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Judge orders ex-special adviser to bring the books

Former Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser Jack Warner has less than a month to submit financial records concerning T&T's World Cup 2006 campaign to the High Court.

In a judgement handed down by High Court judge Justice Devindra Rampersad on Thursday concerning the legal action taken by members of T&T's 2006 World Cup squad. against the TTFF, Warner was given a February 10 deadline to provide all documents associated with Local Organising Committee (LOC) 2006 accounts.

The judgement instructed the TTFF to direct Warner, in writing, to file documents relating to all income received by Warner on the Federation's behalf relating to the 2006 World Cup, including "donations, gifts, grants or benefits" and all related expenditure.

The judgement was made on the basis that Warner, as special adviser, acting as an agent to the TTFF, was responsible for all accounts associated with T&T's 2006 World Cup campaign.

Rampersad, however, dismissed the players' application to add Warner as a third defendant in the case, as the players never made claims against Warner himself, only against the TTFF.

But the judge chastised the TTFF for its apparent lack of interest in pursuing Warner to produce the accounts requested by the Courts for over two years. He described the TTFF's approach to providing the required information as "nonchalant and lackadaisical".

With concern over the statute of limitations on the matter, Rampersad is seeking to bring closure to a case that is in its sixth year.

The judgement also raised a question of a conflict of interest in the matter, as both Warner and the TTFF were represented by the same legal team.

The players have already been awarded interim sums totalling more than $11 million by Rampersad while they await the accounts to decide how much money the footballers are due. This includes initial payment, as well as legal and other costs.

Originally 16 players—now reduced to 13—sued the TTFF to recover bonuses promised to them by Warner after T&T qualified for the tournament. This number included former goalkeepers Shaka Hislop and Kelvin Jack and ex-defender Brent Sancho.

The London-based Sport Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP, now Sport Resolutions UK) ruled in favour of the players, and the matter subsequently reached the High Court after the TTFF argued that the players had breached its gag order.

That argument was subsequently dismissed, and the TTFF were ordered to produce their accounts to the Courts, which would determine how much the players are entitled to.

The Courts were dissatisfied with the accounts presented to them, and asked the TTFF to account for the World Cup funds, and TTFF president Oliver Camps subsequently told the Court that as special adviser to the TTFF, Warner was responsible for all World Cup-related money.

By Kern De Freitas

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

SPRINTER Richard Thompson, who copped a pair of silver medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, is keen on repeating those feats at this year’s Games in London, England.

The 26-year-old took silver at both the 100-metre dash (behind Jamaica’s Usain Bolt) and the 4x100m relay (behind Jamaica) at Beijing.

“We have limited time before we have our trials (in June),” he said, referring to the Trinidad and Tobago trials. “I started training in October. Things have been going well thus far and I’m just working on trying to make significant improvements on the last couple of years,” he added.

“Hopefully, in 2012, I’ll be able to repeat my performance from 2008, and better.”

The highlight of his 2011 season took place on August 13, when he smashed the TT 100m record at the Sagicor NAAA Open Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

His time of 9.85 seconds, the ninth fastest in the all-time lists, lowered Ato Boldon’s previous mark of 9.86 (which he set four times during the late 1990s).

But, at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea later that month, he failed to advance to the 100m final, which was won by Yohan Blake of Jamaica.

“It was up and down for me,” Thompson conceded. “There were good moments and then there were dull moments. Anyone wants to perform at their best when it matters the most and I wasn’t able to do that.

“(In) the World Championships, being eliminated in the semi-finals, it was a huge disappointment,” he added. “But that in itself was a form of motivation for me to do better (this) year.

“I’m just working hard right now, working smart and trying to control what I can,” Thompson said. “Everything else is in the Lord’s hands.”

About his immediate plans, he stated, “(it’s) just training right now, probably run a couple of relays.

“It’s just a matter of getting myself ready for when it matters most in August. But, right now, it’s just training.”

And he’s philosophical about the public expectations towards him this year.

“I think after last year, and the year before, I don’t think the expectations are as high,” he acknowledged.

“There were a lot of expectations in ’09 (for the World Championships in Berlin) but, as far as 2012 (is concerned), I can’t say that there are lots of high expectations because Bolt have been dominant.

Thompson continued, “Blake came along and has been doing extremely well. There are other athletes who have been doing extremely well.

“As far as expectations, I wouldn’t go as far as saying that Trinidad expects me to win. But I know what I expect from myself and that’s what matters most to me right now.

“I expect to continue to work hard and get much better results (this) year,” he ended.

By Richard Bailey

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

January 14 - The British Olympic Association (BOA) today submitted their documents to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in their bid to uphold their controversial anti-doping bylaw which prevents drug cheats, like Dwain Chambers (pictured) and David Millar, from competing for Team GB in the Games, including London 2012.

The BOA filed a formal appeal last month with the CAS to challenge the decision in November by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that declared its anti-doping bylaw non-compliant.

The official hearing in Lausanne will take place on March 12 and is expected to take a day with the judgement to be delivered several weeks later.

The BOA are now the only National Olympic Committee (NOC) to have a lifetime ban in place but if it is overturned, it would allow Chambers and Millar to compete at London 2012.

"Our submissions to CAS have been delivered," the BOA chairman Colin Moynihan told insidethegames here in where he is attending the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

"I've been working on them for the last three weeks over Christmas and New Year at virtually every hour available to me alongside a great legal team and we intend to put a very strong case before the CAS tribunal."

WADA are expected to submit their documents in the next ten days.

The BOA will then have the opportunity to respond to any issues raised by WADA not covered in their original submission.

The panel who hear the case will be led by Professor Richard McLaren (pictured), a Canadian barrister.

He also heard the LaShawn Merritt case which overturned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision which prevented athletes banned for more than six months from competing in the next Games and led to calls for the BOA to scrap its bylaw, resulting in this case.

McLaren, a former student at the London School of Ecomonics, will be joined on the panel by Switzerland's Michele Bernasconi and American David Rivkin, who also the arbitrators for the Merritt case.

"I have every intention of ensuring that we win our case," said Moynihan.

"If things go against us in CAS, I have made it very clear that anybody who is selected for the team will be given equal and strong support.

"But we are doing everything we can to ensure that the interests of the athletes, over 90 per cent of whom have voted consistently for our selection policy, are upheld.

"The BOA position is absolutely clear.

"Every National Olympic Committee, in some way or another, has a different selection policy and we want to maintain our right to be an autonomous organisation."

Moynihan continued that he feels athletes who have taken drugs in sport should have no right to compete at an Olympic Games.

"Those who have knowingly cheated clean athletes out of selection did so knowing of the consequences of it," he said.

"They made the decision to cheat their fellow athletes; they knew the price they were going to pay.

"Ultimately when you talk about redemption you've got to talk about the redemption of those clean athletes who were denied selection as a result of an athlete who was taking a cocktail of drugs to enhance their performance."

One of the main arguments to be put forward by the BOA is that because its law was introduced back in 1992, it pre-dates the WADA Code.

By Tom Degun

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view of promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
Fundamental in this approach are the core values of the Olympic philosophy which are the joy of effort, fair play, respect for others and international understanding, pursuit of excellence and balance between body, will and mind. Along this vein, the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), will embark on the second leg of its Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) from January 17th to 20th 2011.. Intrinsically, OVEP utilizes versatile processes to educate students on Olympic values through workshops designed for educators, youth sport and club leaders, coaches and anyone interested in helping young people to develop positive values through participation in sport and physical activity.

“The OVEP programme is a refreshing path for schools in T&T. We at the TTOC believe that once good values are taught at an early age through formal education, children will carry these values throughout their lives,” asserts Larry Romany, President of TTOC.  

The first OVEP Workshop was held last year August where several Curriculum Officers from the Curriculum Division of the Ministry of Education attended the one week workshop  and were trained in strategies to teach and learn the educational values of Olympism. The second workshop will be held in  the county of Victoria . For four days school principals and teachers will be introduced to  the  Teaching Values: An Olympic Education Toolkit designed by Canadian Curriculum expert, Dr. Deanna Binder.  “The symbols and ceremonies, sports and cultural events of the Olympic Games are inspiring and motivational. They provide a relevant context for learning and teaching activities,” declares Binder, the  facilitator in the first OVEP Workshop.

Included in the toolkit are ways and means of socializing the child into a value system which is in line with Olympism and positive development. As the teaching material is designed for learners from 8 to 18 years, the activities target various age levels.

“OVEP can help  transform  the social fabric of our country. It is our desire to extend this workshop to other regions of Trinidad and Tobago as teachers and educationalists are the crucial to our education system and they are the ones who must  infuse the minds of the youth of the nation with positive values and morals,” said Romany.
For more information on OVEP contact the TTOC at 625-1285 or log on to www.ttoc.org.

-Brian Lewis

The National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) should be more "in the loop" when the Ministry of Sport makes decisions affecting track and field, says president Ephraim Serrette.

Serrette was replying to criticisms by Minister of Sport Anil Roberts yesterday at a press conference at the Ministry's Abercromby Street, Port of Spain headquarters.

Serrette raised concerns in a letter to the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport Ashwin Creed, about the Ministry's lack of adherence to the policy for awarding elite funding to track and field athletes.

The NAAA boss was also critical of the Ministry for "reduced budgets" during the NAAA awards function on Sunday.

Roberts called for Serrette to prove his claims, or apologise publicly within seven days. But the former T&T sprinter outlined his concerns over elite athlete selection.

Said Serrette: "I want people to see what the criteria with the funding is. It has to do with medalling regionally and internationally. (The NAAA) need to be in the loop so that other people we see more deserving like Moriba Morain, the Walcott brothers (can be selected). Why they can't receive funding?"

He also defended his statements about budget cuts.

"All I stated is that they talk about cutting funding. I (said) if we in Trinidad and Tobago (are) serious about addressing crime, the money that we spend on funding (should be increased). I was talking about not just sport but culture too. Nothing is political about that (statement)."

Roberts also claimed that the NAAA had not yet supplied some of the information required, making it impossible for the Ministry to approve their funding requests. Serrette denied this.

"We give them an audited statement," Serrette said. "What more they want? We gave them audited statements, managers' reports, operative budgets with strategies in Power Point and a written version.

"Our strategic plan goes on quadrennials. This is the last and then we do an operational for the (next Olympic cycle). They have all of that."

Serrette also revealed that the NAAA will meet on Sunday to fully discuss the matter before responding any further.

By -Kern De Freitas

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

If you cannot depend on your brightest and best when the going is at its toughest, where indeed do you turn? It’s not often here in T&T that office holders—in the face of any kind of criticism—unwarranted, unjustified or deserving—display the courage and humility to admit to an error and in so doing take the necessary corrective measure. True and courageous leadership is defined by such actions. It is against this background that the decision by Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Justice of Appeal Wendell Kangaloo to return their instruments of silk  and the designation Senior Counsel should be measured. The battle lines involved men of considerable influence, intellect and importance. The merits of the arguments for and against ought not to be watered down by any perception of double standards, hidden agendas or score settling. One can always argue that some who were most robust in their criticism, themselves came up short in their time. No matter the intention or motives it would be unedifying to disclaim the worth of the message. The debate was necessary, fascinating and an education in itself. As T&T struggles to make itself fit for purpose for today’s world, not a shameful indictment but more a reflection that we are still maturing as a society.
Our attitudes, thinking and behaviours can at times be that of an adolescent searching for identity, purpose and meaning.  Strong and contentious as the dialogue may have been the Judiciary and by extension the country can consider itself fortunate that it can count among its ranks Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Justice Wendell Kangaloo. The public at large can take some measure of comfort safe in the knowledge that the Judiciary, at this time, is not led by inflexible and arrogant individuals.  Regrettably, the same cannot be said for some other local institutions and organisations where the destructive combination of power and shamelessness reign supreme. Every leader in T&T will be well advised to take heed and note what has transpired. At some time or the other all leaders will face a similar predicament or dilemma. The facts and circumstances may be different but the central issues will be the same. Former US President Bill Clinton, who played rugby while a student at Oxford University, once said that sport teaches that you get breaks you don’t deserve, and that you have to make the most of the good breaks and shake off the bad ones.
Admitting to and not avoiding a mistake is not a sign of weakness in a leader but a sign of courage, integrity, responsibility, accountability and strength of character. One of the most respected qualities in a leader is honesty. As Alexander Pope wrote in his Essay on Criticism: “To err is human; to forgive divine”  and “A man should never be ashamed to own he has been wrong, which is but saying, he is wiser today than he was yesterday.” Admitting you are human takes courage and humility. Individuals in leadership positions who never see his or her own faults are just pretending to be leaders.To take personal accountability and responsibility for and to admit to a mistake is the mark of a true and real leader. There are subtle and not so subtle messages that sport leaders will do well to pay close attention to and even be guided by. Regardless of their private thoughts and feelings about the merits of the public criticism and the embarrassment, the Chief Justice and Justice Kangaloo responded calmly and rationally. It is in this context and on this occasion that their actions are worthy examples of courageous leadership.

-Brian Lewis

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) Male Athlete of the Year Rondell Sorillo said he was surprised to be recognised ahead of double Olympic gold medallist Richard Thompson for the Association’s top award during its Annual Awards Function and Induction Ceremony at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port-of-Spain on Sunday night. Thompson set a new T&T record in the Men’s 100m (9.85) during the Sagicor National Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in August and had been tipped to collect the award. However, it was presented to the 25-year-old Sorillo, who placed seventh in the 200m finals at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Korea in September and set a meet record in the event (20.16) during the Sagicor National Championships a month earlier. It was the third fastest 200m time by a T&T athlete. Speaking after the ceremony, the modest Sorillo said he was surprised to be chosen for the main award. “I really wasn’t expecting this,” he said. “I’m at a loss for words.”
He added that his major goals for 2012 would include breaking the 20-second barrier in the 200m as well as medalling at the London Olympics in August. Fellow sprinter Kelly Ann Baptiste picked up the award for Female Athlete of the Year while the association inducted former administrator and athlete Rawle Raphael into its Hall of Fame. Baptiste’s win marked her third major honour within the last fortnight, having also collected the corresponding awards at the T&T Olympic Committee and Ministry of Sport’s respective ceremonies. Her 2011 included winning a 100m bronze at the World Championships in 10.98 seconds to become the first local female sprinter to capture a medal at a senior global meet.  Other awards went to brothers Kershorn and Elton Walcott, who shared the prize for Male Junior Athlete of the Year, Michelle-Lee Ahye (Female Junior) and Richard Jones (Male Road Runner).

By Nicholas Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

SPRINT queen Kelly Ann Baptiste and national 200m champ Rondel Sorrillo were crowned the National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) Senior Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year respectively at a gala awards ceremony on Sunday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port-of-Spain.

Baptiste, the second female in TT to have won a medal at the World Championship, was an outright winner among the women despite a challenge from shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown who received a silver medal at the Pan American Games and was a gold medallist at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC).

Baptiste’s bronze medal performance at the World Championship followed her victory at the IAAF Diamond League Meet in France last year. Her award was collected by her mother Hazel Taylor as Baptiste has gone back to her US club to prepare for the Olympic Games in London, England later this year.

Baptiste, who was voted the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Sportswoman of the Year and received the Female Athlete of the Year and the Sports Performance of the Year at the recent Spirit of Sports Awards at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, will now shoulder the responsibility of a medal at the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Sorrillo got the nod ahead of a number of good performances last year including Richard Thompson’s blistering 9.85 seconds dash at the National Track and Field Championship, Keston Bledman’s wind-assisted 9.93 seconds triumph at the Stars Athletics Sprint Series in Florida and Quincy Wilson’s bronze medal performance at the CAC Games where he set a new national record.

Michelle Lee Ayhe was also an outright winner for the Junior Athlete of the Year (Female) after winning gold at the Pan Am Games and silver at the Carifta Games. She was also a semi-finalist at the World Championship and was among an outstanding 4x100 metres relay team which finished fourth at the World Championships.

There was a tie for the Junior Athlete of the Year (Male) as brothers Keshorn and Elton Walcott were inseparable. The younger Walcott (Keshorn) secured gold in the Javelin at the Carifta, Southern Games and at the Junior Championship. Walcott (Elton), a triple jumper leapt to gold at the Pan Am Juniors, Carifta Games and also at the Junior Championships.

Sheniqua Bascombe of Cougars and Jamali Lynch of the Memphis Pioneers copped the first Under-9 category awards for female and male respectively while Cougars also claimed the first Juvenile Champion Club of the Year.

There was an upset for the Senior Club of the Year award which went to Neon Trackers. The awards had been dominated by Memphis Pioneers who earned the top prize in local track and field for the past seven years. However, Memphis Pioneers did not leave empty-handed as they were voted the Junior Club of the year.

Among the Road Runners- Richard Jones and Tonya Nero claimed the top awards for men and women respectively.

Also, Rawle Raphael was the sole inductee into the NAAA Hall of Fame.

By Walter Alibey

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

GENEVA

Three journalists that turned down invitations to be part of FIFA's new Independent Governance Committee have issued a list of matters the sport's World governing body should probe to uncover the alleged corruption in the organisation.

Jens Weinreich, a freelance sports correspondent from Germany, Andrew Jennings, a Scottish television presenter, and Jean François Tanda, a Swiss reporter, outlined a series of steps they say FIFA and Blatter should take to prove they are serious about fighting corruption.

They included investigating former FIFA vice-president Austin "Jack" Warner and former CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer.

"We suggest the following crucial areas of investigation followed by rapid publication. . .," said the three journalists in a media statement.

"Investigation is long overdue into how Chuck Blazer could simultaneously be both treasurer and general secretary of CONCACAF – and the secret payment to him of US $10 million (in recent years as 'commissions'.

"Have his offshore assets come from FIFA funds – including his vintage Mercedes car registered in Zurich in FIFA's name?"

They added: "Re-open the investigation into Jack Warner and extend it to embrace every payment of any kind since 1998 to Warner, members of his family, companies owned by him including Simpaul travel agency, the CFU, CONCACAF and the João Havelange Centre of Excellence."

The three journalists were invited to partner with Swiss anti-corruption professor Mark Pieth and another journalist on the new Independent Governance Committee.

In the statement, they rejected the offer and said it was "absurd" that FIFA president Sepp Blatter was controlling the new attempts at transparency.

"[The new committee] is created by Blatter to protect him and those close to him," said the three journalists in the statement. "His pretence of a 'road map to reform' is risible."

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Trinidad and Tobago needs its athletes to continue to inspire future generations.

So said T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Larry Romany as he addressed the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Annual Awards Function and Induction Ceremony on Sunday at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port of Spain.

"Today in our society, we need people who are creative, who are imaginative, and who inspire us all," Romany told the gathering.

In his short, but passionate offering, Romany said few people in T&T's history have done more to represent this country on the world stage than the athletes.

He recalled Richard Thompson's 100 metres silver medal performance at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and also remembered being at school in 1976 when Hasely Crawford brought home T&T's only Olympic gold medal to date, also in the 100m.

"That day, in a town of roughly 5,000 people…everybody knew who Trinidad and Tobago was, and this is what we need," Romany declared. "We need people to stand up and be counted, and in a positive way."

The TTOC head also urged the athletes to continue to inspire T&T, and to show that this country "is the best in the world".

The main speaker on the night was Pastor Clive Dottin, who delivered a lengthy, but lively speech, also intended to inspire athletes to their best.

He pointed out persons such as Brits Roger Bannister—the first man to complete a mile run in under four minutes—and Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest, as persons from whom athletes can draw inspiration.

Pastor Dottin also provided some spiritual inspiration for the crowd by reminding them of the importance of a relationship with God in everything they do.

During the presentation of awards, Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Rondell Sorillo ran away with the main accolades, copping Female and Male Senior Athlete of the Year titles respectively.

The brothers from Toco, Keshorn (javelin) and Elton Walcott (triple jump) shared the Male Junior Athlete of the Year honour, while the Female version went to sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye.

Tonya Nero (Female) and Richard Jones (Male) were the Road Runners of the Year.

The top Clubs were Neon Trackers (Senior Champion Club), Memphis Pioneers (Junior Champion Club) and Cougars (Juvenile Champion Club).

Veteran administrator Rawle Raphael was also honoured for his contribution to track and field spanning five decades, as he was inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame.

Some of the outstanding performances for 2011 recognised at the function included Baptiste's 10.90 100m clocking; Richard Thompson's national men's record 100m run of 9.85 seconds at the National Championships; Cleopatra Borel's 19.42m shot put effort in Paris in July, and Keshorn Walcott's 72. 50m javelin throw at the National Junior Championships.

Junior triple jump record-holder Elton Walcott, was named for his 16.43m leap, while Machel Cedenio (400m, 46.89s), T&T's 4x100m relay women (42.50m), Nero (half-marathon; 1:15:46) and shot putter Hezekiah Romeo (19.68m) were also named for outstanding performances.

Also on that list were Sorillo (200m, 20.16), Keston Bledman (100m, 9.93), Kai Selvon (200m, 22.89) and Ahye (100m, 11.20).

By Kery De Freitas

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF) is without a coach after Desmond Dickie’s contract was not renewed.

Dickie’s contract expired in October and TTCF president, Rowena Williams said a lack of funding prevented them from offering an extension. The TTCF president revealed that attempts were made to solicit funding from the Ministry of Sport to continue Dickie’s services, but they were unable to obtain the necessary funds.

She also revealed that the TTCF was asked to prioritise their funding request by the Ministry of Sport. The loss of Dickie does not affect top cyclist Njisane Phillip who is currently trying to book his place at the Olympic Games in London later this year.

Phillip is trained by United States coach Jimmy Staff. Williams noted that a local coach will now have the opportunity to replace Dickie.

“It has been done in the past. We usually allow local coaches to coach at their respective clubs and when the opportunity arises to select a national team, the best coach will be chosen.

They will not be paid any money but they will be given the chance to upgrade themselves as a TT coach” Williams said.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) has no idea what happened to its corporate sponsorship funds from World Cup 2006.

Anthony Harford, marketing director at All Sport Promotions—the company responsible for managing TTFF marketing and events—on Friday reiterated his previous statement that the Federation's bank account, audited by international company KPMG, is up to mark.

But there are other accounts, LOC 2006—related to T&T's 2006 World Cup campaign—and LOC 2010, both of which were controlled by Jack Warner, former TTFF special adviser and LOC (Local Organising Committee) 2006 and LOC 2010 chairman.

"That is the account in question. The truth is that the TTFF do not know," Harford explained last week.

"That is what is holding up and tarnishing the relationship (between the Federation and the players) and the issues.

"The TTFF accounts I know about are perfectly in order. The parallel accounts, the LOC accounts are the ones in question. Therefore the TTFF find themselves in an embarrassing position."

Harford has found himself in the firing line, being pressed with questions about the TTFF accounts.

In fact, former T&T goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, one of the 13 players who took successful legal action against the TTFF and ex-president Oliver Camps over non-payment of promised bonuses from the 2006 World Cup, questioned Harford's recent statements about the TTFF's financial books.

"What Tony Harford should be asking is what Oliver Camps did with the cheque of 14 million, a cheque issued by the Ministry (of Sport) 1st May 2006, payable to TTFF, which was signed and received," Jack (Kelvin) told the Express. "It was not deposited to any back account that KPMG has access to."

He continued: "This is all facts… why is (Harford) trying to make the population and football fans believe that the organisation is accountable and being honest and their books are fine, when the honourable judge in our case described the accounts as unaccountable. It is extremely disappointing to come from somebody like him."

However, Harford made it clear that his responsibilities lie in managing financial affairs involving TTFF teams and events, effective August 2011, and not in affairs that took place before he took over.

The veteran broadcaster and sports promoter added that to date, all TTFF spending for that period has been accounted for.

Harford has also called on the TTFF to clear the air on the matter if they hope to improve T&T football going forward.

"My recommendation is that we go and come out straight and say 'listen we can't account for this, we surrendered complete authority to our special adviser. Now that he is departed we are left with this thing and we can't account for it'".

By Kern De Freitas

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

January 9 - Flavio Bomio (pictured) has been suspended from his position as the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee Honorary Secretary with immediate effect following his arrest on alleged child molestation charges.

According to reports in the Italian media, the 69-year-old Bomio has partially admitted to having sexual relationships with two underage boys between the ages of 12 and 16, while further allegations claim he has molested over 20 minors in the last 30 years.

Bomio had been set to depart for a training trip to Florida with several young Swiss boys as part of his role at FINA, who have responded to the news with following statement: "Following information received from the Swiss Swimming Federation and articles in the media, the FINA Executive decides to suspend Mr. Flavio Bomio from his position of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee Honorary Secretary with immediate effect.

"FINA supports the Swiss Swimming Federation and equally strongly condemns sexual abuse of minors."

By Declan Warrington

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

VETERAN DEXTER St Louis and his step-daughter Rheann Chung were named as the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year respectively as the Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association (TTTTA) held their prize-giving ceremony at the VIP Lounge, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday.

The duo, who both reside in France, were Trinidad and Tobago’s table- tennis representatives at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico last October.

The left-handed 43-year-old St Louis reached the third round of the men’s singles at Mexico while the 26-year-old Chung was unable to advance past the round-robin preliminary round phase.

Aaron Wilson, a 13-year-old from Carenage Blasters, was named as the Junior Men’s Player of the Year. Wilson copped the boys Under-13 title at the Solo National Junior Championships and was the runner-up in the Under-15 age group.

Brittany Joseph, the Junior Women’s Player of the Year, triumphed in both the girls Under-13 and Under-15 categories at the National Junior Championships.

The Highest Debut awards went to Arun Roopnarine (boys) and Catherine Spicer (girls) while Akiel John and Chelsea Fong were adjudged as the Most Significant Ranking mover in the respective boys and girls sections.

There were also awards presented to the top players in the respective age groups.

Brandon Lee Young, Jakeem Welsh, Messiah Walcott, Roberto Johnson and Derron Douglas topped the Under-10 boys section; Wilson was joined by Amresh Mungal, Daniel Henriques, Shaquille Mitchell, Brandon Lee Young and Tyrone Jiminez as the best in the boys Under-13 while, in the Under-15, Wilson had Roopnarine, Mungal, Sarvesh Mungal and Varoun Sitram as company. A pair of Roopnarines (Arun and Vimal) were among the leading Under-18 boys players, alongside Sarvesh Mungal, Andreus Abraham-Pantin and Orell Cooper, while Vimal Roopnarine and Abraham-Pantin were joined by Kyle Borneo, Davone Joseph and Lawrence Ince as the top Under-21 male competitors.

Reeza Burke, who won his fifth National Men’s Singles title in June, was among the top five men’s players for the year, joining Curtis Humphreys, Andrew Alexander, Terell Abbott and the evergreen Lionel Darceuil.

The top girls Under-ten players were Fong, Jasher De Gannes, Shanekah Johnson, Ackayla Lucas and Shurja Welsh while Joseph, De Gannes, Gyshan Latchman, Monique Cooper and Nalini Boodoo were the leading Under-15 smashers among the girls.

Spicer, Dayna Samaroo, as well as cousins Ambika and Renuka Sitram were in both the top five of the Under-18 and Under-21 categories.

They were joined by Artienea Gregoire in the Under-18 section and Ashley Quashie in the Under-21.

Aleena Edwards, who clinched her record-breaking ninth women singles trophy at the National Championships, was among the five best women players overall, joining Renuka Sitram, Spicer, Kristen Scipio and Linda Partap-Boodhan.

By Joel Bailey

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

APPROXIMATELY 10 boxing coaches and officials turned up outside the Ministry of Sport office yesterday in Port-of-Spain in a show of support for Sports Minister Anil Roberts.

Armed with placards, they group blasted boxing promoter Tansley Thompson and former Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board (TTBB) member Ricardo Phillip for calling on Roberts, Permanent Secretary Ashwin Creed and TTBB Special Advisor Boxu Potts to resign.

In what was effectively a counter to Thursday’s protest, the group showed up at 11am shouting to passers-by that they were in favour of the Minister.

Reynold Cox, vice-president, Amateur Boxing Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ABATT) was present and expressed his dissatisfaction with Thursday’s protest which he says will harm more than help the sport.

“Nothing has came out good out of the rift between people who are against the Boxing Board or the Amateur Association. No amateur or professional boxer has profited out of it and it is time it should end. People who are trying to keep it going are against boxing,” he said.

Cox says he is not satisfied with where the sport is heading at the moment as there is fighting outside the ring more than in it.

“What is happening right now, people know everyone who is fighting...but they don’t know who are the amateur boxers we have. They don’t know what happened this year in amateur or professional boxing.

If you ask anybody they wouldn’t know and that is terrible for a sport where the administrators are more famous than the athletes themselves,” he argued.

Cox says there is no need for Minister Roberts or Creed to resign as they have aided the sport tremendously. “It’s ridiculous and not practical for them to ask the Minister to resign. We come to the Ministry of Sport to get support and we get support so now to ask them to resign is ridiculous. It means they don’t care about the athletes because it is they (athletes) who will suffer,” he argued.

Gordon Hoyte, a member of ABATT, called on Thursday’s protestors to discontinue their actions and asked them to “do things differently”.

“We are asking those making the noise to please do things differently. I make my whole life sacrificing for boxing. I created (Kirt) Sinnette, (Kertson) Manswell, the (Kevin) Placides (and) all the boxers. This sport could do a lot to bring crime down and this is the avenue the Minister of Sport wants to go,” he said. Hoyte revealed that there are currently programmes in several rural and depressed areas and boxers are now earning degrees and excelling. He believes the protestors could hurt their efforts as sponsors could be dissuaded from getting involved. He noted that there are no grounds to ask Minister Roberts or Creed to resign as the allegations are without substance.

“In Trinidad and Tobago you have to have facts. Mr Creed is an honourable man. I, am a coach and administrator for the last 30 years, I can’t say anything bad about him. If there are things that bother us we will deal with it in a different forum,” he explained.

By Stephon Nicholas

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

A few years ago, I was on a popular, local, sport-oriented, television program speaking about the expansion capability in the Trinidad and Tobago sports industry. My colleagues and I spoke about each of our speciality fields and how as specialists, we worked together to form a strong sports medicine team—from strength training to rehabilitation. The talk-show host, having experienced athlete care on an international level, was able to visualise and even relate to everything that we spoke about—the importance of proper pre-participation screenings; of conducting fitness tests that are objective, valid and reliable in athlete development; the need for prompt, accurate injury management until full return to play; and the confidence in our local brain pool to execute all these things. Everything we said was fully endorsed by our host and, my colleagues and I were energised to have been so well-received by someone so recognised in the local industry. This sport-centred talk show is no longer aired (as the host has gone on to attempt to prove that he can put his money where his mouth is) but I vividly remember my colleagues and I being questioned on how we planned to inject these concepts and ideas into the sports world of T&T, to which we energetically replied, “Make our skills available to athletes and teams and to educate the local community through workshops.” How naïve we were.

Since that time, I have lectured in tertiary level certificate programs, been part of workshops as both a presenter as well as a participant, and I have come to realise that neither is making our skills available nor are workshops truly the answer to improving the local sports industry. Now, before anyone reading this column gets on their high horse in anticipation of another episode of finger-pointing and lambasting, let me state, up front that I have no intention of so-doing. Change cannot be forced but inspired and particularly in the ego-centric world of sport, finger-pointing and sometimes even constructive criticism is not always well received. So in my column, I would like to recognise the teams/athletes that have proven their ability to focus on their potential versus their limitations, go against the cultural norms that have come to define local sport, and take whatever they have and grow with it. The following are organisations and individuals that I have had the pleasure of directly working with in one capacity or other and which/whom have continued to show signs of progressive thinking in all they do. This is not to say that there aren’t several more out there and I encourage all to remain committed to their mission of raising the standard of sport in T&T.

Marlins Swim Club
This club continues to turn out some of the fastest swimmers in the island. The role of ‘coach’ is multi-dimensional when working with athletes who are minors. Parent involvement and input is always appreciated and a huge plus despite the challenges. This is a club that continues to work at building its club using all of its assets from its developmental learn-to-swim program to the creativity of its fund-raising parent community. Marlins implements evidence-based coaching techniques in its swim program, incorporating prehabilitation and strength training programs all supervised by properly trained specialist coaches.

Caribs Rugby Football Club
This is a club comprised of proud and passionate players and members. Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of working/interacting with these athletes and coaches in various capacities and the commitment displayed to maintaining their winning reputation, further supported by their administrative staff is fantastic. Being in a high-impact sport as rugby clearly is, I hope that this club continues on its path of making athlete care a priority for injury prevention and management through strength training.

T&T Karate Federation
TTKF set out on a course to fulfil several proposed objectives for 2011, exposing its members to various sports medicine workshops and internationally recognised senseis. They also work with the blind at the T&T Karate School for the Blind. This Federation shows true commitment to developing its sport on various levels and I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with them. I would like to congratulate athletes like Dwayne Bravo (cricket), Darren Bravo (cricket), Kieron Pollard (cricket), Jalicia Ross (volleyball) and Aasan Lewis (rugby) all of whom I have found, share a positive attitude towards their sport and life in general, refusing to let anything curb their determination to succeed.
I hope that they all serve as true inspirations for the younger generations of athletes who, with the proper guidance can achieve all that they dream. The culture that has come to exist in T&T is the sole reason for our limitations. When we are no longer satisfied with mediocrity, when we become willing to accept and implement counsel from experienced professionals of winning teams/nations, when we are willing to put in the hard work that precedes the glory of success, and support each other rather than break each other down, that is when we will see sport improve. It’s another year, let us see what we can do differently.

By Asha De Freitas-Mosely

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE, MR JUSTICE IVOR ARCHIE
AT THE ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY OF THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR THE PERFOMING ARTS, PORT OF SPAIN, DECEMBER 29, 2011

Let me begin by saying what a privilege it is to be here this evening, and to have been invited to be a part of this event. It is an opportunity to acknowledge and pay special tribute to Trinidad and Tobago’s finest. It seems to be an unfortunate part of our culture that we spend a lot of time denigrating ourselves. In this celebratory season, It is important that we take the time to celebrate our accomplishments and to acknowledge the positive qualities that reside in us that have made those accomplishments possible. Accordingly, I thank the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, not only on my own behalf, but also on behalf of the vast number of our citizens identifying with this event. I trust that our sense of pride in our country and people will be lifted, as much as mine is, by the well deserved recognition that will be bestowed on some of own for outstanding feats performed in the field of Sport.

That recognition and acknowledgement will be accorded against the backdrop of Olympism, which is the foundation on which the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee has been built: a set of internationally adopted principles and a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind; a global Charter that blends sport with culture and education, finding in that combination the creation of a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental, ethical principles.

It is important for our own self-confidence to remember that our achievements are measured against international standards. Olympism also has as its goal, the placing of sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society – and one concerned with the preservation of human dignity. As I have been at pains to remind us at every opportunity, that is the standard of legitimacy that all of our national institutions must meet.

These principles are articulated in the more modern versions of what has become the Olympics Charter. But when we go back several centuries to the origins of the Olympics, we are told that the procreators of the games, citizens of Ancient Greece - and I emphasise, CITIZENS and not ATHLETES – were meant to live by a set of ideals, values and morals.  These ideals, morals and values embodied the Olympic Spirit, and were classically termed in Greek: Areti, or virtue; Amila, noble competition; Timi or honour; Elefteria, freedom, and Irini or peace.

We are told further that for the athlete himself, as a part of the community, only a life of honour was worth living. An honourable man was a man with self discipline and respect for himself, the Gods and the laws of the city. He took pride in carrying out his duty towards his family and his town. He valued moral rewards more than profit. If only everyone in public office could rise to that standard, think of the kind of society we could create! Our awardees, by their achievements, are therfore challenging us to create a better Trinidad and Tobago.

The athlete who was well respected by his fellow athletes and citizens was the one who aspired to be the best. He showed respect for his fellow competitors, and followed the rules of the Game. Such an athlete exhibited restraint and avoided overzealous behaviour. A noble competitor accepted both defeat and victory gracefully.

The philosophy espoused by the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertain, however, is that the Olympic Spirit is neither the property of one race or one age. I extend that to mean that the Olympic Spirit is also neither the property of one person, nor one group, nor one community, nor the exclusive property even of the athlete as is popularly held.

My framing of the model athlete of ancient Greece in the bigger picture of the wider ancient Greek society which infused the Olympic spirit is very deliberate. I am suggesting that this function cannot be about performance in the field of sport alone. This really ought to be the catalyst and benchmark for the transformation of our whole society.

At the very least, it has to be about the prerequisites to performance in any field, and ideally, it should be about the promotion and diffusion of that spirit beyond our sportsmen and sportswomen, to each and every member of our society, particularly those of us in positions of authority and influence: a spirit that up to the present is synonymous with the quality and the value of excellence.

Excellence, to borrow from the conclusions of Ronnie Oldham, is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible. It is the commitment to high quality performance that produces outstanding results of lasting value. Excellence believes in continuous improvement and never being satisfied with anything being less than it can be. It is quality as a way of life. It is the formula for the realisation of every successful society.

An objective appraisal of our society and our region will reveal that, as small as our countries are, we have been able to produce men and women who possessed those qualities, and who expended their extraordinary gifts and attributes selflessly on the improvement of their own citizens and societies beyond their shores.

Because of their caring for others, the confidence with which they assumed risk, the vigour with which they pursued their dreams, their positive response to high expectations, and their commitment to quality performance, life became a far better experience for them and countless others. As a result, their contributions are indelibly etched on our own and many other societies, and remain unmatched up to today, embracing almost every field of endeavour: politics, economics, business, law, the arts and literature, humanities, and religion and the field of sport.  Their legacy abounds with a wealth of experience that in turn has honed values such as discipline, production and tolerance, which are supposed to guide the continuing developmentof our society. I dare say that this function this evening is also about those values.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, values such as hard work, sense of responsibility, integrity in human relations, tolerance and respect for others, aren’t mere noble ideas or ideals. They are really pragmatic principles for accomplishment which every society must learn and transmit to successive generations as a psychological foundation for its further advancement. The values of a society are a crucial aspect of its people’s self-conception of who they are and what they want to become.

And so this evening’s awards lead me to once again pose a number of fundamental questions I asked at the opening of the new law term in September, namely: What sort of society do we want to build? What are our core values? Where are the virtues of discipline and tolerance that we espouse? Is mere tolerance enough as a watchword or must we revisit our national motto.

One may well summarise all of those questions into a quite simple one:  When will we adopt the Olympic spirit? Because by so doing we will be recreating an era in which living was by a set of ideals, values and morals encompassing virtue, noble competition, honour, freedom and peace; of people seized with self discipline and respect for themselves, for their God and for their fellowman at all levels of our society, and taking pride in performing their duty to family and country.

As we prepare to celebrate 50 years as a nation, I don’t think these ideals are too lofty for us to aspire towards and achieve together.

I congratulate this evening’s awardees, and, in the spirit of the well adopted Olympic principle that the most important thing in the Games is not to win but to take part,  I salute all athletes of Trinidad and Tobago, those of generations past and generation now, those who are here tonight and those who were not able to be with us this evening, and I commend their excellence to the entire national community. May they continue to inspire us, and may the Olympics Spirit descend on all of us, particularly in this season of peace and goodwill.

I thank you.

January 5 - Paul Henderson (pictured), former President of the International Sailing Federation (ISF) and the man who led the Toronto 1996 Olympic and Paralympic bid, has hit out at the city as it prepares to host 2015 Pan American Games saying that escalating costs could see the competition costing as much as $4 billion (£2.4 billion/€2.9 billion) to stage.

The 77-year-old Henderson, who served as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 2000 to 2004, made the warning in a letter to the current Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty in which he says that the cost of the event to the tax payer could dramatically skyrocket.

"The magnitude of the total taxpayers' exposure should wake up those involved to the fact that major Toronto 2015 restructuring must be done," Henderson wrote

"Costs will, when all taxpayers' exposures and student taxes are totalled, be at least $4 billion.

"In these difficult times, consultants, and others looking for jobs, will tell the various political arenas what they want to hear not what they should be clearly told."

If Henderson is correct, Toronto 2015 would be nearly over three times over their original $1.4 billion (£900 million/€1.08 billion) meaning that the city was make a huge loss from hosting the event.

A large amount of money is going towards that Athletes' Village in Portland though authorities have reiterated that the event is on budget.

"Ontario, along with the federal and municipal Governments, have given Toronto 2015 a mandate to deliver on time and on budget," said Lise Jolicoeur, spokesman for Premier McGuinty.

"Toronto 2015 has submitted a business plan which is currently under careful review."

Henderson has suggested savings that he claims would approach $1 billion (£650 million/€784.6 million) which include running the Pan American Games and Parapan American Games simultaneously and using more existing facilities such as the Varsity Stadium (pictured) for athletics rather than building a new stadium at York University.

He also suggests to "review over-the-top facilities" including the "two major white elephants" in the "swimming pools and velodrome".

"Temporary swimming pools required should be built outdoors with temporary seating as was done in Athens, Barcelona, Los Angeles," Henderson wrote.

"We should also double up venues using facilities already designated like use Ricoh Coliseum for both gymnastics and wrestling and use Roy Thomson Hall for fencing and weightlifting.

"It is over two years since Toronto was awarded 2015 Pan and Pan Para Games and no firm contracts have been signed with either the various construction consortia or with the stakeholders who represent the many levels of taxpayers' dollars that will fund and operate the multitude of venues."

Henderson a former world-class sailor appeared in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics for Canada was an early supporter of Toronto 2015 but now appears to have become a critic of the event.

The Toronto 2015 chairman David Peterson suggests that despite impressive credentials, Henderson is not a major authority on the issue.

"Nobody takes him seriously anymore," Peterson said of Henderson.

"He acts like he's the only one who cares about athletics in Canada."

By Tom Degun

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

January 5 - Innsbruck 2012 – the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games – will have a "charming" Opening Ceremony when they get underway on January 13 even though it is spending less than Singapore did on the first Summer Youth Olympics in 2010, claims their chief executive Peter Bayer (pictured right with mascot Yoggl).

Speaking to insidethegames, Bayer said: "We will have a smaller [than Singapore] but charming Opening Ceremony.

"We are not in the position to spend as much money as in Singapore.

"Everything else – operationally, transport, food, accommodation – I think we for sure [will try] to be as good as Singapore.

"They showed that is key...and we want to have happy athletes here.

"We will focus on delivering good services to the athletes."

He adds that they have become good friends with the Organising Committee of Singapore 2010, who hosted the first ever Youth Olympic Games.

Bayer is also delighted with the commercial work the Innsbruck 2012 Organising Committee has put into hosting the Games, and says that they have overcome obstacles to raise significant revenue.

"We have today 34 partners supporting us and we are really happy and proud of what we have achieved together with IOC (International Olympic Committee) and its top sponsors, many of whom are very supportive and enthusiastic about the idea of Youth Olympic Games," said Bayer.

"Though I have to admit that it was tough in the beginning because with a new product in certain areas it is not as easy to approach a partner as if you have an established Olympic Games which happen on a different size.

"But we had some quite good ideas and refreshing offers to partners so we are happy.

"If I look at the Torch Relay for example with Samsung helping us, Acer supporting us on digital media, Dow on education and culture, McDonalds with volunteers and communications.

"Omega are doing timing and results and Panasonic screens.

"Samsung are not only supporting the Torch Relay but the celebration side which means we will have great concerts and a digital media arts festival."

Bayer added: "There are many more who are supplying us with goods and services so we are quite happy and have [achieved more] than we have targeted."

With eight days to go until the Games, Bayer has a simple message to the world.

"We are just looking forward to welcoming all of you in Innsbruck," he said.

"We are ready; winter has come with Santa Claus and that's really the final message – come and see it and be part of it.

"We want everyone to be here and involved and take part and to share with everyone else."

By David Gold

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

GOVERNMENT through its Ministry of Sport will be spared the burden of huge financial assistance to sporting organisations this year.

Yesterday, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport Ashwin Creed revealed that his Ministry and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago have already implemented a number of systems which will ensure growth and development and curb the amount of money that Government will inject into locals sporting organisations in the future.

Apart from systems designed to improve the critical mass in the sport as well as discovering and developing new talent, the Ministry will also activate a Business Development Unit (BDU) at the Sports Company office on Henry Street, Port-of-Spain that is aimed at providing special attention to National Sporting Organisations (NSOs).

The BDU will advise NS0s on how proposals aimed at sourcing sponsorships should be done. According to Creed, the Business Development Unit will also provide specific help topics on how to source funding for corporate TT.

“We have already advised the different sporting organisations that they should have their own marketing plan. Its contents and structure will be looked at by our Business Development Unit before they are taken and presented to the corporate world.” Creed said.

He insists the aim of this initiative is to help NSOs to get their houses in order since Government can no longer shoulder the burden of pumping large amount of monies into the coffers of NSOs for overseas travel and accommodation, development programmes and award ceremonies among many others on an annual basis.

Creed is calling on NSOs to be self sufficient. “We understand that they cannot be totally self-sufficient but they should be able to fund at least 30 percent of their programmes or tournament when the need arises.” He is predicting that by August of this year, NSOs will be able to stand mostly on their own feet.

The effort is part of a comprehensive to ensure growth in sports, increased quality and effective management. In addition, Government will also redirect most of its funding towards the development of young sportsmen and women.

According to Creed, “We at the Ministry have been clamouring for the improvement of critical mass which refer to the amount of people taking part and joining the sport on a daily basis. This is particularly important because there can be no sustainability without participation.”

Government will also in the next few weeks introduce High Performance Centres at five venues in Trinidad and Tobago including the Dwight Yorke Stadium in the sister isle of Tobago and the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

These Centres will evaluate the performances of coaches and athletes as well as conduct talent identification.

By Walter Alibey

Source: www.newsday.co.tt