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

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Tom Degun

Twitter workshops are to be held by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) next month to demonstrate how easy it is to "fall foul of the social media" and prevent athletes following Stephanie Rice (pictured) and getting themselves in trouble at London 2012.

The AOC has developed strict rules on athlete behaviour heading into the London Olympics and the 50-page team agreement that includes a special "social media clause" which stipulates that they will have no legal liability for anything posted on social media sites.

The move has similarities to the British Olympic Association's (BOA) decision to issue its own athletes with Twitter guidelines later this year and comes following a high-profile gaffe from Australian swimming star Stephanie Rice.

The 22-year-old, who claimed three golds and three world records at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, came under huge criticism and lost her Jaguar sponsorship for a tweet last September.

After watching boyfriend Quade Cooper, the Australian rugby full-back, and his teammates beat South Africa she tweeted: "Suck on that faggots."

It was an incident that Australia does not want to see repeated at London 2012 and AOC vice-president Ron Harvey said that he expects the behaviour of athletes to lift at the Olympic Games.

"Some athletes and some sports seem to have forgotten the high standards and reputations that have been established over decades by their past champions," Harvey said.

"In this regard, let me say we in the Olympic movement have an obligation to protect the reputation of past and present Olympians."

The AOC have praised Rice after she granted permission to use video of her apology in seminars for the 1,200 Australian athletes aiming for the London Games.

Rice informed the AOC that she wanted to turn one of the more difficult moments of her life into a positive.

"She was happy for us to use the clip to show how easy it is to fall foul of the social media," AOC media spokesman Mike Tancred said.

"She is going to help other athletes not make the mistake."

"Since Beijing there has been an explosion in the social media.

"Young athletes, not just footballers, are getting into trouble on social media.

"They are not understanding that what they write to family or friends is not necessarily in private, and is in the public domain.

"We are all aware of what happened to Stephanie Rice, so now we are going to implement some rules in our team agreement which every athlete and coach has to sign for London.

"That is the AOC will have no legal liability for anything posted on a social media site by an athlete or team member.

"I want to stress we are not banning social media as long as it is in good taste and is positive."

Australia's London 2012 Chef de Mission Nick Green says athletes will be under the microscope more than ever and this will help maintain standards.

"If anyone does step out of line the reputation of the team is questioned - I think people feel a great sense of pride and a great sense of ownership and they don't want that to be jeopardised in any way," Green said.

Meanwhile the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have claimed that they do not intend to follow the AOC and BOA by issuing Twitter guidelines at this stage.

Patrick Sandusky, Chief Communications Officer at the USOC, told insidethegames: "At this point we don't plan to issue any guidelines for twitter or any other social media.

"In the run up to the Games, we will certainly remind our athletes that comments in social media should be considered public and we hope they are in the spirit of being an Olympian, but we will not issue specific guidelines on how to utilize or limit various social media forums."

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

A decision not to form a single British Basketball association is threatening to undermine their chance of being allowed to compete at next year's Olympics in London, they have been warned.

England, Scotland and Wales came together to form the Great Britain national teams in 2006 with the express goal of playing in the Olympics, but they have remained as separate governing bodies.

FIBA granted British Basketball exceptional status to operate as an umbrella organisation, but that arragement expires next year at the Games, with the world governing body hoping they would instead merge.

The issue of Britain's participation at London 2012 will be top of the agenda when the 22 members of FIBA's ruling Executive Committee meet in Lyon tomorrow.

"We cannot move forward indefinitely with this hybrid model," FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann wrote in an article published in the Daily Telegraph.

Baumann, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, wants Britain's participation at London 2012 to be the beginning of a new chapter for the sport in this country not the end of the book.

"This is why the British basketball family needs to produce a clear legacy plan, spelling out its vision for years to come, long after the memories of London have begun to fade," he wrote.

"Indeed, it would be a crying shame for a whole generation of youngsters to be enthused by the 2012 basketball tournament only to find they have few opportunities to play the game themselves after the Olympic torch has been passed on.

"The British basketball family has to figure out the best governance model to take the sport forward.

"Currently, there are three national member federations – England, Scotland and Wales - and the British Basketball Federation has an exceptional status as an umbrella organisation of all the three valid until 2012 only.

"If Britain wants to compete at international level as Team GB then it can only have one representative in the future."

A nationwide league must also be established as part of a condition of Britain's participation at London 2012, said Baumann.

"Any blueprint needs to coherently outline how basketball can grow and prosper from street level right the way through to the top tier of international competition," he wrote.

"It also has to address the necessity of developing a strong domestic league with a proper pyramid of sustainable clubs, full of home-grown talent, who can seamlessly step up to the national level when called on."

Britain's basketball team has not competed in the Olympics since the last occasion London staged the Games, in 1948.

They finished 20th after losing seven of their eight matches.

British Basketball has recently been running a nationwide "Say Yes" campaign to drum up support for their bid to play at London next year.

Supporters include Hugh Robertson, the Sport and Olympics Minister.

"This country is passionate about the sport and want the men and women's GB teams to compete at London 2012," he said.

"British basketball teams at the Games would help shine a spotlight on the sport and encourage a new generation to take it up."

Chris Spice, British Basketball's performance director, is confident Britain will get FIBA's backing.

"There's no precedent for a host nation not participating [in the Olympics]," he said.

"We know the potential in Europe if GB doesn't participate then another European team gets in and that is obviously something in our minds.

"But we're looking at the broader, bigger picture, and we've been working closely with our partners at FIBA Europe on that."

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

There were further signs of the developing relationship between the United States and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today when it was announced that Larry Probst and Scott Blackmun have been appointed to key Commissions.

Probst, the chairman of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), has been given a role with the IOC's International Relations Commission while Blackmun, the chief executive, has been included on the IOC Marketing Commission.

Probst and Blackmun have spearheaded the campaign to repair the fractured relationship between the USOC and IOC, damaged by a series of rows over financial disputes, plans to launch a US Olympic television network and Chicago's humiliating failure to be awarded the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics.

"We are grateful that the IOC has selected us to serve alongside so many important leaders of the Olympic Movement," Blackmun said

Blackmun's presence on the Marketing Commission, headed by Norway's IOC Executive Board member Gerhard Heiberg, is seen as being of particular significant in light of the long-running financial disputes between the USOC and IOC.

The row over the fact that the USOC continue to receive 20 per cent of the Olympics global sponsorship revenue and 13 per cent of US broadcasting rights has been an open sore in the Olympic Movement for several years and in 2009 contributed to Chicago being knocked out in the first round of voting for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, despite the presence of US President Barack Obama.

The Marketing Commission contains several prominent IOC members, including Germany's Thomas Bach and Puerto Rico's Richard Carrion, who are seen as the leading contenders to replace Jacques Rogge as President when he steps down in 2013.

Other members includes Britain's Sir Craig Reedie, Patrick Hickey, the President of the European Olympic Committees, and Dick Pound, the former President of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The International Relations Commission, which is chaired by IOC vice-president Mario Pescante of Italy and includes the chairman of the British Olympic Association, Colin Moyniahn, deals with various global issues, including the IOC's recent status as a permanent observer at the United Nations.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Semoy Hackett is among five T&T athletes who are expected to represent their universities at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Division One Indoor track and field championships at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium, Texas, today and tomorrow. Hackett will contest the women’s 60 and 200m sprints and is joined by her Louisiana State University school-mate Kyron Blaise who will battle in the men’s long jump and triple jump. Afiya Walker (women’s 400m), Zwede Hewitt and Jovon Toppin (men’s 4x400) are the other local athletes competing.

Hackett would be seeking to match compatriot and former LSU student Kelly Ann Baptiste who took the 60m title in 2008. Hackett is the fifth fastest in the field with 7.24 seconds. She will be seeking to improve on her double silver success at the South Eastern Conference finals on February 22 when she was second in the 60m (7.25) and in the 200m (22.84). Walker will be the first local athlete in action in the women’s 400m preliminaries today with the final set for tomorrow.

Later, Hackett will take the field in the prelims of the women’s 60m with the final tomorrow. She will be back on the track for the 200m preliminaries today. Blaise will bid for a medal in the men’s long jump. The 2008 double Carifta champion has the 15th best jump (7.78) of the 16 entrants and will have to get through the qualifying round which takes place before the finals. He will be the first athlete in action tomorrow in the men’s triple jump where he is sixth ranked with 16.36m. In the men’s 4x400m finals Hewitt and his Baylor team-mates will line up while Jovon Toppin will be part of Florida’s team in the third and final heat.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is currently here to film a documentary on how young men can use sport as an effective tool to stay out of crime.

BBC will use the Belmont Boys' Secondary school first annual 5K today, as a part of their piece to highlight the school's commitment toward encouraging students to use sport as an avenue for success and development.

The 5K starts at 9am on the southern end of the Queen's Park Savannah near Memorial Park and will finish at the school's compound on 34A Belmont Circular Road, Belmont.

Belmont Boys' Secondary is involved in this effort because of Jehue Gordon; a former student of the school and one of the selected hopefuls for London 2012.

He has been selected by BBC's World Class initiative.

This is an appeal that brings the benefits of international schools linking to schools across the United Kingdom.

Gordon was chosen under the campaign " World Olympic Dreams", which is a project that moves beyond the UK and focuses on 20 athletes drawn from across all five continents who will be competing in 20 different Olympic Sports.

Gordon won the Men's 400m hurdles World Junior title in Moncton, Canada, with a time of 49.30 seconds.

He also performed well at the senior level, finishing sixth and seventh in the last two Diamond League meetings of the season.

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) president Michael Romany was elected onto the Central America and Caribbean Sport Organisation(CASCO) Executive Committee  at the CASCO General Assembly held in Vera Cruz,Mexico last Friday (4th March ). Romany prevailed 22 votes to 20 in a closely contested election with incumbent Dr. Fernando Beltranena of Guatemala.

Puerto Rico's Hector Cardona was re-elected unopposed as president of the organisation that is responsible for the Central America and Caribbean(CAC) Games,the oldest regional multi sport event  under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee(IOC).

Romany said he was honoured by the opportunity and expressed '"a bit of surprise " at his election.
"Neither myself nor the TTOC had my contesting for a position on any of the  Continental sport organisations as an agenda item . I  was asked to make a contribution to sport leadership at the continental level .It is an honour and a privilege so I agreed to accept a nomination."

The T&T Olympic chief believes that the CAC Games has an important role to play in the sustainable development and growth of the Olympic movement in Central America and Caribbean.

"There are new and different challenges facing the Olympic movement and I  look forward to working with the CASCO leadership in the collective quest to prosper and deepen the work of CASCO over the next four years."

Barbados Olympic Association(BOA) ,and Caribbean National Olympic Committee(CANOC) president Steve Stoute was re-elected unopposed as third vice president.

CASCO Executive Committee for 2011-2015 Term:

Hector Cardona(Puerto Rico)-President
Jean Edouard Baker(Haiti)-Ist Vice-President
Felipe Munoz Campamas-(Mexico)-2nd Vice-President
Steve Stoute-(Barbados)-3rd Vice-President
Andres Botero(Colombia)-Secretary General-
Hans Laewets(US Virgin Isalnds)- Treasurer
Mrs Judy Simmons(Bermuda)- Executive Member
Salvador Jimenez(Honduras)-Executive Member
Don Anderson(Jamaica)-Executive member
Ruperto Herrera(Cuba)-Executive Member
Michael Romany(Trinidad and Tobago)-Executive Member

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Three players will be representing Trinidad and Tobago next week when North, Central America and the Caribbean regional qualifying for the World Junior Tennis Tournament serves off in the Dominican Republic.

The pre-qualifying tournament for 14 and under players will be contested from next Monday until Saturday and only the winning boys and girls teams will qualify to battle against Canada, United States and hosts Mexico in the qualifying competition.

This tournament will take place at the end of next month and the top two girls and boys teams will then advance to the finals in the Czech Republic during the first week of August.

The Tennis Association of Trinidad and Tobago did not select any females and T&T will only be represented by Tobagonian Elan Mendes, Ethan Ammon and Gianluc Robinson.

Mendes, a former national under-12 champion, was picked automatically, while his teammates advanced from a playoff which also included Jordan Warner, Che Sanchez and Nabeel Mohammed.

Robinson and Ammon performed very creditably when they wore the red, white and black late last year in the ITF (International Tennis Federation) 13 & Under Caribbean Development Championships in Curacao.

The players will travel on Friday and the under-16 team will depart a week later for the pre-qualifying tournament for Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup in El Salvador.

This competition will take place from March 21-26 and the winning teams will then advance to the qualifying tournament, which will be contested together with the under-14 qualifying event at the end of next month in Mexico.

Canada and the United States will also be involved in the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup qualifier and the top two boys and girls teams will return to Mexico for the finals at the end of September.

Tobagonians Jualon Greig and Abraham twins, Joshua and Ty, will form the Junior Davis Cup squad, while Breana Stampfli, Olivia Johnson and Tobagonian Shania Millington are the Junior Fed Cup players.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Good Morning neighbour! What's going on? It is J'Ouvert morning and 3Canal is sending out a powerful but positive vibe and energy. It is Carnival time and sport takes a back seat. But in many ways, Carnival is a massive positive for sport here in T&T. For those who believe that 'Trinis' cannot be dedicated and disciplined. Paying close attention to how many citizens prepare for Carnival Monday and Tuesday will be a revelation, the enthusiasm and vibrancy, the energy that fills the air.

How to harness and redirect that passion for Carnival into other national activities including sport? Find the answer and T&T will never be the same again. In this respect, the lack of a compelling vision and strategic action plan for promoting and marketing T&T as the Mecca of Carnival is a travesty. The fact that T&T Carnival attracts just around 40,000 visitors annually is really an indictment about the haphazard way we treat with activities and assets that are uniquely Trinbagonian.

T&T over the years have wasted the potential that is Carnival as it has done with sport. Carnival is a big lime and party, a time to get drunk and free up or not get drunk, but still free up. For others it is a time to get away from it all and head to quieter and calmer less frenzied environs. Most commentators claim that were it not for Carnival the society would have no managed outlet for evaporating the many frustrations faced by the citizenry. However you look at it, Carnival remains one of this country's greatest assets. In sport and Carnival T&T owns a potent economic cocktail.

I may just need to pinch myself so that I am not lulled into a false sense of reality by the feel good generated by "good morning neighbour". But who cares? I make no apologies for suspending disbelief. It is Carnival time in T&T and nothing is wrong with indulging in the fantasy of it all. Sport and Carnival a wonderful snap shot of T&T at its best. There is no place on the face of this earth like T&T. Good morning neighbour! What's going on? 60,000 strong-well according to media and police sources-at Soca Monarch! Can you imagine 60,000 turning out to see T&T play Jamaica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium or to see our world class athletes run, throw and jump? What about our hockey, volleyball or rugby teams? Surely they could attract 25,000 paying spectators? It is carnival time in T&T and we are all allowed to dream and make believe.

Good morning neighbour? What's going on?

I was telling a good friend, who considers himself a devoted couch potato, that he is one of the most disciplined Carnival athletes I know. He looked at me with utter contempt, but maybe it was the fact that his drink of choice was a tad stronger than my plain bottled water, Carnival Monday and Tuesday I reasoned are back to back marathons. Most world class marathoners will not even entertain the thought of attempting back to back marathons. For most mas playing Trinbagonian completing two days of the reign of the Merry Monarch is never a serious doubt.

Carnival is not seen as or considered by any stretch of the imagination as a sporting activity. But the activity otherwise known as "playing mas" is certainly not sedentary. But that is not the point of today's column. The point is that we just seem to waste the immense creativity, energy, positivity and imagination of T&T Carnival. In that regard sport is no different. Good morning neighbour! What's going on? Have a safe and enjoyable Carnival.

Editor's Note:
Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the T&T Olympic Committee- www.ttoc.org <http://www.ttoc.org/> .
The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story by: Nicholas Clarke

First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportsman of the Year Roger Daniel has credited yoga and meditation with helping him to achieve a higher level of discipline and focus. The 40-year-old shooter was introduced to the practise four years ago and he says that it has enabled him to develop the physical strength and mental concentration needed to sit for long periods of time aiming at a target.
Speaking to the Guardian last week, he was full of praise for yoga and recommended athletes from any sport to give it a try. “I would tell everybody in the country to go out and do yoga since it brings out the strength within you. You balance your body and find your core and use it to bring out that inner energy, which is really amazing. When you do yoga over a period of time you would swear that you’ve been to the gym because it tones you. “It helps you use your own body weight while your using your breath and relaxing.”

He added that the benefits of regular practice had stretched beyond the shooting range and had helped turn him into a better person. “It’s brought an inner peace and calmness to my life. Yoga and meditation combine to give you that perfect balance. You’ll feel better about yourself and feel better about life. It cures many pains. “I know people with back aches and injuries who yoga has helped tremendously. If you are a person who suffers from tension and are always stressed, go and do yoga and you will transform into such an individual that you won’t believe.” When his competitive career comes to an end, Daniel said that he would like to spend his time helping the next generation of shooters to continue from where he left off. “I want to build a foundation to work with the young ones to try to build the sport itself. “I want someone else to take over and follow in my footsteps so that whoever comes after me won’t have the struggles that I went through and will be able to concentrate and achieve more.”

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Hezekiel Romeo has established a new national youth (under-18) shot put record.

The Memphis athlete threw the iron ball 18.03 metres to top the boys' under-18 shot put event, at last Saturday's National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) development meet, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. Micah McNish finished second with a 13.28m effort.

Romeo's record heave —his first ever 18+ throw with the five-kilogramme shot—put the 16-year-old in line for selection for the July 6-10 World Youth Championships, in Lille, France. The qualifying standard is 17.60m.

There were shot put wins as well on Saturday for Health Olympians athlete Quincy Wilson and Burnley's Shaunna Downey. Throwing the 7.26-kilogramme implement, Wilson won the men's event with a 16.35m effort, while Downey threw the 4K shot 11.49m to triumph in the girls' under-20 category.

Jamol James was the fastest sprinter on show in the men's 100 metres dash. The Memphis athlete won the second of three races in 10.61 seconds. Raymond Campbell was second fastest on the day, the Tigers sprinter winning race three in 10.83.

Michelle-Lee Ahye topped the women's 200m field, the 18-year-old Concorde sprinter getting to the line in 24.79 seconds. She beat Marissa Gale (25.14) and Sha-Shauna Mason (25.61) into second and third, respectively.

Tereem Richards finished first in race two and first overall in the men's 400m. The Quantum athlete completed his lap of the Boldon Stadium track in 48.61 seconds.

Dawnel Collymore of Memphis and Neon Trackers runner Sterling Paul were dominant in their 800m events. Collymore struck gold in the women's race in two minutes, 21.02 seconds, while Paul topped race one in the men's two-lap event in 1:56.72. Winner of the other men's 800m race, Kerime Morris clocked 1:59.18.

And in the women's 400m hurdles, Gabriela Cumberbatch emerged victorious in 1:05.88. Reniessa Phillip was a distant second in 1:14.10.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

The Trinidad and Tobago national rugby team's participation in the upcoming Caribbean Championships hinges on their ability to raise funds in the near future.

T&T Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) president Leslie Figaro, in a media release earlier last week, said that if their fund-raising efforts fail, it is likely that "no Trinidad and Tobago national team will be able to participate" at the Championships.

The TTRFU held their Cooler Fete last week Saturday at Harvard Club in St James, which, according to their estimates, hosted more than 400 party goers.

Although Figaro was "encouraged" by the turnout, he was not as impressed with the support of the event from "certain TTRFU clubs", according to the release.

"The show went on, patrons enjoyed themselves. A number of individuals, including the TTRFU secretariat, worked very hard to make the event a reality," Figaro said.

He added that the feedback was encouraging and the consensus was that the event should be staged again next year.

Figaro, the statement added, is "adamant" that T&T rugby "will not go back to the days when players had to be able to afford to pay their own passage to wear national colours.

"The TTRFU is a non-profit organisation, but without money it cannot sustain, develop and grow the game," he stated.

The T&T rugby head also said that although the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the International Rugby Board (IRB) are "assisting", they are still faced with a budget shortfall.

"Trinidad and Tobago is the number one Caribbean men's and women's 15-a-side rugby team," he pointed out.

"To maintain that status and to advance further in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, to broaden, in particular, our community initiatives outside of the Port of Spain catchment, to develop new coaches and referees and to properly prepare our national teams, multiple revenue streams are necessary."

Source:www.guardian.co.tt

Five local amateur boxers, three men and two women, will be completing their preparations for the first Pan American Games qualifier in Venezuela from March 23-30 abroad. Light heavyweight Andrew Fermin, who in recent times has been the most successful local pugilist, along with Aaron Hassette and Christopher de Freitas, left last weekend for Cuba for a live-in camp. The trio was accompanied by coach Reynold Cox. Fermin is the local light-heavyweight champion. He was a silver medallist at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games last year in Puerto Rico. Females Chimere Taylor (middleweight) and Jamila Jones (lightweight) will be flying out early next week along with coach Anthony Waterman to Veneuela to participate in a one-week live-in camp to round off their preparations.

History will be created at the Pan American Games this year as it will be the first time female boxing will be held in weight categories flyweight (51 kgs), lightweight (60 kgs) and middleweight (75 kgs). Two other boxers, Aaron Prince (welterweight) and Michael Alexander (bantamweight) will continue their preparations at home under coaches  Raynold Prince and Glenroy Anderson. T&T Amateur Boxing Association (TTABA) president, Cecil Forde, yesterday thanked chairman of the Sport Company of T&T (SPORT), Rhett Chee Ping, and his staff, for the assistance given to the national team in its preparations. He stated that there will be two more qualifiers, the next one at the end of April in Ecuador and the other at the end of May in a country to be announced.

Source: www.reuters.com

Illegal betting in sport generates a turnover of around $140 billion a year worldwide, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge said on Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting with government ministers, Interpol and European bodies on illegal and irregular betting practices, Rogge said action had to be taken to counter the threat.

"(What) we heard from Interpol is that illegal betting is on the rise, we absolutely have to fight that, there is a sense of urgency and it's going to be an ongoing process," he told reporters.

"Sport is in danger. It is not about the Olympics, it's not about the Games, it's about sport in general."

Rogge said it had been agreed to set up a task force to tackle the problem and repeated the call he made before the meeting for governments to collaborate.

The task force would include members of sports federations, governments, international organizations such as Interpol and betting operators, he said.

"There is a need for education among athletes, for the sports movement to monitor the competitions and to report anything suspicious," he said.

"There is a need to rely on governments for judicial support, for telephone tapping, for search warrants and other things we cannot conduct."

He added that the problem was widespread.

"There is illegal betting and it threatens the credibility of sport," he said. "There is no safe haven ... It's a big problem in the entire world.

"There have been documented cases in sumo wrestling and physical cases in cricket. We know there are people in other continents betting on European second and third division games."

The IOC introduced irregular betting early warning systems during the Beijing 2008 and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and neither Games showed anything suspicious.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Former national hockey player Kenwin Nancoo, founding member of Fatima hockey club and The Edge Field Hockey Club in New Jersey, passed away on Monday at the JFK Memorial Hospital in Edison, New Jersey. Nancoo still holds the record for the most goals ever scored in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL). “Bum”, as he is affectionately known, scored 72 goals in three years for Fatima College to eclipse the record set by former national footballer Luciano Woodley, who represented St Mary’s College at the time.

Nancoo was a clinical psychologist, a certified athletic trainer, an autism expert and a councillor, along with being the coach of The Edge Club, which he led to 13 national indoor and outdoor championships in the past six years. Former national hockey coach Kelvin Nancoo, his brother, is the technical director of The Edge and was a his bedside when he passed away.

Kelvin said, “This is a great loss to the sporting world, to academia and the society at large. Kenwin was unselfish and looked for the good in everyone and his success in life was attributed to his caring, loving selflessness and kind attitude.” Kenwin will be buried tomorrow at Somerville, New Jersey. There will be a memorial mass in his honour in T&T on Ash Wednesday at a venue to be announced.

Source: guardian.co.tt

I cannot get Benjai’s (I am a Trini) infectious melody and lyrics out of my head but Carnival, Soca and Calypso aside, the issue of good governance in sports and the twin pillars of transparency and accountability remain a recurring theme. In the face of ideological sophistry and political mendacity a clear definition seems, on the surface, to defy all efforts at clarity as to what exactly is the meaning of good governance. Depending on who is doing the talking, the definition takes on shades and hues. Interpretations differ; convenience and justifications shape the dialogue surrounding good governance.
This is not to say that there should be a witch hunt or that there should be a holding onto past hurts, anger or fear. There must be a letting go of the past if we are to embrace the future. This doesn’t mean that we need to condone the actions or for that matter ever trust again those who have betrayed the trust given to them. However harbouring resentment or holding a grudge is not the answer.

While drowning in a sea of bitterness will not solve the reality or perception of a lack of good governance, we must, however, be in touch with reality rather than hide or deny the truth and stop defending and justifying a bad situation. T&T is a small place and space so there will be those who will prefer that you don’t rock the boat, that you mind your own business, that you don’t make waves, don’t wash dirty linen in public. All that is well and good, no one likes to be banished to the proverbial doghouse but there comes a time when silence is not golden neither is doing nothing. In this context, what is taking place in the Middle East and North Africa presents powerful and profound lessons, and a cautionary tale for those entrusted with the responsibility of stewardship—the contagion will spread. Modern technology and better educated young people have said enough is enough. The fact that, in the main, they are doing it in a non violent and pro democratic way—at least so far—will prove inspirational.

Notwithstanding enormous petroleum wealth authoritarian governments have been brought to their knees. Expectations are understandably high and disappointments will surely come. But the young people of the Middle East and North Africa inspite of fear or concern for their personal safety have eloquently spoken by their actions. In a small society such as T&T not a day goes by when one can escape asking the question: good governance—what does it mean? If there is a concept of good governance what are the consequences, if any, of falling short? Is transparency and accountability elusive ideals? In his book The Middle Passage—first published in 1962—VS Naipaul suggests that “T&T is a materialistic immigrant society... never setting into any pattern... that  the absence of a history of enduring brutality has given us (T&T) its special character, its ebullience and irresponsibility... and more... an indifference to virtue as well as vice.”

He (Naipaul) further describes T&T as having no guiding taste. “Living in a borrowed culture...and that our situation required not a leader but a society which understood itself and had a purpose and direction.” In the middle of the Carnival season the ongoing saga of the legal battle between some members of the 2006 Soca Warriors and the T&T Football Federation (TTFF), the resolute descent into the abyss of mediocrity by the shell of a once great institution called West Indies cricket, the challenges facing the T&T Olympic movement, falling sport participation and retention levels are examples of the question of good governance rearing its head. As I juxtapose the words of Benjai’s “I am a Trini” and VS Naipaul I ask myself what does being a “Trini” mean for good governance.

Editor’s Note: Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the T&T Olympic Committee- www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt 

T&T-born Crystal Goring scored eight points and had three blockshots to help the University of Richmond basketball team beat Saint Louis, 68-57, on Senior Day Saturday at the Robins Center in Richmond, Virginia. The Spiders, as her team is known, were in control for the majority of the match, and broke open the contest with a 13-0 run midway through the first half. Richmond closed the first frame outscoring the Billikens 28-6 to take a commanding 36-17 lead into the break. Richmond pushed its lead to 46-23, its largest of the game, with just under 17 minutes to play but Saint Louis dug in and went on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 13.

After Richmond looked to close the door at 54-36 with 8:48 remaining, Saint Louis went on a 14-3 run to cut the deficit to 57-50 with 3:38 left. A Jacy Bradley three would scare at 61-55 with 2:28 left, but Goring’s teammate Brittani Shells netted a much-needed long ball to give the Spiders breathing room. Bradley led Saint Louis with a career-high 25 points, and went 5-for-15 from long range. Richmond outrebounded the Billikens, 45-37 and had its best game all season from the charity stripe, sinking 21-of-23 tries. Richmond ended its regular season with an 18-10 overall mark, 9-5 in league play. The Spiders await seeding for next week’s A-10 Tournament in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Written by: Clayton Clarke

T&T sprinter Semoy Hackett earned two silver medals at the South Eastern Conference (SEC) Indoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas yesterday. Hackett, a student at Louisiana State University (USA), was runner-up in the women’s 60 metres and 200m finals. In the 60m dash, she clocked 7.25 seconds to finish behind Lykia Brookin of South Carolina University, who won in 7.14. In the heats, the 2009 World Championships 100m semifinalist was fourth fastest in 7.30 seconds.

Hackett followed up that performance, going in as the favourite after clocking a world leading time of 22.86 seconds in the 200m preliminaries on Saturday. However, in the championships race she was again beaten to the line. Her LSU teammate Kimberly Duncan took the gold in 22.78 seconds. Hackett clocked 22.84 seconds, beating her time on Saturday. Hackett’s time is also a national women’s record and clipped the 22.90 set by former LSU sprinter Kelly Ann Baptiste in March of 2005. Grenadian Kirani James also produced a world leading time in the 400m event. James, the World Junior 400m champion, running for Alabama, beat American Torrin Lawrence’s  45.82 by posting a 45.37 in the 400m dash preliminaries. James had ran 45.47, but it was done on a oversized track. James was also yesterday looking to bring home the SEC Individual title in the 400m.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The University of T&T’s (UTT) Curtis Humphreys, successfully defended his A1 title against Solo Crusader’s Andrew Alexander in the final of the National Classified Table Tennis Championships at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena (CRISA), Chaguanas, yesterday. After four sets, Humphreys proudly retained his crown with a score of 11-4, 13-15, 11-6, 11-9. He found a place in the final after overcoming four-time national champion, Reeza Burke relatively easily in the semifinal, 12-10, 11-4, 4-11, 11-5. Alexander of Solo Crusaders clinched his place in the final when he defeated fourth-seeded Terrell Abbott of UTT, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8.

Carnage Blasters’ duo Meshach Pillai and Michael Noel clashed in the A2 men’s division final. Pillai took the title after a nervy first two sets. The match ended 6-11, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9.  In the first semifinal matchup, Pillai defeated Pentecostal Light & Life Tobago’s Orell Cooper, 11-7. 7-11, 11-9, 11-6. Crusader, Michael Fung could not respond to Noel’s three set win, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9. In the women’s A division final, Linda Boodhan of the Arima Hawks defeated UTT’s Astra Edwards in a highly competitive fixture, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9. In the semi-final, five set fixture, Boodhan was victorious against top seeded 16-year-old, Catherine Spicer, replacing last year’s champion Natalie Montes, who is absent from the fixtures, 11-7, 4-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-7. Edwards reached the final in a straightforward win over Renuka Sitram, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7, before bowing out to Boodhan.

The women’s B division finale saw an all-Arima Hawks set up with Brittany Joseph meeting Artienea Gregoire. Joseph finished the winner after five sets, 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7.  Gregoire booked a final’s spot after defeating Makela Fraser from Bishops, Tobago, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7. Joseph lost her first set in the semifinal to Gyshan Lutchman but went on to finish comfortably, 12-14, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4.The T&T Table Tennis Association (T&TTTA) included a para’s event in the schedule taking place on Saturday, allowing for participation of handicapped persons. Gerard Asin took first place while Kesha Belfon and Olga Charles took second and third places, respectively.

Source: www.hambantota2018.com

 
The excitement of two ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 matches in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, has brought growing international interest to the ‘new’ City bidding to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
 
Sri Lanka’s opening 210-run win over Canada and Pakistan’s victory over Kenya drew a global television audience to ‘the island jewel of the Indian Ocean’ and the fast-developing coastal city at the heart of the Hambantota 2018 bid.  The $8 million, 35,000 capacity Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium itself – built for the showpiece tournament – has been heralded as testament to the nation’s ability to deliver world-class venues and infrastructure on time.
 
Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee Co-Chairman and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, said: “We are making 2016 a byword for our Hambantota 2018 bid.  Our commitment to all CGAs (Commonwealth Games Associations) is that all of the venues and the entire infrastructure for the Games will be completed by December 2016.  This means that we can use 2017 for all the test events throughout the venues, including the Games Village.”
 
CGAs and International Federations will welcome plans to consult widely in developing state of the art, iconic competition and training venues for all core and optional sports.  The venues will be clustered together to create a compact ‘Sports City’ as a new venue for world sport.  It will be developed alongside existing major infrastructure developments; a new sea port and second international airport are under construction, with a high capacity public transport system and new road network in the pipeline. 
 
Conceived in 2009 by Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament for Hambantota District, Sports City will feature all of the indoor and outdoor venues and facilities required to stage a superb Commonwealth Games.  It will also be home to a sports Business Enterprise Park and two universities; IT Park; National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship; International Centre for Tourism; and state-of-the-art Media centres.
 
Sri Lanka's Sports Minister and Co-Chairman of the Organising Committee, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, added: “Sports City will be instrumental for Hambantota in winning the bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018.   All the athletes participating in the Games will find it tailor-made to suit their specific sporting requirements.  They will relish the opportunity to compete in venues full to capacity with spectators, with a great atmosphere and in facilities that exceed their expectations and enable them to strive for personal best performances and medals.”
 
Hambantota is attracting local and foreign investment and the infrastructure development is in full swing.  Power grids are being extended and the communications network rapidly developed.  Reputed entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry are investing substantially in and a cluster of world-class hotels and resorts – hallmarked with the fabled Sri Lankan hospitality depicted in the Hambantota 2018 emblem[1][1] unveiled last month by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa – are also scheduled for completion by 2016, two years ahead of the Games.
 
Others seemingly agree with Co-Chairs Cabraal and Minister Aluthgamage that the simultaneous development of residential facilities, infrastructure, economic nerve centres and world-class sports facilities for both competition and training will make Hambantota the ideal host city for Commonwealth Games in 2018.  Hambantota has assurances from a number of sponsors and supporting nations endorsing its bid, showing full confidence in the delivery of everything required by the CGF, from sponsorships to the best media and sports facilities required by fans and Commonwealth sportsmen and women.
 
The CGF is due to choose the host city at its meeting in St Kitts and Nevis on 11 November 2011.  For more information on Hambantota 2018 visit: www.hambantota2018.com