has vowed to get fans involved by offering up, among others, a desktop app that accounts for a user’s sports and music interests and then creates individualized beats based on that data. The customized music creations can then be uploaded to The Global Beat , a worldwide online community that brings together individual beats to create an ever-evolving global music collaboration.

Sounds cool, but tellingly, Coca-Cola is supporting the interactive platform with an hour-long documentary about the process of making the anthem, following Ronson around the world as he meets athletes and gets their contributions to the song.

The film nicely illustrates why Ronson and Coca-Cola are doing it in the first place, and this allows them to tell a more inspirational story about individualism and globalism through sports and music.

Ultimately, value is what lies at stake in the Olympics sweepstakes. Brands must be mindful to create it for their audiences, not merely extract it from them.

Source: www.blog.outbrain.com

TRACK AND FIELD stars Keston Bledman and Kelly-Ann Baptiste, the national 100-metre sprint champions, are among a 30-member national squad, in six disciplines, ratified by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC).

The announcement took place last evening during a media conference at the Olympic House, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain. The Olympic Games are carded to take place in London, England from July 27 to August 12.

Swimmer George Bovell III, the men 200m individual medley bronze medallist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, has also been chosen, as well as 2008 Beijing Olympics 100m silver medallist Richard Thompson.

Bledman and Thompson were part of the 2008 men 4x100m relay silver medal squad, as well as Marc Burns and Emmanuel Callender — both Burns and Callender will be in action in London.

Other notable inclusions were national 200m champ Rondel Sorrillo, top 400m hurdler Jehue Gordon, CARIFTA Games javelin gold medallist Keshorn Walcott, veteran shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown, American-born boxer Carlos Suarez, sailor Andrew Lewis, cyclist Njisane Phillip and rifle shooter Roger Daniel.

TTOC president Larry Romany noted, “prior to going into the (Olympic) Village, there will be a pre-Games camp held in Cardiff, Wales, from July 12. Most of the athletes will attend this camp with the exception of (a few) who will be in other training camps.”

The athletes who may miss the camp are Bovell (based in Spain), Lewis (in southern England), Phillip (in Colorado, United States) and Daniel (in Mongolia). But the entire contingent is expected to relocate to the Olympic Village by July 24.

Romany admitted, “we had really projected eight sporting disciplines with two teams, and we had expected a team size of about 80 people. Unfortunately we did not realise the team sports (football and hockey) and we’ll definitely try harder for the 2016 Games (in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

“However, the team that has finally emerged is an extremely strong team,” Romany noted. “Our expectations are high in terms of what the medals potential would be, specifically in the (sprint) relays.”

And he boasted, “we are hoping that we can break the record from the 1964 (Olympics in Tokyo, Japan) with three medals. We feel that five medals are very realistic.” Romany stated that the TTOC general council ratified all the names submitted by its executive, and he went on to state, “we will rarely get involved in an organisation selection system.

“We presented the names to the general council and it was approved unanimously.”

TTOC secretary general Brian Lewis pointed out that this Games will be symbolic for the organisation, since TT’s inaugural Olympic participation took place in 1948 in London. And he also clarified the selections of women 400m hurdlers Josanne Lucas and Janeil Bellille, who both have ‘B’ standard times. He disclosed that the duo have a deadline of July 8 to each achieve an “A” standard time. If both athletes do not reach that stipulation, then the hurdler with the fastest “B” standard time will be chosen for London.

-Joel Bailey

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

T&T will carry a team of 31 athletes from six disciplines along with 23 officials to the 2012 London Olympics, which will take place from July 27 to August 12. This was revealed during a press conference at Olympic House on Abercrombie Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Of the contingent, 26 track and field athletes have been selected, including Olympic 100m silver medallist Richard Thompson, reigning national Men’s 100m champion Keston Bledman, World Junior Championships 400m Hurdles champ Jehue Gordon and World Championships Women’s 100m bronze medallist Kelly-Ann Baptiste. Thompson and Bledman will be joined by 200m national champion Rondel Sorrillo, Marc Burns and Deon Lendore in the 4x100m event, for which T&T took the silver in Beijing four years ago.

Also making the squad were Olympic Individual Medley bronze medallist George Bovell (Swimming), two-time FCB Sports Foundation Sportsman of the Year Roger Daniel (Shooting), multiple Pan American gold medallist Njisane Phillip (Cycling), American-born fighter Carlos Suarez (Boxing) and Andrew Lewis, the first local sailor in 48 years to qualify for the Games. Phillip, fresh from a record-breaking performance in Colorado last weekend, is one of just eight international cyclists to have made the shortlist for the Match Sprint. Speaking during yesterday’s conference, president of the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) Larry Romany was confident the squad would go down as one of T&T’s most successful at the Olympics. “The team that has emerged is an extremely strong one. We are very excited about the potential and our expectations are high,” he said. “I think that sport in T&T is on an upward trend and we are hoping that we can break the T&T record from 1964, when we won three medals. We feel that five medals is something that’s very realistic.”

He added that behind the scenes, everything had been going according to plan. “We have had fairly smooth sailing and we don’t expect any hiccups in management so at this point in time we are ready to go.” TTOC secretary general Brian Lewis pointed out that T&T’s 50th Anniversary of Independence would provide extra motivation for the athletes. “It’s been a long road for the athletes who have come through the process but the journey really gets tough now,” he said. “Going back to London has a lot of symbolism for this country since we participated in our first Olympics there in 1948... There’s a lot to look forward to and we’re very excited by it all.” Most of the team members will participate in a pre-Games training camp in Cardiff, Wales from July 12-14. Those who have opted out in order to train at their regular venues include Bovell (Spain), Lewis (England), Phillip (Colorado, USA) and Daniel (Mongolia). The team will move into the Olympic Village on July 24, where it will make the decision as to who will carry the flag during the opening ceremony on July 27. For further information, visit ttoc.org.

The Contingent
Athletics
Men: Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman, Rondel Sorrillo, Marc Burns, Renny Quow, Deon Lendore, Wayne Davis II,Mikel Thomas, Jehue Gordon, Keshorn Walcott, Emmanuel Callender, Jamol James, Lalonde Gordon, Jarrin Solomon, Machel Cedenio, Ade Alleyne-Forte

Women: Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Semoy Hackett, Kai Selvon, Michelle Lee Ahye, Josanne Lucas, Janeil Bellille, Ayanna Alexander, Cleopatra Borel-Brown, Reyare Thomas,Sparkle McKnight

Dexter Voisin (manager), Ian Hypolite (head coach)
Edwin Skinner (coach - sprints/hurdles), Gunness Persad
(coach-sprints/hurdles), Ismael Lopez Mastrapa (coach-throws)

Boxing: Carlos Suarez; Reynold Cox (manager/coach), Raulson Dopwell (coach)

Cycling: Njisane Phillip; Peter Maharaj (manager/coach)

Sailing: Andrew Lewis; Kairon Serrette (manager), Fernando Alegre (coach)

Shooting: Roger Daniel; Altansetseg Byambajav ( manager/coach)

Swimming: George Bovell III; George Robert Bovell (manager/coach)

Medical: Chief Medical Officer - Dr Terry Ali, Medical Officer - Dr Anyl Gopeesingh, Sports Psychologist - Dr Margaret Ottley, Massage Therapists - Fitzbert Alleyne, Zephyrinus Nicholas, Ian Sharpe, Oba Gulston, Karielle De Bique

-Nicholas Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Click on link or picture to download the full Trinidad and Tobago London 2012 Olympic Team list and events sheet. www.ttoc.org

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) will host a press conference on Friday 29 June 2012,at 615pm at Olympic House- 121 Abercromby Street, Port. of. Spain.
The TTOC General Council will meet at 5pm to receive and consider  among other matters recommendations from the Executive Commitee with regard to the London 2012 Olympic delegation.
The London 2012 Olympic team will be officially announced at 6.15pm (Trinidad and Tobago time) .

Brian Lewis
Secretary General
TTOC

Trinidad and Tobago #1 Junior Table Tennis champion Arun Roopnarine (14) pays a courtesy visit to the Olympic House (TTOC) on Abercromby Street today. He was a bronze medalist at the Caribbean Junior championship 2012 and won gold at the World Junior Circuit in Guatemala.

Shot Put and Discus specialist Annie Alexander paid a courtesy visit to the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee on 29th June 2012.

Jamaican trio Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell are a step closer to booking their place at the Olympics after easing into the 100m semi-finals at the national championships.

Defending Olympic champion Bolt clocked a time of 10.06 seconds to win the first of the day's four qualifiers.

The only man to go faster than him was reigning world champion Blake, who ran 10.00 in the second heat to advance.

Former world record holder Powell also advanced with a time of 10.19.

The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Friday night at the sold-out National Stadium in Kingston. Only the top three qualify for London 2012.

Reigning world record holder Bolt, who won Olympic gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the 2008 Games in Beijing, holds the fastest time in the world this year after clocking 9.76 in Rome last month,

Dwain Chambers won the British trials in a time of 10.25, while five men broke the 10-second barrier at the US trials, with Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay qualifying for London with 9.80 and 9.86 respectively.

Powell said he did not push the pace on Thursday but plans to "go all out" in the semi-finals and final. Bolt and Blake both declined to comment to reporters after their races.

Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, former world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown and Olympic silver medalist Kerron Stewart will battle in the women's 100m Olympic trials.

Nearly 400 Jamaican athletes are competing for about 60 berths in London in what could be the largest athletics delegation ever sent to an Olympics by the Caribbean nation.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

This country’s senior men’s volleyball squad has been drawn in a tough four-team pool for the Seventh Men’s Pan American Cup carded for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from July 16 to 21. When the draw was made earlier this week, T&T ranked 33rd in the world and coming off at impressive showing at the Norceca Olympic Qualifiers in Long Beach, California in May where it placed seventh was grouped with Argentina, Canada and Dominican Republic. The Argentines are the highest world ranked team in the group at eighth, while Canada is 18th and Dominican Republic, 43rd. Four-time champion and reigning Olympic gold medal winners’ USA, currently ranked sixth in the world faces top ranked team and defending champion Brazil, Venezuela (No 16) and Mexico (No 23) in Pool B.

T&T will be making its fourth appearance at the Pan Am Cup, having finished in sixth spot in its three previous appearances (2006-2008). USA is the most successful team in the tournament having won four times (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010), while Mexico was the other winner in 2007. On completion of the one-week competition, the national men’s team will journey straight to St Croix, US Virgin Islands where it will defend its Senior Caribbean Championship crown from July 16 to 21. T&T under the guidance of coach Gideon Dickson and captain, Nolan Tash, his brother won the title last year for the first time in Suriname.

Seventh Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup
Venue: Santo Domingo, Dom Republic July 7-15:

Pool A
July 9
Argentina vs Canada, 1pm
Dominican Republic
vs T&T, 7pm

July 10
Argentina vs
T&T, 1pm
Dominican Republic
vs Canada, 7pm
July 11
Canada vs T&T, 3pm
Dominican Republic
vs Argentina, 7pm

Pool B
July 9
Brazil vs Mexico, 3pm
USA vs Venezuela, 5pm

July 10
USA vs Mexico, 3pm
Brazil vs Venezuela, 5pm

July 11
Venezuela vs Mexico, 1pm
Brazil vs USA, 5pm

July 12
Quarterfinals:
2nd B vs 3rd A
2nd A vs 3rd B

July 13
Classification Fifth to Eighth
Semifinals

July 14
Classification Seventh to Eighth
Classification Fifth to Sixth
Third place
Final

-Nigel Simon

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Carifta champions Kenejah Williams and Mark London will lead T&T into battle on the opening morning of action of the 2012 Central American and Caribbean Junior Track and Field Championships, which get Underway in San Salvador, El Salvador today. Williams (Tobago Falcons) and Shervonne Worrell (Zenith) will vie for top honours in the Boys Under 18 shot put finals set for 8 am today (10 am local time). The duo will fancy their chances of winning the country’s first medals of the three day meet as they are ranked third and fourthrespectively in the event. Williams is the reigning Carifta Boys Under 17 Shot Put champion while Worrell will be aiming to improve on his sixth place finish at the 2010 edition of the meet in the Dominican Republic. London (Zenith) is listed to line up in the semifinals of the Boys Under 20 800m. The Carifta champion is expected to advance to the finals later today and is ranked at number seven following his world junior qualifying time of 1:50.54 at the Sagicor/NGC Open Championships last Sunday.

Nicholas Landeau is slated to compete in the Boys Under 18 800m semis and is looking to advance to the finals also on later today. Ayana Glasgow (Toco TAFAC) and Meriah Freeman (D’Abadie Progressive) will be the first locals in action when they enter the 100m Hurdles, the first of seven events in the Girls Under 18 Heptathlon. The High Jump will also be contested this morning while the Shot Put and 200m will be completed this afternoon in the two day multi-event discipline. Glasgow’s Toco clubmate Kechelle Douglas will run in the 100m Hurdles of the Girls Under 20 Heptathlon events. Douglas will also contest the High Jump, Shot Put and 200m events. Aaliyah Telesford (Pt. Fortin New Jets) and Zakiya Denoon (Zenith) will be this country’s entrants in the Girls Under 18 100m semis. Telesford is the second quickest in the field (11.70) while Denoon is at number seven (11.95).  In the Boys Under 18 semis, Carifta Boys Under 17 200m champion Jonathan Farinha (Abilene Wildcats) and Nicholas Douglas (Zenith) are among the starters.

Farinha is rated at number four (10.50) and Douglas ninth (10.69). Jonathan Holder and Ashron Sobers (Zenith) will fly the national colours in the Boys Under 20 class. Holder (10.47) is ranked at fifth with Sobers (10.51) at seventh. Lisa Wickham (Concorde) is expected to be among the starters of the Girls Under 20 division. The finals will be run off later today. Hezekiel Romeo (Memphis) will contend for the top spot in the Boys Under 20 Shot Put finals. The 2011 World youth finalist will be hoping to match his gold medal performance two years ago and is the third best competitor on the start list. The Memphis duo of Reubin Walters and Brandon Benjamin have been named to contest the 400m Hurdles semis. Walters will run the Boys Under 18 event and Benjamin in the Under 20 category while Kernesha Spann (Neon Trackers) will be aiming to take the Girls Under 20 400m Hurdles after her success in the Girls Under 17 300m Hurdles event in 2010. The finals will run off later in the day.

The first athlete in action in the afternoon session is expected to be Andwuelle Wright (Signal Hill Secondary). The Carifta Boys Under 17 gold medallist is listed in the Boys Under 18 long jump and could be joined by multi-event athlete Kevin Roberts (Pt Fortin New Jets). Wright has the fourth furthest jump of all the entrants with Roberts just ahead in third. Worell and Williams will be back in action in the Boys Under 18 Discus and will be hoping to improve on their fourth and sixth places finishes respectively in the 2010 Boys Under 17 finals. Atiba Wright (UWI Sixth-Form) will bid for gold in the Boys Under 20 Long Jump. For this year’s Championships, the younger age group has been changed from Under 17 to Under 18 while the Under 20 category has been maintained. Also each country will be allowed to enter three athletes in the multi-events. At the 2010 edition, T&T finished third on the medal standings with 27 (12 gold, six silver and nine bronze). The three day meet ends on Sunday.

-Clayton Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

...Relay teams in top ten

Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Jehue Gordon are this country’s highest ranked athletes according to the latest IAAF World Outdoor Track and Field rankings. Baptiste is at number two in the women’s 100m performance listing following her 10.86 season opener at the Jamaican Invitational on May 5. The 2011 World Championships bronze medallist is behind World champion, Carmelita Jeter (10.81), who got the better of her at the Jamaica Invitational. Baptiste also clocked 10.98 last week to take her sixth national title at the NAAA Sagicor/NGC Open Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The 25-year-old sprinter is among six local sprinters to be ranked in the event. Semoy Hackett (11.10-19th), Michelle Lee Ahye (11.19-33rd), Kai Selvon (11.21-41st) and Reyare Thomas (11.30-68th) are next with personal best clockings.

Veteran Ayanna Hutchinson is 148th with her 11.43 clocking. National men’s 100m gold medallist, Keston Bledman, lies at fifth in the men’s dash with his 9.86 personal best run last Saturday. Bledman, a member of this country’s 2008 Olympic and 2009 World Championships silver medal sprint relay team, is behind World record holder, Usain Bolt of Jamaica (9.76), reigning World Indoor 60m champion Justin Gatlin of the USA (9.80), current World 100m winner, Yohan Blake of Jamaica (9.84), and former record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica (9.85). National record holder Richard Thompson (9.96) is tenth.  The current Olympic runner-up is ahead eight other local sprinters on the rankings: Rondell Sorillo (10.03-19th), Marc Burns (10.06-32nd), Emmanuel Callender (10.07-33rd), Jamol James (10.17-59th), Aaron Armstrong (10.22-96th), Darrel Brown (10.25-119th) and Shermund Allsop (10.29-160th). World Junior champion, Jehue Gordon, is fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles after his 48.78 run in taking second place at the Diamond league Oslo leg on June 7.

Hackett is also at number 13 in the women’s 200m listing following her national record run of 22.55 at the NCAA Regionals in Florida on May 26. National 200m champion Selvon is at 53rd after she sped to 22.96 in taking her second straight national crown. In the women’s shot put, Cleopatra Borel is at number 20 with her 18.69 season’s opening performance at the Jamaica Invitational. The men’s 4X100m team is at number five on the 2012 Olympic qualifying list following its 37.91 clocking at the heats of the 2011 World Championships and its 38.89 silver medal run at the 2011 CAC Senior Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The local contingent is behind World champions and record holder Jamaica, USA, France and Great Britain. The men’s 4X400m and women’s 4X100m squads are at number 10. The men’s mile relay outfit moved up from 13th following its national record run of 3:00.45 at the National Championships on Sunday while the women’s sprint team also sped to a national record of 43.21 in Bahamas on June 16.  The top sixteen teams will qualify to compete at the London Olympics.

Rankings

Local athletes on the latest 2012 IAAF World Rankings (as at June 27)

WOMEN 100m
Rank Mark Wind Name
2 10.86 Kelly Ann Baptiste
19 11.10 +1.9 Semoy Hackett
33 11.19 +1.5 Michelle Lee-Ahye
41 11.21 +1.8 Kai Selvon
68 11.30 +0.4 Reyare Thomas
148 11.43 +1.1 Ayanna Hutchinson

200m
13 22.55 +0.2 Semoy Hackett
53 22.96 -1.9 Kai Selvon
83 23.13 +0.8 Michelle Lee-Ahye
126 23.29 +1.9 Sparkle McKnight
142 23.36 -1.9 Reyare Thomas


400m
116 52.44 Sparkle McKnight
133 52.66 Shawna Fermin


100m Hurdles
73 13.07 +1.0 Josanne Lucas
91 13.15 +2.0 Aleesha Barber


400m Hurdles
38 55.91 Janiel Bellille
39 5.92 Josanne Lucas
112 57.42 Sparkle McKnight


Triple Jump
38 14.14 +1.9 Ayanna Alexander


Shot Put
20 18.69 Cleopatra Borel
54 17.36 Annie Alexander
94 16.54 Hilenn James


Discus
96 56.78 Annie Alexander
108 55.92 Hilenn James


MEN 100m
5 9.86 +1.4 Keston Bledman
10 9.96 +1.4 Richard Thompson
19 10.03 +1.4 Rondel Sorillo
32 10.06 +1.4 Marc Burns
33 10.07 +1.5 Emmanuel Callender
59 10.17 +1.4 Jamol James
87 10.21 -0.2 Aaron Armstrong
96 10.22 +1.7 Moriba Morain
119 10.25 -0.2 Darrel Brown
160 10.29 +0.2 Shermund Allsop


200m
31 20.42 +0.1 Rondel Sorillo
134 20.70 +1.9 Lalonde Gordon
154 20.74 +0.7 Emmanuel Callender
176 20.77 +0.6 Moriba Morain
196 20.80 +1.8 Richard Thompson
211 20.82 +0.6 Jereem Richards


400m
22 45.13 Deon Lendore
33 45.33 Lalonde Gordon
47 45.48 Renny Quow
97 45.88 Jarrin Solomon
129 46.02 Machel Cedenio
147 46.13 Ade Alleyne-Forte


800m
107 1:46.88 Jamaal James


110m Hurdles
27 13.37 +1.8 Wayne Davis 11
45 13.48 +1.9 Mikel Thomas
95 13.67 +1.3 Durrell Busby
149 13.81 nwi Jehue Gordon


400m Hurdles
5 48.78 Jehue Gordon
96 50.32 Emanuel Mayers


Long Jump
81 7.91 +1.9 Kyron Blaise


Triple Jump
80 16.49 +0.8 Kyron Blaise


Discus
148 58.27 Quincy Wilson


Javelin
49 80.11 Keshorn Walcott

-Clayton Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) will host a press conference on Friday 29 June 2012,at 615pm at Olympic House- 121 Abercromby Street, Port. of. Spain.
The TTOC General Council will meet at 5pm to receive and consider  among other matters recommendations from the Executive Commitee with regard to the London 2012 Olympic delegation.
The London 2012 Olympic team will be officially announced at 6.15pm (Trinidad and Tobago time) .

…Thompson dethroned, but still confident

Newly crowned men’s 100m national champion Keston Bledman attributed his close relationship with God and hard training in winning the event final at the NAAA Sagicor/NGC National Open Track and Field Championship at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Saturday night. Bledman just missed out on equalling the national record, set by Richard Thompson at last year’s Championships, by one-hundredth of a second when he blazed to glory in a personal best of 9.86 seconds, which is the fifth fastest time for 2012. Bledman signalled a clear warning that he was walking away with nothing less than a victory, in producing his fastest time ever in a semifinal in 10.04 seconds.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian about his performances for the day, Bledman said he came in confident about his abilities and to put his best foot forward, “I planned on not taking anything easy. I came out here confident and…to put my best foot forward. (I’ve made some) good times. Today is the fastest that I’ve ever run in a semifinal so I’m very proud of that. I said to myself ‘I trained hard and I have to come and deliver’. I thank God for everything, I talk to Him everyday and every night. I just go out there and do what He told me to do.” Asked if he was perturbed by the intermittent rainy weather, the 24-year-old said he came prepared to brave any kind of weather, “That’s nature, that’s God’s work, you can’t really stop that. All you could do is pray and ask God to guide you through and come through without any injury. I came prepared for any kind of weather.”

Bledman has been enjoying a superb season, having dipped under ten seconds multiple times for the year already, and plans on continuing his fine form as he gears up for the London Games. Defending and three-time national 100m champ, Richard “Torpedo” Thompson, had to settle for second with his 9.96 time. The 2008 double Olympic silver medallist congratulated his dethroner and said that although he would have liked to retain his title, he still found satisfaction in making his first sub ten clocking for the season. “The winner was worthy. He is a great competitor and has a lot talent. He ran a great race today and I am not surprised of the way he ran. I know there were a lot of people on the outside who doubted (me) but, I have faith in my abilities and also I have faith in God. I came second but I wanted to defend my title. (However) I am very pleased with my time, it being my first sub ten for the season.”

The “Torpedo”, who has been struggling to get under the ten-second barrier this year, told reporters that he knows he still has what it takes to give a good showing at the Olympics, “I am confident because once you do it once, you can do it again. I have faith in my abilities. I feel I can run with anyone and beat anyone regardless of what I have done for the year (so far).” A new champion was also crowned in the men’s 400m, as Lalonde Gordon crossed the finish line in 45.40 seconds to steal the title from Renny Quow (45.60). Speaking after his victory, Gordon told the T&T Guardian that the win felt great. Asked if he ever thought he would achieve such a feat, the 23-year-old answered: “Yes. I’ve been training hard for the last few months, I just think I need to train a little more again. It wasn’t my best (time)…but I’m still happy with it.” Deon Lendore (45.74) and Jarrin Solomon (45.88) secured third and fourth in the event. The top four 400m finishers later combined their speed and endurance skills to set a new national record of 3:00.45 in the 4x400m relay on the following and final day of the national championships. Gordon, Quow, Solomon along with Jereem Richards formed T&T’s 4x400m relay team that won bronze at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in March.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Although she claimed her sixth national title in the women’s 100 metres sprint, Kelly-Ann Baptiste admitted she was not completely satisfied with her overall performance at the NAAA Sagicor/NGC National Open Track and Field Championship on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The reigning national sprint queen was the clear-cut winner of the event, speeding to a 10.98 golden finish. She sped ahead of Zenith club-mate Semoy Hackett (11.14), Kai Selvon (Air Bon Sonics—11.24), and Michelle Lee Ahye (Unattached—11.29) in fourth. The 25-year-old women’s national record holder told the T&T Guardian that she was not completely satisfied with her final time as she reflected on her performances for the day. “I’m not really satisfied (with the time) but, I’ll take it. (I) could have done better. (I have been) a bit up and down and inconsistent but, those things happen.

She said, “I didn’t do as good as I would have liked in some races but, I know I can do better because I know what kind of athlete I am.I am not going to be discouraged by any of that. I’m just going to keep working and keep believing in myself.” When asked what she thought were the determining factors for her preparations leading up to the Olympics, Baptiste said: “I think competition is the biggest thing because you have to try and execute all that you have been learning. So I’m just going to be using competitions as my markers to see where I am at, and where I am going.” Questioned if she has any apprehension on facing reigning World champion, Carmelita Jeter (USA), the 2011 World Championships bronze medallist said she can’t place all her focus on her arch rival.

Baptiste got her 2012 season off in sensational style, clocking her best season opener of 10.86 seconds, in trailing a mere 0.05 seconds behind Jeter (10.81), who set a meet record and a world leading time in winning the women’s 100m at the Jamaica International Invitational in May.  “I can’t focus on Carmelita Jeter when there might be someone else behind her who could do much better. So I would never single out one individual athlete, I can’t focus on her solely. “All the “A” people in the final will be my main competitors. I think anything can happen (in the final) it’s very unpredictable. I’ll be looking to put out some of my best times,” Baptiste said.

-Shernice Thomas

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Parents of juniors join new T&TCA executive

Russell Smith outlined “a different vision” for the sport of chess when he took up office as the new president of the T&T Chess Association on Sunday. Smith, who served as treasurer in the last term, was elected to lead the national chess body at its annual general meeting held at Chaguanas. In replacing former president Kamla Rampersad De Silva, Smith also became the only member of the previous executive to be re-elected to the new administration, apparently gaining much of his support from delegates of the two chess clubs, UWI and UTT, which were admitted to full membership at the AGM.

This “clean sweep”, as Double Rooks sees it, is all to the good. Firstly, it brings to an end the turbulence and infighting which marked the governance of the previous regime. Secondly it endows the new president with a fresh team as he sets out to fulfil a “different vision” for the sport. Another welcome decision taken at the AGM overturns, by 11 votes to 7, the refusal of the previous executive to submit for FIDE rating the Knights Chess Club’s Lucio Araujo Invitational tournament held late last year. In voting to have this contest submitted for FIDE rating, the AGM virtually joined with DR in condemning the gratuitous insult inflicted on Knights, the country’s most venerable and progressive chess club.

In her comprehensive and candid report, the outgoing president revealed that objection to Knights’ request came principally from Bhisham Soondarsingh, the first vice president, whose attempts to treat her as a puppet, she noted, presented a number of serious problems for her administration. Another depressing revelation concerned the coaching of the female team selected to represent the country at the coming Olympiad. According to the outgoing president, several members of the team were not attending the sessions provided to prepare them for the world’s premiere chess event.  Replacing Soondarsingh as first vice president is Roderick Noel who was elected unopposed. A  former T&TCA president himself, Noel brings in the kind of level-headed in-depth experience which the new executive should find quite useful. Soondarsingh who resigned as first vice president the day before the AGM, accepted nomination by Ravishen Singh for the post of second vice president. But he was roundly defeated by leading player and chess activist Hayden Lee who collected 22 votes to his seven.

Filling the post of third vice president is Naresh Bhola, president of the UTT Chess Club and lecturer in Spanish at the university. Taking on the key responsibility of secretary is Marva Walker Hernandez, School Safety Officer of Manzanilla. Succeeding Smith as treasurer is Debra Walcott who was elected unopposed. The post of public relations officer fell to Jonathan Forde, Principal of Forde College and well-known member of the Promenade Chess Club. Forde was also elected unopposed. National champion Ryan Harper declined nomination to his former post of second vice president but joined Clayton Gomez and Kena Bartholomew to form the three-man disciplinary committee. Carlyle Singh again heads the Tribunal. Serving with him on this body are Rawlson Paul, Omari Waldron, Kashif Jacob and Adrian Mitchell.

Double Rooks sincerely endorses the compliments which the incoming president paid to his predecessor. Inspite of the contentious nature of her tenure, the reasons for which she dramatically detailed in her report, Rampersad De Silva succeeded in bringing off the Carifta Games marking the country’s 50th anniversary  of independence. At the same time, DR also welcomes the new administrative team for the sport of chess. The “different vision” which president Smith outlined as he took office seems impressive enough to inspire the hope that the game may be on the brink of a new and significant leap forward.  Also holding the important post of General Secretary of FIDE Americas, Smith should be in a strategic position to assist the T&TCA with inputs from the world chess body. Another reason for optimism is the fact that several members of the new executive are parents of active junior chess players and, as a result, should have the future development of the sport as their central interest.

-Carl Jacobs

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The local trio of US-based Kimberlee John-Williams, Dylan Carter and Jabari Baptiste all established new meet records as T&T swimmers continued their quest for a hat-trick of titles as the 19th Caribbean Islands Swimming Championship (CISC) continued at the Roly Bisslik Olympic Pool, Savaneta, Aruba on Monday night. Overall, the T&T swimmers under the supervision of head coach Edmund Pouchet bagged 17 medals on the third day of competition, six gold, eight silver and three bronze for a tally of 49 (19 gold, 18 silver, 12 bronze), nine more than its closest challenger, and host Aruba (40 medals), 18 gold, 14 silver and eight bronze. John-Williams who shattered the eight-year-old 15-17 girls 100m backstroke record of (1:06.48 mins) held by Dominican Republic’s Laura Rodriguez with a 1:05.94 clocking on Sunday night added another record, this time in the 50m backstroke. In the final, John-Williams sped home in 30.26 seconds well ahead of the previous top time of 30.61 set by St Lucian, Siona Huxley last, two years in Havana, Cuba.

Second home was Bahamian, Bria Deveaux (31.22) and third, Bermuda’s Ashley Yearwood (31.41). John-Williams also combined with Alexandria Donahue, Rebecca Marshall and Theana Hay for a silver medal in nine minutes, 22.31 seconds in the 15-17 girls 800m freestyle relay. Carter picked up his third individual gold and second new meet record when he raced home in 23.39 seconds in the 15-17 boys 50 freestyle to better the 1996 mark of 23.59 by Cuba’s Marcos Hernandez. Fellow T&T swimmer Joshua Romany got silver in 23.74 while Aruba’s Jordy Groters, secured the bronze in 24.04. Carter added a silver in the 15-17 boys 800m freestyle relay with Romany, Christopher Greene and Emrio Goossen in eight minutes, 05.64 seconds while he took home bronze in the 50m backstroke (27.55 seconds). Baptiste, of the stars of T&T’s title-repeat in Cuba in 2010 picked up his first gold medal of this year’s Championship where she touched the wall first in the 13-14 boys 50m backstroke in 28.06 seconds, the same time as joint-gold medal winner Bahamas’ Dionisio Carey. The time by by the gold medal duo erased the 2010 mark set by T&T’s Joshua Romany of 28.09 in 2010.

Netherlands Antilles’ Jeremy Kostons was third in 29.20 seconds. The other gold medal winners on the third night of competition for T&T were Caryle Blondell,  the 18 & Over boys’ 800m freestyle relay and Theana Hay in the Open Water category. Blondell increased his individual gold medal tally to three after outswimming his rivals in the 18 & Over Boys’ 50m backstroke in 27.08 seconds well ahead of Jamaica’s Ramon Walton (27.46) and Suriname’s Marcelino Richaards (27.65). Blondell then returned to the pool to lead the 18 & Over relay quartet which also comprised Strasser Sankar, Abraham Mc Leod and Levar Goosseen to victory in eight minutes, 11.91 seconds and whipping its lone challenger, Aruba (8:37.77) in the process. He also earned a silver in the 50m freestyle in 23.40 while team-mate Strasser Sankar (23.43) missed bronze by .01 seconds. Hay outlasted her six-swimmers field in the 14-17 girls 5K Open Water event in one hour, 18 minutes, 05.40 seconds.

Puerto Rico’s Ana Isabel Toress was second (1:18:40.20 hrs) and third, Dominican Republic’s Darliana Rodriguez Trinidad (1:21:02.20 hrs). However, the pair of Josiah Morales (1:10:27.00 hrs) and Nicholas Mitchell (1:11:12.00) missed out on medals in the 14-17 boys 5K Open Water event after they ended fourth and sixth respectively. The top three finishers were Dominican Republic’s Emmanuel Hungria (1:06:39.80); Puerto Rican Calvin Ayala (1:06:50.50) and Barbadian, Gabriel Gunby (1:08:01.20). Other silver medallists for T&T on Monday were Sharntelle Mc Lean, both in the 18 & Over girls 50m freestyle (26.94) and 50m backstroke (30.78); Arielle Downes in the 11-12 girls 100m butterfly (1:10.35 mins), and Syriah David, the 13-14 girls 200m butterfly (2:30.95). The duo of Josiah Morales (15-17 boys 200m butterfly—2:15.00) and Ariel Cape (13-14 girls 50m backstroke—32.61) added a bronze medal each. The meet which continued last night concludes today.

Medal TABLE AFTER TWO DAYS
Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
T&T 19 18 12 49
Aruba 18 14 8 40
Suriname 12 7 9 28
Bahamas 10 6 4 20
Bermuda 8 6 10 24
Dom Rep 8 7 5 20
Puerto Rico 6 12 13 31
Jamaica 5 8 9 22
Barbados 5 5 7 17
Netherlands Antilles 0 2 4 9
St Lucia 1 2 2 5
Grenada 0 3 0 3

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The Hasely Crawford Stadium was awash in yellow and green over the weekend as employees of BP Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) turned out to support its athlete ambassadors who competed in the National Open Track and Field Championships 2012. The athletes included shot-putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown and track stars Renny Quow and Michelle-Lee Ahye, who were energised by the tempo of the Laventille Rhythm Section. Borel-Brown posted an impressive 17.98-metre throw for gold in the women’s shot put and Renny Quow took silver in the men’s 400 metres with a time of 45.60. Quow combined with Lalonde Gordon, Deon Lendore and Jarrin Solomon on Sunday to break the record in the four by 400 metre relay that stood since 1992. “It’s wonderful to be here and support our athlete ambassadors because now they are part of our One Team and have become part of our family. Even more than that, they are part of team T&T who will be representing our nation with pride and excellence at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. “We are here to let them know that from here to London, we are behind them 100 per cent,” said Danielle Jones, corporate communications manager, bpTT.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Adidas has announced that it expects to generate record football sales of more than Eur1.6 billion in 2012, a position boosted by its dominant position at UEFA Euro 2012.

This figure will surpass its current landmark of Eur1.5 billion achieved during the FIFA World Cup year of 2010, while it compares to the Eur1.3 billion generated during Austria and Switzerland’s staging of Euro 2008. “Adidas can already be sure of defending its title as the most successful football brand in Europe and the world,” said Herbert Hainer, CEO of the Adidas Group, at a media event in Warsaw ahead of Thursday’s first Euro 2012 quarter-final game. “Adidas is leading the way at UEFA Euro 2012 in every respect – in terms of product sales, brand visibility and innovative strength.”

The German sportswear giant is the official sponsor, supplier and licensee of the European Championship. It also equips six of the 16 teams at Euro 2012 – more than any other brand. Co-host Ukraine, world and European champions Spain, Germany, Russia, Denmark and Greece are all Adidas partners. While the company is already the market leader in Ukraine, Adidas has targeted Euro 2012 as a means to achieve similar status in co-host Poland by 2015 – a goal that it revealed it is close to achieving by securing No.1 status in the football market.

Meanwhile, Hainer stated that Adidas has no interest in acquiring football brand Umbro from Nike. The American firm last month announced its intention to sell Umbro and focus its efforts on driving growth in its own brand along with Jordan, Converse and Hurley, just four years after having acquired the company.”We are already the market leader in football, we do not need another brand,” said Hainer, according to Reuters.

-Matt Cutler

Source: www.sportbusiness.com

Even the critics received an applause from Caledonia AIA following the TT Pro League club’s success in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.

Now the club asks for it in return.

Caledonia defeated compatriot W Connection 4-3 on penalties in the Final last Thursday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium following a 1-1 draw at the end of 120 minutes which were interrupted three times by power outages.

However both sides celebrated qualification into the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions’ League 2012-2013 season by reaching the CFU Final with Caledonia defeating United Soccer Leagues (USL) club Antigua Barracuda 2-0 and W Connection trashing North American Soccer League club and two-time defending Caribbean champs Puerto Rico Islanders 4-1 in the semi-final round.

Caledonia (CFU winner) enters the CCL for the first time in the club’s 32 year history joining a group that includes Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit Seattle Sounders and Honduran club, Marathon. While Connection (CFU runner-up), very familiar with the CCL, will face top Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara and Guatemalan team Xelaju,

Puerto Rico Islanders, which defeated Antigua Barracuda 2-0 with goals by Joshua Hansen and a Jonathan Frias Fana penalty in the CFU third place playoff in the earlier match on Thursday, grabbed the third and final CCL spot.

The Islanders (CFU third place) enters the group of David Beckham's LA Galaxy of the MLS and El Salvador’s Isidro Metapan in the Group stage.

Caledonia’s accomplishments goes further this season as the Morvant/Laventille added domestic titles, the First Citizens Cup, the FA Trophy and the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield after reaching four Finals and finishing third in the Digicel Pro League, two points shy of winners W Connection(40 points) and one point behind runner-up and debutants T&TEC FC.

However it wasn’t all success for Caledonia over the years despite producing a quality level of football, receiving heavy criticism by some football supporters over the years.

“I think the (critics) helped us,” said assistant coach Jerry Moe during his post-match remarks. “They kept us focused; they kept us strong although we knew we were doing the right thing. People only throw stones at a tree that bears fruit.”

He added, “We are now going to (the CONCACAF Champions’ League) and try to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the best of our ability.

I think (eveyone) need to stick with it and keep giving the players hope because the football is improving don’t matter what some people are saying on the streets.

If they come to the games they would see that it is getting faster and we are slowly turning the corner. It’s just a matter of time before we get back to where we were a few years ago (even at the national). Once the players start taking responsibility for their performance and their own individual development, then we would go a lot further.

I think the coaches are doing a good job in trying to get the players prepare for international football which we saw against the NASL leaders Puerto Rico Islanders and Antigua Barracuda which also plays in the US because they weren’t a cut above us. So while we are doing well, it’s for the people to see it. And if we do well at CONCACAF then people will really believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Speaking on Thursday’s hard-fought win against Connection Moe explained, “We had normal preparation for a game of its nature. In terms of during the game with all the stoppages turning it into a very long night, with the blackouts, I think we persevered. At times when we weren’t playing too well because of fatigue, I thought we had enough to win the game. We had players capable of winning the game even though we weren’t playing that well.”

It was Caledonia’s third overall CFU Club Championship appearance with 1998 being the first and this season the second consecutive.

“Everyone is happy (now that we have won the Club Championship). This is something that we have been working on for a long time. Since inception we have always wanted to be in the Caribbean Club Championship, and to win it is more like the icing on the cake. I think it’s something we have been working hard for, and we deserve it,” said the notable assistant to head coach Jamaal Shabazz.

Moe who held the coaching reigns on numerous occasions in absence of Shabazz who is also the head coach of Guyana’s Men’s National Senior Team, said there isn’t a secret to Caledonia’s all-time season success.

“It’s not a secret. We put in the hard work and with a couple of new players such as Devorn (Jorsling) who was big for us this season, Stephan David was consistent … and also Jamal gay. Everyone helped in their own way based on the roles we asked them to play. This was a very long season and we used a lot of players. And even though we did that, we were still able to get the results. It was a total team effort from the staff and players.

“I think you’ve got to persevere. I think if you believe in something, then keep doing it over and over. One day you’re going to reap the benefits. It’s like if you’re a farmer and you’re planting corn. If you don’t wait for it to grow, then it would come out of the garden too early. I think we believed in the crop that we were planting all the time and now it’s time to reap the benefits of it,” he ended.

Source: www.ttproleague.com

On Saturday, the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) joined with the global Olympic movement to celebrate Olympic Day 2012.
First introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on June 23, 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris, the goal being to promote participation in sport, regardless of age, gender or athletic ability. Based on the three pillars “move”, “learn” and “discover”, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) including the TTOC, put on sports, cultural and educational activities.  Some NOCs have even incorporated the event into the school curriculum and in recent years, have added concerts and exhibitions to the celebration. Meetings for children and young people with top athletes, and the development of new websites directing individuals to programmes in their neighbourhood are other activities that have transpired. The day is used to spread Olympic values worldwide. Young and old participate in sporting activities, such as runs, exhibitions, music and educational seminars. Over the last two decades, the event has helped to circulate the Olympic ideals to every corner of the world.

The TTOC event for the second consecutive year was held at Chagvile, Chaguaramas. This time around, BpTT co-sponsored the event. One of the objectives of the Olympic day is to foster and understand the role of sport in T&T society. Some of the questions that needed to be asked if we are to deliver a sustainable sport development pathway are:  
What is the role of sport?
How does sport interact with other sectors such as business, health, and education?
How significant is sport for the development and maintenance of community and national identity?
What is the significance of sport and the national sport organisations through which it is organised for the generation of social capital?
How can sport performance be optimised?
What are the specific training needs of different groups in the society from the young to the elderly and the recreational to the elite?
In what ways can sport inform wider knowledge about health and quality of life?
For many people, their interest lie in the Olympic Games and the medal standings. In the overall scheme of things that is very much like putting the cart before the horse.

What the Olympic committee does on a daily basis is essential if the end result that is desired, is to be achieved. However, there is no escaping the fact that with 30 days to go before the opening ceremony of the Games of the 30th Olympiad, the hype is on and the excitement is building. Our London 2012 Olympic podium aspirants have the full attention of a watching nation. It’s imperative that the TTOC at this time of heightened awareness and intensity, remain steadfast on the issues that really matter. It is in this context that the demands and distractions can divert attention from our athletes and what they need to perform at their best. As always the Olympic day is a refreshing reminder of the real purpose of the Olympic movement with some 1,000 children and teenagers from various schools participating in over 20 disciplines. It was a wonderful day indeed. Credit must go to BpTT and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for providing the infrastructure that facilitated an enjoyable experience. Speaking of BpTT it was very heartening to hear the positive comments of T&T Olympic hopefuls at Woodford Square yesterday as they acknowledged the applause and adulation of the public.  On a sad note, on behalf of the TTOC, this column extends sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues Cpl Nigel Sinaswee, who participated in many Olympic Day relays.

-Brian Lewis

Source: www.guardian.co.tt