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

Past Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) Olympic Youth Camp participants  Aasan Lewis and Tariq Cheekes have been included in the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) Training Squad of fifty-four (54) players called  to prepare for International and other Fixtures in 2011. Among these fixtures is the 2011 North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Caribbean Men’s 15 A-Side Championships, which will be played on a home and away basis, starting with T&T’s first fixture against Guyana at home in May.

The squad was selected based on performances in 2010, including two trial games held at the Larry Gomes Stadium in November 2010 between a National “A” Squad and a Development Squad.

“The selected squad has some emerging players who have shown the skills and desire to represent their country” said Curtis Nero, Chairman of the National Selection Committee. Nero went on that “conversely, it has meant that some long standing squad members have not made the cut this round, but would have the opportunity to earn a selection to the national representative team during the 2011 playing season, based on performances.”

The members of the 2011 squad are required to attend a very important meeting on Saturday, January 29, at 1:00 p.m., at the Solomon McLeod Lecture Theatre, 5th Floor Police Administration Building, Corner of Sackville and Edward Streets, Port of Spain.

The Squad is as follows:
Graeme Alkins                                Miguel Lara
Peter Bacchus                               Aasan Lewis
Joseph Brown                                Jonathan Lewis
Zane Campbell                               Cloyd London
Ben Chapman                                Matthew Marine
Akira Charles                                  Andel Matamora
Tariq Cheekes                                Justin McLean
Jamal Clark                                    Trizine McLean
Andrew Crooks                              Kendall Mootoo
Shaquille Cummings                        Jerome O’Brien
Gordon Dalgliesh                            Jonathan O’Connor
Carlton Felix                                  James Phillip
Jabari Felix                                    Joseph Quashie
Kelson Figaro                                 Jesse Richards
Jamal Franks                                  Jerome Richardson
Adam Frederick                             Samuel Roberts
Rowell Gordon                              Phillip Rogers
Heron Graham                              Don Rojas Jr.
Mark Griffith                                 Agboola Silverton
Felician Guerra                              Carlton St. Clair
John Hill                                       Jelani Stowe
Derondie Jones                             Andrew Taylor
Ebo Jones                                    John Taylor
Jason Joseph                                Shaquille Tull
Kordell Joseph                               James Walklin
Wayne Kelly                                  Andrew Welch
Nicholas King                                 Dwyght Wills

Source: http://uk.reuters.com

Illegal betting is as big a threat to the integrity of sports as doping and could one day hit the Olympics, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said on Thursday.

Rogge, opening a symposium to discuss illegal betting in sport, announced that the IOC was calling a summit on March 1 with governments and sporting bodies to hammer out a joint approach to the problem.

"Illegal and irregular betting is a major threat for sport, probably at the same level as doping," he said.

"We will call upon the support of governments the same way we did in 1998 to create the World Anti Doping Agency."

"The sports world cannot solve the problem alone. We have to work with governments, with the lotteries, with bona fide betting companies and everyone concerned about having clean sport."

At the symposium, organised by the International Sports Journalists' Association (AIPS), Rogge said the IOC had been monitoring the problem for some time and had noted nothing to suggest it had affected the Olympics so far.

"But we should not be so naive to think it will not happen to the Olympics some time in the future, possible even in London (next year)".

Other speakers at the symposium said illegal betting was a multi-billion-dollar industry used by organised crime to launder money. The rise of live betting during matches and spread betting had enlarged the problem of corruption in sport well beyond the traditional headache of match-fixing.

Rogge said individual sports needed to put firm sanctions in place against offenders and praised soccer, cricket and tennis for taking early action but said some other sports were lagging behind.

UEFA director of communications Alexandre Fourtoy said the European soccer governing body monitored 29,000 matches across its 53 member nations over all divisions in 2009 and found illegal betting patterns in 0.7 percent of them.

He said 100 million bets were being analysed on a daily basis.

But he said strange betting patterns did not prove match-fixing or corruption and it was still hard to get proof and sanction offenders.

Thomas Spoering of FIFA's Early Warning System monitoring body for global soccer said betting had changed over the past 15 years and live betting during games had risen from 0 percent to 60 percent of the market.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

With just 18 months to go to the London 2012 Games, England Ashes hero Alastair Cook and triple jump champion Phillips Idowu today encouraged the public to sign up to register their interest in tickets at www.tickets.london2012.com

Following a tour of the Olympic Park, Alastair said: 'London 2012 will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Olympic Games is the biggest sporting event in the world and whether you're an athlete or a fan you don't want to miss out. It's really important that people sign up for tickets - you won't get this chance again so go online today and register.

'Having great support behind you makes a big difference, I've experienced it myself in England as well as with the Barmy Army abroad and it really spurs you on. Having the stands packed full of British fans will hopefully inspire Team GB.'

Phillips said: 'I'm from East London so it's literally my home Games. It's the perfect opportunity to win that gold medal and I hope people from across the country will sign up to come cheer on my teammates and I.'

Tickets go on sale on 15 March for six weeks, but signing up beforehand will ensure you're in the front row for information.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com

The Queen's Park Savannah (QPS) will be transformed into a world class cross country venue.

This promise was made by Dexter Voisin at yesterday's launch of the 2011 North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross Country Championships, at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.

Voisin, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman, said last November's Developmental Cross Country Run at the Savannah was a trial run ahead of the February 19 NACAC Championships.

"We saw it as a success."

The 2010 edition of the NACAC Championships was staged at the Mount Irvine Bay Golf Course, in Tobago, in March.

"With regards to Tobago last year, the one little disappointment for us was the lack of spectators. For you who know the Queen's Park Savannah, it's a busy area, especially on a Saturday afternoon, so I don't think we have a challenge with spectators.

"One of the reasons for shifting the event from Tobago," Voisin continued, "is because of budget constraint. We had some deadlines to meet so we had no choice but to bring the meet to Trinidad, which reduced our budget considerably."

In 2010, American Max King won the Men's eight-kilometre race in 23 minutes, 49 seconds, while his compatriot, Delilah Di Crescenzo clocked 20:50 to top the Women's 6K.

Voisin is expecting faster times at the 2011 NACAC Championships.

"It's an easier course. We have identified start and finish opposite QRC. The course will take the athletes down into the hollows, back up on the bank, along the rail of the Savannah and the trees–that footpath there–and will make a loop and come back."

The men will make four laps of the two-kilometre course, while the women will run three laps. There will also be junior (under-20) races–a male 6K and a female 4K.

National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), Hyatt Regency Trinidad, National Gas Company (NGC), Blue Waters and Vemco are sponsors of the 2011 NACAC Cross Country Championships.

National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) president Ephraim Serrette said hosting the Championships is part of his organisation's "holistic approach" to track and field.

"In the past couple years, we have put our focus on field and it is showing in our results. We want to also develop the distance running."

NAAA secretary Alan Baboolal said Richard Jones and national cross country champion Denzel Ramirez are expected to be part of the T&T men's team.

"We will have a full complement and possibly a very competitive team."

US-based Pilar McShine could spearhead the T&T challenge in the Women's 6K.

"She is waiting for a travel document," Voisin explained. "Once she gets that she will be available."

Things That Matter Column

Source:  www.guardian.co.tt

In some vital aspects, sport in T&T remains very much in the dark ages, in particular, in respect to concepts such as long-term athlete development (LTAD), sport science, good governance, sports law, sports marketing and sport management. The Ministry of Sport is doing its part. Since 1997 the TTOC has hosted numerous workshops and seminars in an effort to build capacity within NSOs. UWI and UTT cannot be faulted. Dunning-Kruger, however, remains pronounced. However, there is a silver lining behind the dark cloud. As there is a growing band of young men and women who have studied and qualified in sport science technologies or sport management. ul practitioners don’t have it easy as they find themselves between the proverbial rock and hard place—pioneers and therefore a bit ahead of their time.

Asking these young and passionate newcomers to volunteer their time and effort in a labour of love is a bit harsh. But unfortunately it is the reality of the situation. The perception may be somewhat different. But that is just what it is—perception, not reality. No national team can survive, far less, thrive in the international crucible without legal and ethical sport science interventions. It is impossible to get on to the podium without the use of sports science and all its branches. It is also difficult to raise participation levels and retention rates without a LTAD approach to sport development.In the modern world of sport, sportsmen and women are given individual programmes and daily computerised data on their training performances, the attention to detail ensures that every move is now monitored and analysed.

National teams adopt the GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking device. Worn in training vests, the GPS tracker enables sports scientists to give an individual rundown of each athlete’s performance following training. Heart-rate monitors, ice baths, vitamin D beds, deep-freeze refrigeration technology, eye coaches, Tai Chi.

There are gravity-free treadmills and underwater treadmills. World class sportsmen and women now include yoga as part of their fitness routine. Computerised analysis of opponents is the new norm rather than the exception to the rule. Many of our NSOs are populated by traditionalists who refuse to adapt their thinking to the modern realities of grassroots and elite level sport and as a result continue to place our athletes—elite, age grade and developing in situations where they can only fail. They live in the past—their thinking and methods locked in backward time travel, in an age where Facebook, the Internet and GPS are now part of everyday conversations in sport. NSOs must embrace the modern realities and challenges. Instead of beating a steady path to the Ministry of Sport and Sport Company begging for a hand out as if money is the panacea. The responsibility of regulating, administrating, managing, marketing and developing a particular sport is the purview of national and international governing bodies. Through the process of affiliation with international bodies NSOs are granted the exclusive right to run their respective sport. NSOs must remember they are membership bodies and not public authorities.

Addressing the problems, solving the issues and meeting the challenges head on cannot be delegated. Sport leaders must lead. Sport leaders must innovate, create and inspire. Lead from the front. Don’t pass the buck. In the absence of vibrant, dynamic well organised NSOs, it can be argued there is no need for a Ministry of Sport or Sport Company. There is an evolution taking place in 21st century T&T. It is exciting. T&T Sport can be a legitimate and authentic contributor to this evolution. But NSOs cannot solve modern problems with caveman tools.

Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee-www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

The International Rugby Board has threatened to expel Fiji, preventing its participation at this year's World Cup, because the nation's military regime has attempted to depose the entire Fiji Rugby Union.

The government of military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama threatened to withhold F$3 million (US$1.6 million) in funding for its World Cup bid unless the board and executive members of the Fiji Rugby Union resigned over alleged mismanagement of a fundraising lottery.

The IRB warned Fiji that any contravention of the union's constitution could result in its expulsion from the world body and its exclusion from international rugby.

The Fiji Rugby Union on Sunday declined to accept the resignation of its Chief Executive Keni Dakuidreketi, suggesting it had been emboldened by the IRB ultimatum.
Board members had previously offered to resign en-masse ahead of the union's scheduled April annual meeting which has the power to elect and dismiss official.

The IRB warned Fiji that "in light of the prevailing circumstances that there should be no changes within the senior management structures of FRU."

In a letter to the Fiji union, the IRB also said a special general meeting scheduled for January 29, which would have considered the future of the board in light of the military government's recent ultimatum, should not proceed.

The IRB warned "that any action in contravention of the constitution of the FRU will result in the Union potentially not remaining in good standing as a member of the Union of the IRB which may result in the IRB having to take a determination on the continued membership of the IRB of the FRU."

The notice of special general meeting has since been rescinded.

The IRB said chairman Bernard Lapasset and Chief Executive Mike Miller hoped to convene an urgent meeting with the current FRU board in early February.

It said the current board meets all the requirements of governance and approved of its development of the game.

The actions of the military regime followed an investigation by the Fiji Commerce Commission of a lottery conducted by the Fiji union to raise funds for the nation's participation in the World Cup in New Zealand in September and October.

The investigation found that ticket sales and receipts could not be reconciled and that funds may have been used for purposes other than those advertised.

The IRB noted the Fiji union is contesting the commission's findings and said issues around the lottery should remain between the union and the commission.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Written by: Clayton Clarke

T&T finished third the tenth Caribbean Taekwondo Championships at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Bridgetown Barbados on Saturday. The seven-member contingent won seven medals (2 gold, 1 silver and five bronze). Jason Tannis opened the collection with gold in the Male Junior Light Middle weight title.  The 16-year-old St Michael Boys student whipped St Vincent and Grenadines Jessie Huggins 13-4.  He advanced to the finals by beating  Clifferson Dixon (Barbados)  9-2. 

Katherine Lee A Ping won T&T’s second gold  in the Senior Female Fin Flyweight category, getting the better of Deline Gaymes of St. Vincent and the Grenadines by 22 to 13. The St Joseph Convent, POS student had to fight all the way as Gaymes proved to be a formidable opponent.  However, the First Degree Dan Black Belt used all her experience to fend off her challenger. The 17-year-old fifth former got to the final after whipping Akeiba Norvelle of Barbados 16-0. Lee Aping was later named the most outstanding female fighter of the tournament. 

Speaking after her triumph, Lee Aping said she was excited at winning gold in her first attempt at the regional tournament. “It is my first gold medal in the Caribbean championship. When the final match began I started to move around and I felt comfortable.”  Lee Aping said she used all her experience get the better of her opponent. “She was more aggressive than my first opponent but the match came down to experience. She had a lot of potential as a green belt but in the end I got the edge because of my experience.”

Sherelle De Bourgh was the lone silver medallist. The Bishops Anstey student lost her Female Junior Light Featherweight  gold medal match to Ella Tjappa of Suriname 3-16. Head coach Colin Mufford said he was proud of the team’s effort as he did not anticipate such a good performance. “We started off a bit slow but we got better and better.” The  fighters returned last night.

MEDAL WINNERS

Gold 
Jason Tannis
Male Junior Light Middle weight)
Katherine Lee Aping
Female Senior Fin Flyweight)
Silver
Sherelle De Bourgh
(Female Junior Light Featherweight)
Bronze
Jonathan Tardieu
(Male Junior Lightweight)
Stephan Morales
(Male Senior Feather coloured)
In Sueng Jung
(Male Junior Light Heavyweight)
Andy Clarke
(Male Senior  Lightweight)
Jerome Browne
( Male Senior Welterweight)
Top Senior Female
Katherine Lee A Ping

Overall
1st Barbados
2nd Suriname
3rd Trinidad and Tobago

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

January 20 - The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) is aiming to celebrate its country's 50th year of independence by achieving unprecedented medal success at the London 2012 Games.

TTOC President Michael Romany (pictured right) said: "Trinidad and Tobago made its Olympic debut at the 1948 London Olympics when Mr Rodney Wilkes won our first Olympic medal.

"The city of London has a special place in Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic history."

Romany was speaking after a meeting with His Excellency Garvin Nicholas, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Great Britain, in London.

The two men held cordial and wide-ranging talks about Trinidad and Tobago's participation at the London 2012 Olympics.

The High Commissioner took the opportunity to raise a number of initiatives for promoting Trinidad and Tobago during the Games.

Possible venues for a Trinidad and Tobago "house" during the Olympics were also discussed.

Trinidad and Tobago made its Olympic debut at London in 1948 and have since won a total of 14 medals, including one gold, when Hasely Crawford raced to victory in the 100 metres at Montreal in 1976.

Romany said he was very appreciative that the High Commissioner had expressed his enthusiasm for Trinidad and Tobago's London 2012 participation.

"Ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago sport, culture and tourism is well represented in London at the time of the games is an opportunity that TTOC will not want the country to forgo," said Romany.

"At previous Olympic games it has been a frustrating experience getting the required support from the relevant authorities and decision makers - 2012 has exciting possibilities."

TTOC's pre-games training camp will be based in Cardiff and it is expected that the local contingent will be in Wales for a month in some cases.

Source:  www.insidethegames.biz by Tom Degun in Christchurch

January 18 - Leading sports administrator Kereyn Smith (pictured) has taken up her role as secretary general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and become the first woman to lead the organisation in its 100-year history.

Smith, who was appointed in October, brings more than 20 years' experience in sport leadership and governance and was selected for her strong leadership ability, strategic expertise and commercial and financial acumen.

NZOC President Mike Stanley said he was delighted to welcome Smith to the team as they step up their preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games next year.

"With just 18 months until the London Olympic Games and a changing high-performance environment, Kereyn will maximise the value NZOC adds to sport, athletes, commercial partners and all New Zealanders," he said.

Smith said: "New Zealand athletes are committed to achievement at the very highest level.

"In the changing and fast-paced world of high-performance sport, this is increasingly challenging.

"NZOC must play a strong leadership role in ensuring our athletes and sports have what they require to succeed.

"I am committed to delivering the strategic direction and financial security to achieve this.

"It is exciting to be part of this drive for success."

Smith will be based at the NZOC Olympic Committee head office in Wellington although the role will see her regularly travelling the country.

Meanwhile Barry Maister, Smith's predecessor as NZOC secretary general and a former international hockey player who was part of the New Zealand gold medal-winning team at the Montreal 1976 Games, will continue to sit on the Board in his role as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Maister, who became an IOC member in February 2010, was last month appointed to the newly-established Entourage Commission at the IOC to address matters relating to the relationship between athletes and their coaches, agents and other support staff.

The Commission is chaired by IOC Executive Board member and Olympic pole vaulter Sergey Bubka and includes Sir Clive Woodward, the current director of elite performance at the British Olympic Association, Ireland's Pat McQuaid, the President of the UCI, and American gold medal-winning ice hockey player Angela Ruggiero.

Maister also sits on the IOC Bid Evaluation Committee that is due to visit Annecy, Pyeongchang and Munich, the cities campaigning for the 2018 Olympics and Paralympics. 

His Excellency Garvin Nicholas, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Great Britain met with Michael Romany, The  President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) on  Friday 14 January 2010 at the T&T High Commission .Belgrave square ,London
 
 The two men held  cordial  and wide ranging talks about T&T's participation at the London 2012 Olympic Games. 
The High Commissioner  took the opportunity to raise a number of initiatives for promoting Trinidad and Tobago during the 2012 Olympic Games .Possible venues for a T&T House during the Olympics was also discussed.
 
 
The TTOC is confident that 2012 will be a historic and special year  . Not only will T&T  be celebrating its 50th year  of Independence. In addition  the national Olympic committee's objective is that T&T athletes will achieve unprecedented podium success  in London.
 
"Ensuring that T&T sport,culture and tourism is well represented in London at the time of the games is an opportunity that the TTOC will not want the country to forgo. At previous Olympic games it has been a frustrating experience getting the required support from the relevant authorities and decision makers.2012 has exciting possibilities." said Romany.
 
Romany said he was very appreciative that the High Commissioner had expressed his enthusiasm for T&T's London 2012 participation.
 
" T&T made its Olympic debut at the 1948 London Olympics. Mr Rodney Wilkes won our first Olympic medal. The city of London has a special place in T&T's Olympic history.
 
The TTOC's pre games training camp will be based in Cardiff, Wales and it is expected that the local contingent will be in  Wales for a month in some cases.

Wanniarachchi hearing delayed
CGF Official statement, January 18, 2011

The hearing of the matter involving Sri Lankan boxer Mr. Manju Wanniarachchi by the CGF’s Federation Court has been postponed at the request of the athlete and his legal team.
 
Mr Wanniarachchi, who won the Gold Medal in the 56kg weight division in Delhi, returned an adverse analytical finding from an anti-doping test conducted during last October’s Commonwealth Games.
 
His hearing had been set for January 17th in Kingston, Jamaica. However, an illness precluded Mr Wanniarachchi’s legal representative from attending the Court in Jamaica.
 
CGF President Michael Fennell said the decision to delay the hearing had not been taken lightly and the arrangements with all parties concerned had been made for the matter to be heard on January 17th.
 
“However, under the rules of the CGF’s Anti-Doping Standard (ADS) and the WADA code, all athletes are entitled to legal representation at their hearing and consequently the late application for a postponement was agreed.
 
“While the delay is regrettable, it is unavoidable given the circumstances.”
 
The Court will now sit in May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Source:  www.guardian.co.tt

What National Sport Organisations (NSOs) need are good shepherds, not good politicians. Good shepherds don’t flee for fear of wolves. Nor do they remain indifferent or take the easy way out. Politics should never come before friendship, country or the truth.  Regardless of the outcome of an election, political rhetoric and acrimony must not overshadow nation building. Last Friday someone asked me: “Why do you feel you always have to defend Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts?”

During a TV6 Sporting Edition programme, I had said that Minister Roberts is an excellent example of a local coach who dedicated his time and energy mastering the art and science of coaching and as a result succeeded at the highest level of sport—the Olympic Games. What is wrong with me saying that? I recall some years ago expressing grave concerns about the negative impact of the plan to take over the President’s Ground, St Ann’s and the removal of the Public Courts Tennis, basketball and netball courts to make way for NAPA.

The conclusion was that I was anti-Government. Two years ago when I was appointed by the previous Minister of Sport to serve as chairman of the T&T Boxing Board of Control it was another story. Is freedom of expression or association no longer a constitutional right enshrined in our Republican Constitution? Threats “to deal with or destroy” are seeds that are sown. It’s a short-sighted strategy as negativity will only breed more negativity. No good will come from such an attitude. Some sport organisations have been branded as either a PNM party group, UNC party group or COP party group. What dotishness is that? When did sport in T&T reach there? Two wrongs don’t make it right. When the bandit holds a gun to your head and is about to blow your brains out will he stop to ask: “excuse me before I kill you who did you vote for?”

There are long standing obstacles to sport’s well-being and development. While there has been progress in the organisation and administration of sport in the last 15 years, we are still a distance away from an environment in which T&T, whether urban or rural, disabled or not, young or old, male or female, can participate in sports either for fun, health, recreation or international success. There is much work still to be done. Why is the fear factor taking over? If it needs to be said, say it and if it needs to be done, do it. NSOs are facing an economic shipwreck; paralyzed by the dependency syndrome and in mortal fear of saying the wrong thing or offending someone. Voiceless and trembling—afraid of what or who God alone knows. Everyone seems to be seeing ghosts and hearing voices. Why are we demonising each other?

Sport in T&T is not limited to individual sports and the big two team sports—football and cricket. There are some who believe that team sports, considered minor sports, do not deserve the same consideration as the big two. Others believe that team sport considered grassroots sports should be a priority. Caught in the twilight zone are the team sports viewed as middle class sports. Why are NSOs fighting down each other in an effort to get a bigger slice of the pie? Last Wednesday at a memorial service in Arizona, US President Barack Obama called for a national discourse that heals not wounds. As one scribe wrote, Obama put himself in the place all presidents covet: above the fray, beyond mere Democrat or Republican. Ronald Reagan got there, but few others manage it. If the leaders in T&T sport could do likewise and put themselves above the fray, beyond, personal biases, grudges, likes and dislikes it would certainly redound to the the nation’s benefit.

Brian Lewis is Honorary Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee-www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

Source: www.cmcmedia.com

l BRIDGETOWN

This year's CARIFTA Games, scheduled for April 22-24, is now in serious jeopardy of suffering a historic cancellation.

This follows a number of potential hosts turning down the chance to stage the region's marquee junior track and field meet, which is typically held over the Easter weekend.

It would be the first time in its 40-year history that the CARIFTA Games, the first international exposure for the region's top junior athletes, would be put "off-track".

The Bahamas was looking over the possibility of staging the meet, but track and field officials in Nassau took a firm decision last Thursday not to host the event that attracts close to 1,000 athletes, plus a complementary number of officials.

A report on the Jamaica-based TrackAlerts website indicated that The Bahamas had withdrawn their candidature because they had not received a written commitment from the North America, Central America & Caribbean Track & Field Association with less than three months to go before the meet.

Trinidad and Tobago were also being identified as a possible alternative, but Ephraim Serrette, president of the National Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA), has emphatically stated that the two-island republic is also not in a position to stage the meet.

He explained in an article appearing in Sunday's Newsday newspaper that a host needs over a year for proper planning, and it would be impossible to stage the event now.

"No way! Three months is not sufficient time for us to host any Games," he told the newspaper.

"A lot of things have to be put in place like getting the Government to commit. Too much has to be done in a short space of time. You have to get hotel rooms, meals, and transport. I don't think so."

He added: "It's sad because the junior athletes look forward to CARIFTA. The only way I can see us hosting is if they push the Games to a later date, and I can't see that happening because you have examinations, Pan Am Juniors, and other international events."

Jamaica also turned down the chance to stage the Games because it fell too near to its International Invitational two weeks later, and they did not feel they had the capacity to host two major events so close to each other.

The Games were originally scheduled to be staged in St Kitts, but they decided late last year not to follow through with their commitment.

Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk

Ghana's participation in the 2012 Olympics in London could be in doubt, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the country.

The IOC said it took the step because of "political interference" with the National Olympic Committee of Ghana.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said the country's sports law "does not respect the provisions of the Olympic charter".

The ban means Ghana's Olympic funding has been withdrawn and the country will be barred from the 2012 event.

The IOC's executive committee voted to suspend Ghana after months of wrangling with the African nation's Olympic bosses.

"There have been many promises that the law would be changed but nothing materialised," Rogge added.

"While keeping contact... the executive board was compelled to expel the National Olympic Committee of Ghana."

The sanctions could be lifted if Ghana complies with IOC rules and can guarantee the complete independence of the national body, which has been in turmoil since a disputed presidential election in 2009.

The IOC has complained that the Ghanaian government is appointing the presidents of national sports federations.

If the country does not compete in London, the worst hit sportsmen could be Ghana's footballers. The Under-20 team are current world champions.

The senior national side also reached the final of last year's Africa Cup of Nations and the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa.

An Olympic qualifying woman's football match with Guinea, scheduled to take place in Conakry this weekend, is expected to go ahead.

In December, football's governing body Fifa called on the Ghanaian government to stop meddling with the sport's administration.

Last year, the IOC suspended the Kuwaiti Olympic committee in another row over political interference.

Panama has also been threatened with suspension, but its government has been given a week to resolve its dispute with the Games body.

Source: http://insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

January 12 - LaShawn Merritt will not be able to defend his Olympic 400 metres title at London next year after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today refused to back down from its new tough anti-doping stance.

The IOC's ruling Executive Board and Athletes' Commission threw their weight behind the rule, which bars any athlete with a doping suspension of at least six months from competing in the next Olympics.

Merritt, winner of the 400m at the Beijing Olympics, received a 21-month suspension last year after testing positive for a banned substance found in a male enhancement product.

The American's ban expires in July, meaning he can return to international competition, including the World Championships in Daegu in August, where he is also the defending champion.

But Merritt is ineligible to compete in London a year later because of the controversial IOC rule.

"The athletes made it very clear they support the rule," IOC vice-president Thomas Bach told Reuters.

"The rule applies.

"It shows the full resolve of the IOC in the fight against doping and demonstrates that Olympic athletes serve as role models worldwide."

The rule was approved at an IOC meeting in Osak in 2007 and went into force just ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The American Arbitration Panel who banned Merritt have cast doubt over the rule because they claim that it amounts to a second punishment which is against the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which the IOC is a signatory to.

But Bach, a German lawyer who heads the IOC's Juridical Commission, claims this is not the case.

"We made it clear from the very beginning that it is not a sanction," he said.

"It is a condition of participation.

"The IOC is governing the Olympic Games and has the right to put conditions for participation."

Merritt is lucky to be allowed to compete at all again in the Olympics because if the world adopted the British Olympic Association's draconian lifetime ban for drugs cheats then he would be barred from ever, warned Frankie Fredericks (pictured), chairman of the IOC Athletes' Commission.

"I am in favour of zero tolerance to doping," Fredericks told insidethegames.

"If the rules are even tougher I think I will support them.

"Any rules I'm in favour of, because I'm in favour of nobody trying to take a shortcut by taking away the glory and effort in life of somebody else that could have won a gold medal."

Last month Andy Parkinson claimed, in an exclusive blog published on insidethegames, that he believed the BOA ban discouraged convicted drugs takers from sharing information with the authorities because there was no incentive.

But Fredericks admitted that he would like to see the rule applied worldwide.

"If everyone adopted it then it would make life easier and give more creditability to being an Olympic champion," said Fredericks, winner of a four Olympic silver medals, including at the 1992 Barcelona Games when he was beaten in the 100 metres by Britain's Linford Christie, who later in his career tested positive for anabolic steroids.

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz.

Source: http://insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

January 12 - Frankie Fredericks, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Commission, today added his voice to the growing chorus for London 2012 to honour its bid promise and retain the running track at the Olympic Stadium after the Games.

The Namibian, a four-time Olympic silver medallist having finished second in the 100 and 200 metres at Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996, is now a member of the IOC Coordination Commission for London 2012 and hopes that they will keep their pledge to provide athletics with a legacy after the Games.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) is due to make a decision by the end of March about whether the Stadium will be taken over by West Ham United, whose proposal includes retaining the track, and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who plan to rip it up.

"Obviously being an Olympian I would like that they continue to keep the legacy and hopefully the track can stay," he said here today.

There is now no physical reminders of the last two occasions London hosted the Olympics with White City Stadium, the centrepiece of the 1908 Games, now a BBC car park, and Wembley, the main stadium for the 1948 event, having been rebuilt, and Fredericks hopes that 2012 will be different.

"If you take a Usain Bolt or young Olympian coming up and winning a medal in London it would be nice for him or her to go the stadium, take their kids to visit it later," Fredericks said.

"It would be a nicer feeling than Atlanta.

"I haven't been back there because the track is not there.

"It's an empty feeling not being able to take your kids back because it is a baseball stadium."

Fredericks, however, acknowledged that London is in a difficult position ensuring that the Stadium does not become a white elephant.

"We also want whoever takes over the stadium can maintain it," he said.

"Initially we knew that the Stadium would be 80,000 people and then the top would be taken off and it would be reduced to 25,000 people to keep the legacy.

"But we were hit by the economic crisis and obviously the London organisrs wants to make sure that it has a future."

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz.

Source : http://insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

January 12 - Cities planning to put themselves forward to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics today found out the timetable for the bid process, with the final decision due to be announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its 125th session in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires on September 7, 2013.

The IOC's ruling Executive Board today approved the timings for the bid process which has already attracted strong interest from several cities, including Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Madrid, Rome and Tokyo.

The IOC plans to circulate the 205 National Olympic Committees before the end of this month to see if they are interested in putting forward a candidate.

They will then have until May 16 to submit the name of an applicant city, which will coincide with the publication of the 2020 Candidature Acceptance Procedure.

Applicant cities will have until July 29, 2011, to inform the IOC if they propose to hold the Games outside the normal Olympic Games window, which is between July 15 and August 31.

This is crucial because three years ago Doha were knocked out in the preliminary stages because their proposed dates did not meet the published criteria, although they claimed that IOC President Jacques Rogge had led them to believe that they could host the Games outside the window, just as Sydney had done in 2000.

This is likely to be even more scrutinised on this occasion following FIFA's controversial decision last month to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and the subsequent proposal to move the tournament from its traditional June/July slot to January to avoid the scorching summer heat in the Middle East.

The final deadline to confirm the submission of applicant cities is on September 1, which follows the election of the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which is due to be announced at the IOC Session in Durban on July 6.

The IOC plan to hold an information seminar for the cities in Lausanne in October before they have to submit the application file and guarantee letters by February 15, 2012.

The IOC's Executive Board will choose the candidate cities at a meeting in May 2012 and they will attend the London 2012 Olympics as part of the IOC's observer programme.

The IOC have recommended that the London 2012 debrief is held in Rio de Janeiro, the host for 2016, in November and the bid cities then have until the beginning of January 2013 to prepare and deliver their Candidate Files.

The visits of the IOC Evaluation Commission are scheduled for March and April 2013 with the report due to be published in June, the same month that there will be a Candidate City briefing for IOC members.

The election of the host city will then take part in Buenos Aires, which is due to be the last act of IOC President Jacques Rogge before he steps down.

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz.

Source:  www.guardian.co.tt

The fact that intelligent individuals who consider themselves paragons of virtue, health and justice have little or no compunction, telling lies in public is not new or unusual.

Dishonesty is a habit. There are individuals who fool themselves into believing they are clever rather than dishonest. In life any success in hiding the truth is temporary. People who spin a web of lies end up ensnaring themselves in their own folly. Statements are made and conclusions are drawn. Expert opinions are declared.

Individuals are maligned but then again it is never about the truth. It is really about a version of the truth. No one wants to accept responsibility. Make believe! Pull from the hat not one, not two but any number of excuses.
Blame them all but …. The results don’t lie. No one wants to say I was wrong. I made a mistake. It will not happen again. Desperate men and women will do anything to save their own skin.

Sport is about fair play and doing what’s right.Why then don’t we feel ashamed when we stand by silently and allow sport to degenerate into a farce? Why do we cower in the face of those who refuse to show contrition? Is it fear or cowardice? Or is it compassion and pity? Is it better to refuse to contribute to the sorry charade and face the barbs and slings of those who choose to hide behind falsehoods? Truth is irrelevant. Those who want to project themselves as exemplars should think twice - then again all and sundry appear to share the view that sport is a pappy show and people involved in sports are a bunch of dim-witted fools; even though not everyone who claims to be an expert is an expert. To each his or her own.

For all the pain, sorrow and embarrassment,  sport remains one of this country’s shining lights, all we have to do is focus on what is right with sport rather than what’s wrong. Fortunately there is much good happening to provide motivation and inspiration. But if T&T were not such a paradise it would be hell on earth. It would be remiss of me not to extend condolences to the family of former West Indies and T&T opening batsman Michael Joey Carew. If ever there was an example of a faithful servant to sport in T&T it would be Mr Carew. I am not sure this country understands or appreciates the depth and quality of his unselfish service to T&T. In many ways his passing is the end of an era. With money in sport now the main thing, what one can get out of sport rather than what one can give to sport is the main motivator for involvement in sport.

The time for those who do what they do simply for love of play—that era is fast ending. Mr Carew always had time for a word of advice, a wave or a smile, not much happening in local sport evaded his attention.
A regular at Sunday morning mass at St Theresa’s Church in Woodbrook, a Fatima college old boy, an unrepentant Woodbrook resident and Queen’s Park Cricket Club member. He will be missed in more ways than one. He was never afraid to call it as he saw it. Agreeing with him or not was not his issue. In these times of deceit and hidden agendas, we need more, not less, Joey Carews. May Michael Joey Carew rest in peace. To Mrs Carew and sons Michael junior and David, thank you for sharing him. Many take for granted the sacrifice families make when they allow the servants and stewards of T&T sport the space and time to serve.

Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee-www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

German lawyer Guenter Hirsch has resigned from FIFA's ethics commission in protest at what he claims is the governing body's failure to tackle alleged corruption.

The 67-year-old former president of Germany’s highest appeals court stated in a letter to ethics commission president Claudio Sulser that FIFA showed “no real interest” in trying to clean up aspects of the organisation.

“The events of the past few weeks have raised and strengthened the impression that responsible persons in FIFA have no real interest in playing an active role in resolving, punishing and avoiding violations against ethic regulations of FIFA,” Hirsch wrote in the letter, German agency DPA reported on Sunday.

FIFA's ethics panel investigated and suspended two of the body’s 24-member executive committee members, Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, ahead of last month’s vote to decide the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments. Russia won the 2018 tender while Qatar secured the right to stage the 2022 event.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister David Cameron complained on Sunday about the “murky” nature of football administration after claiming that he was personally lied to by FIFA executives when he lobbied for support for England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.

“We had a great bid - technically, I think, by far the best bid - and I think the presentation we made was compelling,” Cameron told the BBC. “I definitely had a number of those FIFA executives who looked me in the eye and shook my hand and said: ‘Don't worry, we're with you.' I'm afraid that the world of football governance is rather murky in that way.”

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

By Kern De Freitas

Master of ceremonies Tony Harford hailed him as an "unsung hero" as he approached the podium to collect the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee's (TTOC) Alexander B Chapman award for outstanding contribution to sport and Olympism last Wednesday.

Unassumingly, Rudolph Jack went onto the stage at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) to collect his prize, neatly garbed in a sleek cream suit, with striped grey shirt, topped off with a cream and black-striped broad-brim felt hat that oddly seemed to match his long beard and neatly tucked in dreadlocks.

He humbly accepted the award from TTOC patron, President George Maxwell Richards, later dedicating the accolade to the community of Train Line in Marabella.

It was the first time a rugby recipient had picked up a prestigious TTOC award and it was long welcome for the Battoo Boulevard resident and founder of the Marabella-based Rainbow Sports and Cultural Club, which he has been running for more than 25 years.

Jack's story does not paint the picture of a stereotypical ruggerman. But he is clearly passionate about the sport, having persevered despite the many difficulties he has faced in keeping the club afloat over the years, playing in Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) competitions.

And the success he has reaped in recent years is testimony to his determination and passion. His team has excelled in the rugby sevens format and they have challenged the top clubs in the TTRFU Toyota-sponsored Championship Division.

"The first person who really support (us) was Gerard Ferriera," Jack told the Express on Wednesday night, "and then he became San Fernando mayor and he helped me a lot to help keep my first team going. Then in 2006 and 2007 he was in the Sport Company (SPORTT), and from there my team rose."

The Tobago-born Rastafarian first got into rugby in the late 1970s through the invitation of members of the "All Blacks" rugby club and, initially, he did not want to play.

"But then after they gave me the ball and told me to get from one end of the field to the other end with them trying to stop me," Jack related, "and I just took the ball and keep taking my knee and bounce them on their shoulder and I get past."

After a second "audition", he was invited to play a match against Royalians and after that he was hooked.

Jack, and Rainbow, have seen many setbacks to get where the club is now.

He explained that in 1988 he was arrested, but it was faith in God that turned things around for him.

"I asked God if He take me out of that, I will spend the rest of my time assisting youths for them not to go down the (same) path," Jack explained.

"I'm stuck with this job and I know Jah going to help me through," he added emphatically.

But the reception Jack has gotten in seeking financial assistance for his club has hardly been inspiring. Apart from Ferreira and a few other Marabella businesses, he said the only positive response he gets is from foreign entities.

He chalks it up to being a "whole big political game".

Jack would have liked to see better results from his rugby teams last season, with divisions from Under-13 up to their senior squad. But their training ground, the Marabella Recreation Ground, was unavailable to them for some time.

"We had to travel to Port of Spain (to train). (But) by the assistance of Tracey Ceasar, he (joined forces) with the present San Fernando mayor (Marlene Coudray) and makeshift the ground so it eased up some of the travel expenses."

Right now, Jack is trying to prepare an Under-13 Rainbow team to go to Manchester, England. He is hoping the ground will be available to practice in mid-January, after heavy rains curtailed his plans.

But Jack's biggest hope for Rainbow rugby is the Olympic dream.

"Rugby is being introduced into the Olympics from 2016, so I'm hoping to produce most of the players who will be going to that tournament. That is my dream."