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Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games

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    sep.21.2008

    Eighty-six coaches and personal trainers attended the TTOC High Performance coaching seminar held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday.
    The seminar was facilitated by TTOC president Larry Romany who said that the interest shown by the coaches is evidence of their willingness to obtain sport science based information and desire for self improvement.
    "It is a clear sign that some of our local coaches recognize that if we want to create the environment locally for world class athlete development there is the need to understand basic sport science principles" said Romany.
    TTOC secretary general Brian Lewis however pointed out that even though the attendance was"excellent" not all TTOC affiliates were represented and that this remains a "worry" .
    But Romany is not unduly concerned as he says it is an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary process.
    "In 1997 some people wanted to run the TTOC out of town when we insisted that sport science application ,fitness standards and testing was an imperative and would form part of our Game selection criteria..The awareness has improved and I am very happy with the response.Progress is evident" added Romany.
    According to the local Olympic head the intention is to open up the seminars to the general public and interested persons .
    "We have a number of workshops and seminars planned as part of our coaching and knowledge development programme. We will make it inclusive rather than exclusive.In the past there have been complains that the NSOs are not widely circulating the information

     
    sep.22.2008

    For the man who won 13 Grand Slam singles titles, Roger Federer, winning an Olympic gold medal in Beijing helped him to forget a difficult first part of the year. On 16 August 2008, the Swiss tennis player added an Olympic gold medal to his collection by winning the men's doubles with Stanislas Wawrinka. “It's a magical moment. Something incredible in my career," said Federer. “It has definitively inspired me. It helped me to stay positive and be motivated for the US Open and not maybe be too disappointed.” Which turned out to be exactly right as, a few weeks later, Federer won his fifth consecutive US Open title.

    A dream-come-true-moment
    In 1992, at the age of 11, Federer watched Marc Rosset win a tennis gold medal at the Barcelona Games. This victory perhaps brought out this desire to take part in the Olympic tournament, which brought together the best players of the time. At his first Games, in Sydney in 2000, he missed the Olympic podium by one step, but met his girlfriend of eight years. Four years later, in Athens, he was the flag-bearer of the Swiss delegation, but exited the tournament prematurely. In 2008 in Beijing, he carried the Swiss flag for the second time while celebrating his 27th birthday. “To carry the flag is one of the achievements you only dream about. It was one of the great moments in my career,” said the man considered as the greatest player of all time, before adding, “The Olympic Games is like Wimbledon to me. It’s really a dream come true to be part of it, walking into the stadium at the Opening Ceremony”.
    One of the “Heroes” campaign
    Roger Federer is among the stars of the IOC campaign entitled “Heroes”, along with other legendary Olympic athletes including Yao Ming, Laure Manaudou, Liu Xiang, Yelena Isinbayeva, Kenenisa Bekele, Vanessa Ferrari and Carolina Kluft. All these athletes are superheroes seeking to achieve the seemingly impossible. “Heroes” leverages the determination and performance of Olympic athletes to communicate the key Olympic values. “Heroes” forms part of the IOC’s promotional campaign entitled “The Best of Us” - a simple, powerful idea that transcends cultures and borders, motivating young people around the world to participate in sport by proving that sport can bring out the best in them. The campaign was launched in 2007 and continues to run after the Beijing Games.

    sep.22.2008

    Last Friday the International Olympic Committee (IOC)  announced the composition of the Evaluation Commission which will visit the four Candidate Cities bidding to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

    The team will be headed by Nawal El Moutawakel, who chaired the Evaluation Commission for the 2012 Olympic Games bid process. Her team, composed of representatives from the Olympic Movement as well as a number of advisors, will analyse the candidature files of the four bidding cities - Chicago (USA), Tokyo (Japan), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Madrid (Spain) - due for submission to the IOC by 12 February 2009. The Commission will, in addition, make on-site inspections around the second quarter of 2009 before then issuing a comprehensive technical appraisal for IOC members one month before they elect the host city on 2 October 2009 during the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen. This appraisal, known as the IOC Evaluation Commission report, is also made available for the general public and other interested parties on www.olympic.org

    The composition of the Commission is as follows:
    Nawal El MOUTAWAKEL Chair of the 2016 Evaluation Commission
    IOC Executive Board Member MAR
    Gilbert FELLI Olympic Games Executive Director SUI
    Ching-Kuo WU IOC Member TPE
    Craig REEDIE IOC Member GBR
    Guy DRUT IOC Member FRA
    Mounir SABET IOC Member EGY
    Alexander POPOV IOC Member, Athletes’ Commission Representative RUS
    Els van BREDA VRIESMAN IOC Member, ASOIF Representative NED
    Gregory HARTUNG IPC Representative AUS

    The Commission will also comprise an ANOC representative, still to be appointed, and advisors.

    Commenting on the announcement, IOC President Jacques Rogge said: "The Evaluation Commission plays an important role in assessing the Candidate Cities' ability to host the Olympic Games. We have here a professional team with a wide range of knowledge and experience. I would like to thank Nawal El Moutawakel for accepting to lead it. Nawal did an excellent job as chairwoman of the Evaluation Commission of the 2012 Candidate Cities. As an Olympic champion, a newly elected member of the IOC Executive Board and Sports Minister in Morocco she will bring an invaluable contribution to the Commission."


    Commenting on her appointment, Nawal El Moutawakel said: ‘I feel privileged to chair for the second time an Evaluation Commission and am grateful to the IOC President for his trust and support. The team will have the complex and exciting task to evaluate the potential of four highly capable Candidate Cities. Our role will be to assess their technical capabilities in a transparent and neutral way in order to provide IOC members with the information they need to guide their choice on 2 October 2009. I rely on the valuable experience of my colleagues and look forward to taking on this challenge.”

    [1] Cities are listed in the order of drawing of lots.


    Note: Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, Nawal El Moutawakel was the first Moroccan athlete to win a gold medal. Her outstanding sporting career and her dedication to sport led her to become a member of the IAAF Council in 1995; Secretary of State, responsible for Youth and Sport, to the Minister of Social Affairs in Morocco in 1997 and Minister of Sports in 2007. She has been an IOC member since 1998 and was elected member of the IOC Executive Board this summer in Beijing.


    sep.26.2008

    Almost exactly one month after the Olympic Games ended in Beijing, and a week after the Paralympic Games, Asia is offering another chance to promote Olympic education and values through sport, with the 6th World Forum on Sport, Education and Culture taking place from yesterday until 27 September in the Korean city of Busan. Organised jointly by the IOC and the city of Busan, in partnership with the Korean Olympic Committee and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Forum has brought together more than 800 representatives of the Olympic family, governmental and non-governmental organisations, United Nations agencies, universities and the media.

    Focus on young people
    Speaking on behalf of the IOC President at the opening ceremony, IOC First Vice-President Lambis V. Nikolaou recalled that “these exceptional Games [in Beijing] enabled one-fifth of humanity to come into contact with the values of Olympism, and allowed the world to discover a country with a unique history and culture. These Games left a fantastic legacy – including in education – to China. For this reason, the theme of this 6th Forum, ‘sport and education for the now generation’, is highly topical. The mission of our Movement is certainly to develop sports practice, but we also have a duty to educate and promote values such as respect, tolerance and solidarity.”

    A new generation, new methods
    Lambis V. Nikolaou then explained how, in today’s world, the practice of sport and mentalities have changed. As a result, he stressed, “to get this new generation back onto the field of play, and to reach out to it, we have to communicate differently, using new methods, such as the Youth Olympic Games, the first summer edition of which will be held in 2010 in Singapore; the Olympic Values Education Programme; or the ‘Best of Us’ promotional campaign; the ‘Heroes’ public service announcement; and ‘Olympic Express’, the first e-journal on the Games aimed at young people all over the world.” He then referred to the activities of the IOC Medical and Athletes commissions, not forgetting the education programmes put in place by Olympic host cities such as Beijing, Vancouver, London and Sochi, and the inclusion of Olympism and youth as a theme for the Olympic Congress in 2009.

    Tribute to Zhenliang He
    The Opening Ceremony was also an opportunity to pay tribute to the man who, for more than 10 years, has worked tirelessly for the defence and promotion of the Olympic ideal from sporting and cultural points of view, assuming the chairmanship of the Cultural Commission then the Commission for Culture and Olympic Education. Zhenliang He has devoted virtually his whole life to the Olympic Movement and the principles it stands for. With his Commission colleagues, he has worked untiringly to make education and culture a priority in the Olympic Movement’s agenda, thus continuing along the path laid by the IOC founder, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. This tribute was paid in Busan, where Zhenliang He is taking part in his last world conference as Chairman of the Commission for Culture and Olympic Education.


     
    sep.27.2008

    Fourteen athletes will represent Trinidad and Tobago at the country’s first showing at the Commonwealth Youth Games (Pune, India).

    This 3rd edition of the Games offers 9 sports and allows for athletes 18 years and under. Trinidad and Tobago will be represented in 5: Badminton, Boxing, Table Tennis, Tennis and Swimming.

    The team of 14 athletes and supporting coaches, managers and medical team depart from Piarco on Wednesday 8th October and arrive in India three days prior to the October 12th Opening Ceremony.

    The team’s involvement in the seven day multisport event is under the auspices of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee / Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association.

    TTOC Honorary Secretary General Brian Lewis further explains: “Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in the Commonwealth Youth Games Pune 2008 is a development effort and is being facilitated by the TTOC Olympic Academy, Education and Culture Commission (OAEC) or the TTOC Olympic Academy, as it is more popularly known.”

    “The work of the Academy is in accordance with Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s vision of the Olympic Movement as an educational movement for young people worldwide. We are facilitating our youth athletes with the opportunity to interact with others from 70 Commonwealth countries. By bringing together young people from different sports and socio economic experiences, the Olympic values of mutual understanding, joy found in effort, tolerance and fairplay become a reality.”

    Below is a list of the team athletes and officials:

    Badminton

    Official Daron Dascent Manager/Coach

    Athletes :Keston Friday Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles

    Alistair Espinoza Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles

    Deron Seepaul Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles

    Boxing

    Officials Vicente Martinez Head coach

    Deopersad Ramoutar Second and Manager

    Athlete :Bryan George Light-welter (64kgs) division

    Table Tennis

    Official Vasdev Bob Roopnarine Manager / Coach

    Athletes :Kyle Borneo Men Singles

    Avernelle Abraham Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles

    Ashley Quamina Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles

    Tennis

    Official Ann Griffith Manager

    Athletes :Lendl Smith Men’s Singles

    Olivia Bennett Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles

    Carlista Mohammed Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles

    Swimming

    Official Shawn Pouchet Manager/Coach

    Athletes :Cadell Lyons 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly,

    100m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle,

    200m Freestyle

    Caryle Blondell 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle

    Joshua Mc Leod 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly

    50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle

    Cherelle Thompson 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle

    Medical

    Dr Zynul Khan Doctor

    David Cumberbatch Massage therapist

    Zephyrinus Nicholas Massage therapist

    Chef de Mission:Tanya Western

    Competition Dates

    Tentative competition schedules are attached.

    Opening Ceremony 12th October

    Tennis 12th – 18th October

    Badminton 13th – 17th October

    Table Tennis 13th – 17th October

    Boxing 14th – 17th October

    Swimming 15th – 17th October

    Closing ceremony 18th October

    sep.28.2008

    Team T&T will be cheered on by students of the Alphonsa High School during the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India.

    This support comes as a result of the “Bond Forever” initiative of CYG Pune 2008 (Games Organizing Committee). In an effort to make the Games as participatory as possible, educational institutions in Pune were invited to be part of the Games. “The children of Pune would be the best ambassadors for the city and the Games … Bond Forever will make young athletes from around the world feel comfortable in our city as they are welcomed by their young counterparts from the schools of Pune,” explains the website.

    Each school selected a participating country as a partner nation and has studied its location, culture, customs, traditions, cuisine, language, history etc. as a learning project. Trinidad and Tobago was selected by the Alphonsa High School. The school’s project on T&T is posted on the www.cygpune2008.in/school-programme website.

    “The school project, their letters to Games Mascot Jigrr, and Green Games themed artwork highlight that sport, culture, education, environment awareness and art are alive at Alphonsa High School. These 5 areas are the pillars of Olympism and tie into the initiatives of the TTOC Olympic Academy,” commented Team Leader Tanya Western. The team of 24 travels to India under the auspices of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee / Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association.

    “The programme aims to help forge long lasting bonds of friendship and support between the youth of the Commonwealth, ultimately bringing the countries of the world closer together. We appreciate the efforts of the pupils and staff of Alphonsa High School and look forward to their support during competition. After competing in this 3rd edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games, we will pay a courtesy visit to the school,” added Western.

    During October, the Indian schools will participate in a float parade depicting their chosen country so that other students and citizens of Pune will be aware of the participating countries. Additionally, a school programme for environmental awareness was introduced. Participating schools will be evaluated on their eco friendly measures, and based on this the CYG Pune 2008 Green School Award will be presented.

    CYG Pune 2008 believes that education, in the real sense, is developing the spirit of sportsmanship and the forthcoming Games is the apt opportunity to develop and enhance this spirit amongst our youth today.


    sep.29.2008

    Members of the Trinidad and Tobago team for III Commonwealth Youth Games paid a courtesy call to High Commissioner of the Republic of India Jagit Singh Sapra last week (Friday 26th September 2008).
    Swimmers Cadell Lyons and Joshua McLeod presented His Excellency with a token of appreciation for his guidance and offer to assist the team should any immigration issues arise.
    His Excellency provided tremendous insight into the culture, traditions and climate of Pune – his birthplace. Pune is renowned for hosting several world class events, including India’s oldest Marathon. World class sports facilities, modern infrastructure, excellent connectivity by multiple means of transport and a rich cultural heritage coupled with a healthy climate, vouch for Pune’s candidature as the host city for the III Commonwealth Youth Games 2008.
    It is the FIRST time that the Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Asia. The Inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 10th to 14th August 2000. The II Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Bendigo, Australia from 30th November to 3rd December 2004.
    The III Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Pune from the 12th to 18th October 2008. Over 1,300 athletes and 350 officials from 71 countries will participate in these games in 9 disciplines. Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling are included in this edition of the Games.
    The Commonwealth Youth Games are an extremely significant event for India as they will form the back-bone for her quest for maximum medals in the Delhi 2010 Games. The Youth Games will also serve to identify India’s medal winning potential athletes for the Asian Games 2014 and the Olympic Games 2016. The Youth Games are a run up and a trial event to the Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held in Delhi.
    NOTE FOR THE EDITOR:

    Team Leader Tanya Western will provide team updates to the media during the competition and can be reached at 735-3562 or tanyawestern@hotmail.com

    oct.03.2008

    The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) wishes to extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of 2004 Athens Olympian Lejuan Simon.
    The untimely passing of a talented athlete and a warm and generous human being in what can be considered the prime of his life is profundly sad.
    Simon,,27, on the occasions that he represented T&T under the auspices of the TTOC displayed all the attributes of the Olympic spirit.
    In addition to the 2004 Athen Summer Olympic Games ,Simon finished fifth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

    oct.04.2008

    Without a proper nutritional plan a well put together training programme will not deliver anticipated rewards.

    Eating to win is a detail that cannot be overlooked.

    TTOC president Larry Romany will address nutrition and its role in high performance sport next as his High Performance lecture series continues on Saturday 18th October at the Hasely Crawford,VIP Lounge from 10am.


    Following a well attended Coaching for Performance first lecture .The venue shifts to San Fernando and Tobago .

    On Saturday 11 October at Shaw Park Tobago another Coaching for Performance lecture will take place and on Sunday 12 October the lecture series will shift to Mannie Ramjohn Stadium ,Marabella,San Fernando.
     

    oct.06.2008

    Saturday wear red as a show of solidarity with the T&T national football and rugby teams both of whom will be engaging in crucial World Cup fixtures.

    That is the call TTRFU president Leslie Figaro is making to nationals of the twin Island Republic.

     "T&T will be playing Brazil in the Rugby World Cup at the Larry Gomes Stadium and the Soca Warriors will be taking on Guatemala over in Guatemala both games will be played on Saturday.It would be great if the country could show support by wearing red on Saturday.These things go a long way in raising the morale of our national teams and sending a positive and patriotic vibes" said Figaro
    Figaro is not deterred by the fact that the Soca Warriors encounter will over shadow the T&T V Brazil rugby game.

     "Just as the football team is on a mission so to the rugby team.Brazil is coming with a purpose and we have to rise to the occasion and the challenge.Regardless of how much or how little support.Both Red (Football and Rugby)Warriors have to be ready for battle"

     Figaro believes that the stage is set for an exciting Sporting Saturday in T&T

     
    oct.12.2008

    Day 1 of the III Commonwealth Youth Games saw play in only the sport of tennis, with no action for the T&T team. All three T&T athletes are seeded in the singles tournament, and therefore were awarded byes in round one of these events.

    Round 2 of the female singles events start off on Monday 13th with Trini Carlista Mohammed (seeded at #11) playing against Matola of the Maldives .

    Team flag bearer Olivia Bennett (seeded number 14) faces her first opponent Brown of the Cook Islands the same morning.

    Their male counterpart Lendl Smith is seeded at 15 of the boys singles and starts play in round 2 of his event against M. Charmicael of Mozambique . Smith’s first match will be on Tuesday.

    Boxer Bryan George is in the ring tomorrow morning fighting an Australian as his first opponent in the 64kg weight category. George was the first of the T&T athletes to arrive in India , along with his team manager Deopersad Ramoutar. They have since been joined by boxing coach Vicente Martinez.

    Action on the Badminton court starts tomorrow afternoon. Alistair Espinoza goes straight into round 2 against Scotsman van Rietvelde. His team mate Keston Friday also commences competition in round 2 against the winner of an earlier match. Deron Seepaul joins the competition later this week, partnering with Friday in the doubles event.

    At the Table Tennis arena, T&T athletes face two competitors each in the singles events. Kyle Borneo plays Dodd (GGY) and Ugandian Sekyanzi. Female player Ashley Quashie competes against Stevenson of Australia and Hunt of the Cook Islands . Avernelle Abraham vies against Tommy of Vanuatu and Hsein of Canada.

    Swimmers Cherelle Thompson, Caryle Blondell, Cadell Lyons and Joshua McLeod continue their twice a day training regime under the guidance of coach Shawn Pouchet. The swim competition starts on Wednesday – day 4 of the Games.

    Bryan George shadow boxing in pre competition preparation phase Olivia Bennett chats with south african tennis players during day 2 of tennis action
    Carlista Mohammed stretching before her first singles match at CYG 2008 TNT boxer Bryan George at Commonwealth Youth Games Pune 2008

    oct.14.2008

    The T&T table tennis duo of Avernelle Abraham and Ashley Quashie faced stiff competition in the girls doubles. The partnership played three games in the round robin first round.

    Vs Australia (Lily Phan and Melissa Tapper), the T&T duo lost 0-3 (8-11, 9-11, 9-11). “It was a close game which could have gone either way,” commented Vasdev Bob Roopnarine team manager for table tennis.

    Vs Vanuatu (Priscilla Tommy and Stephanie Qwen), the loss was 0-3 (9-11, 8-11, 12-12). “It was another close game that just did not go T&T’s way,” said Roopnarine.

    Vs India (Pooja Sabarabudha and Divya Deshpande), the results were 0-3 (3-11, 7-11, 6-11). “The girls were outplayed by a pair who co-ordinated better and were faster to offense,” noted Roopnarine.

    Kyle Borneo lost to Xue Jie Pang of Singapore (0-3) 3-11, 6-11, 4-11. This was the final of his three round robin games. He won the previous two. Borneo continued his confident and focused playing in the next round against Sahanka Ganegodage of Sri Lanka , eventually conceding to the Sri Lankan (4-3).

    The T&T swim team takes to the main pool Wednesday morning in the heats of the 50m butterfly. Swimmer Cadell Lyons and Joshua McLeod are ranked 5th and 6th in the line up against a field of 32. McLeod swims in lane 5 of heat 2, and Lyons competes in the same lane during heat 3. The fastest 8 will proceed to the finals later on Wednesday evening. The main goal for both athletes is to make the finals and do their personal best.

    On the tennis court Lendl Smith beat Miguel Charmicael of Mozambique (6-3, 6-2). In the doubles event Carlista Mohammed and Olivia Bennett were defeated in a three set match against Kim & Steffi Carruthers. All three players continue in the 3rd round of their respective single events tomorrow (Wednesday).

    The T&T doubles partnership of Keston Friday and Deron Seepaul got a bye in the first round of the competition. During their first showing at the badminton arena at the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Friday/Seepaul team was defeated by Ow and Yew of Malaysia.

     
    oct.15.2008

    Joshua McLeod and Cadell Lyons returned to the pool shortly after 6pm this evening for the finals of the 50m butterfly event at the III Commonwealth Youth Games. There was tremendous excitement in the Trinidad and Tobago camp as Lyons and McLeod were the first of the team to reach finals at the Games in Pune , India .

    Th e new games record of 24:25 was set by Indian swimmer Dhaval Khade Vir. Our boys placed 6th and 7th in the event: McLeod (25:52) and Lyons (25:57).

    The aquatic action continues tomorrow with Caryle Blondell seeded #11 and McLeod seeded #16 in the 100 m free heats. In the pool for the 1st time tomorrow is Cherelle Thompson in her 100 free event heat, followed by 100m fly performances from Lyons and McLeod. The strategy remains the same to treat the heats as a final aiming for personal best

     
    oct.16.2008

    Cadell Lyons is on the start list for the finals of the 100m fly this evening, just after 6pm Pune time. Lyons swam his second fastest time ever (56:98) in the heat this morning. Lyons holds the national 100m fly record of 56:85.

    Joshua McLeod swam a fast race, however was disqualified for staying underwater beyond the 15m mark.

    The swim times in today’s heats of the 100m fly finalists are listed below:
     
    Staples Lachlan Australia 55:27 New PB
    Vir Dhaval Khade India 55:67 PB: 55:96
    Napoleon Ryan Australia 56:16 PB: 55:68
    Aaron D’Souza India 56:50 New PB
    Cadell Lyons TNT 56:98 PB & NR: 56:85
    Scott Daniel Scotland 57:08 PB: 54:66
    Matulovich Kristopher Paul South Africa 57:23 PB: 55:40
    Johnston Ewan Scotland 57:51 PB: 55:68

    In the 100m free, Caryle Blondell swam 10th fastest of the heats in a time of 53:40. This is Blondell’s third fastest event time. McLeod swam the same event in 55.98. The speeds of the eight finalists range from 50:65 to 53:21. George Bovell’s national record is 52:28.

    Solo female Cherelle Thompson swam the 100m free in a time of 1.01:59. The slowest finalist swam 59:59. Thompson continues her efforts in the 50m free tomorrow morning.
     
    Cherelle Thompson in holding bay prior to Opening of CYG Pune 2008 - 12 October 2008 Joshua McLeod - all smiles after swimming new personal 2551 record in 50m Fly at CYG Pune India 15 October 2008
    Swim manager & coach Shawn Pouchet sporting traditional Pune welcome headwear at CYG Welcoming Ceremony 11 October 2008 Swimmer Cherelle Thompson supporting Badminton doubles pair Keston Friday & Deron Seepaul (in white)

     
    oct.16.2008

    This morning’s swim brought a new personal record time of 25:51 for Joshua McLeod in the 50m butterfly. His previous best in this event was 25:59. McLeod was all smiles after the event, even before realizing that his new record also qualified him as the 5th fastest swimmer into the finals. In McLeod’s heat #2, lane 5 swim, he placed second to Australian Barrett Thomas.

    50m fly National Record holder Cadell Lyons also swam in lane 5 but during heat #3. His 25.52 result places him 6th going into the finals. The Lyons national record of 25.43 would have placed him 5th overall in the heats. Lyons also raced in the 100m backstroke. His time was 1:08:47, 7th in his heat.

    The top 8 times from a field of 32 swimmers proceed to the 50m fly finals later on today. Four swimmers including McLeod are going into the 50m fly finals with new personal bests. The fastest time (24:69) this morning was by Scotsman Scott Daniel. The slowest finalist (25:73) was Conor Leanley of Northern Ireland . A time difference of just over 1 second. World record is 23:30 and Commonwealth Youth Games record is 24:66.

    The trini swimmers are having complete rest prior to the start of the swimming finals scheduled for 5:00pm in Pune , India (approx 7:30am T&T time). Their race will be 5th to start.

    The swim times of all 50m finalists are listed below:
     
    Scott Daniel Scotland 24.69 New PB
    Barrett Thomas Australia 24.78 New PB
    Staples Lachlan Australia 24.93 New PB
    Veer Dhaval Khade India 24.94 PB: 24:78
    Joshua McLeod TNT 25.51 New PB
    Cadell Lyons TNT 25.52 PB & NR: 25.43
    Matulovich Kristopher Paul South Africa 25.53 PB: 25:15
    Conor Leaney Northern Ireland 25.73 PB: 25:21

    oct.17.2008

    T&T's  Cadell Lyons swam his 3rd fastest time in the 100m fly clocking 57:06. This time places him as the 7th fastest 100m fly youth swimmer in the 71 country Commonwealth grouping. Lyons personal best of 56:85 was at the 2008 Caribbean Islands Swimming Championship (CISC), and his second fastest time (56:98) was during his heat earlier in the competition.
    “At tonight’s team officials meeting, we discussed which three athletes will officially represent Trinidad and Tobago in the highly anticipated closing ceremony on Saturday 18th October. Cadell is being considered as one of the three athletes because of his participation in two final events – the 50m fly and the 100m fly,” revealed TT Chef de Mission Tanya Western.
    “With all other competition for T&T now complete, the entire T&T team is supporting our swimming athletes in full force. We are all sharing and celebrating the successes of Cadell and Joshua Lyons, with his improved time in the 50m fly,” Western added.
    Tomorrow Trinidad and Tobago enters its final day of competition with Cherelle Thompson in the 50m free and male representation in the 200m free; 100m free and 50m free.



    Day 5 of Commonwealth Youth Games – 16th October, 4:00pm, Pune



    Cadell Lyons is on the start list for the finals of the 100m fly this evening, just after 6pm Pune time. Lyons swam his second fastest time ever (56:98) in the heat this morning. Lyons holds the national 100m fly record of 56:85.



    Joshua McLeod swam a fast race, however was disqualified for staying underwater beyond the 15m mark.



    The swim times in today’s heats of the 100m fly finalists are listed below:



    Staples Lachlan Australia 55:27 New PB

    Vir Dhaval Khade India 55:67 PB: 55:96

    Napoleon Ryan Australia 56:16 PB: 55:68

    Aaron D’Souza India 56:50 New PB

    Cadell Lyons TNT 56:98 PB & NR: 56:85

    Scott Daniel Scotland 57:08 PB: 54:66

    Matulovich Kristopher Paul South Africa 57:23 PB: 55:40

    Johnston Ewan Scotland 57:51 PB: 55:68



    In the 100m free, Caryle Blondell swam 10th fastest of the heats in a time of 53:40. This is Blondell’s third fastest event time. McLeod swam the same event in 55.98. The speeds of the eight finalists range from 50:65 to 53:21. George Bovell’s national record is 52:28.



    Solo female Cherelle Thompson swam the 100m free in a time of 1.01:59. The slowest finalist swam 59:59. Thompson continues her efforts in the 50m free tomorrow morning.


     
    oct.18.2008

    Australia stars Matt Giteau and Lote Tuqiri have joined the push for Rugby to rejoin the Olympic Games in 2016.

    The pair, who played alongside another Wallaby Chris Latham for Australia Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, threw their support behind Rugby Sevens' Olympic push while speaking ahead of the Wallabies' upcoming Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong and ensuing tour of the northern hemisphere.

    “You look at the Olympic Games as being the pinnacle of sport around the world,” said Giteau.

    “For sports such as Athletics, Basketball, Gymnastics and Swimming, they all see the Games as their pinnacle, why not for Rugby Sevens? To be able to compete at an Olympics would be an amazing experience.”

    The Wallabies are set to play a special test against the Barbarians at Wembley on 2 December to commemorate 100 years since Australia won Rugby Gold in the 1908 London Olympics and for Giteau and his team mates the occasion represents a golden opportunity to show their support of Rugby’s Olympic drive.

    “For the Olympics you would see each country select their best players and it would be incredibly competitive. You could see eight countries really pushing for the gold, which would be awesome. If you look at most sports there are probably only two or three countries that are capable of achieving that.”

    Giteau’s Wallaby team mate Lote Tuqiri also believes Rugby Sevens would be a perfect fit for the Games, bringing a young vibrant audience, an international flavour and a full stadium to the party.

    “It would be sensational for Sevens to be in the Olympics. You just have to see how big the Games are to see that. The atmosphere at the Commonwealths was superb and to be able to mix with world class athletes from other sports at the Olympics would be special.”

    “If Rugby got a chance then you will find that everyone will be putting their hands up for selection. Good luck to the IRB and the Unions around the world, we as players will be backing the campaign.”

    It is not just the Rugby stars who are backing the Olympic campaign. Libby Trickett, the 100m butterfly gold medallist in Beijing also believes that Rugby Sevens could enhance the Olympic spectacle.

    "It would be great (to have rugby at the Olympics), swimming obviously has a very proud history at the Olympics and rugby has such a great history in Australia," the five-time Olympic medallist said.

    "I think it would be a great fit and it would be wonderful for them to represent their country at the Olympics."

    Rugby will compete against baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, squash, and softball when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) votes in October next year on whether to add up to two sports to the Olympic schedule.

     
     
    oct.20.2008

    The TTOC Sports Nutrition seminar, held on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium,VIP lounge had over 50 participants made up of coaches, parents, athletes, sport administrators, personal trainers and gym instructors.
     
    The seminar conducted by TTOC President, Larry Romany, sought to bring the necessary awareness and information about sports nutrition to key stakeholders involved in sport in general.
     
    Romany said he was pleased with the enthusiasm and interest shown as nutrition is a vital factor in achieving excellence and enjoyment.
     
    "It is important that those involved with youth and women’s sports in particular, have the sport science based principles of nutrition at their disposal. The enjoyment and benefits that can be derived from sport participation cannot be achieved with poor nutrition."
     
    The TTOC chief believes that the national Olympic Committee is on the right path with its focus on education and awareness

    oct.24.2008

    The IOC says the 66-year-old Belgian sent a letter to members on Friday confirming his decision to stand for re-election in October 2009.

    Rogge has been president since 2001 and is eligible for a second four-year term to keep him in office until 2013.

    With no other candidates expected to stand for election, Rogge is likely to be re-elected unopposed.

    Rogge succeeded the Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch, who had been at the helm since 1980.

    He oversaw the success that was Sydney 2000, and was in full control for Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

    Another four-year term would see Rogge installed as IOC chief for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and the 2012 Olympics in London.