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    Feb.26.2010

    The TTOC Sponsorship workship gets underway today(Friday) at the Cascadia Hotel at 5pm and continues on Saturday and Sunday at the same venue starting at 9am.

    Key issues impacting on the global sports marketing sector will be discussed. These issues are engaging the attention of some of the world's major sport rights-holders such as IOC,FIFA,IAAF,NBA and UEFA to name a few.

    Questions such as the impact of new media,obesity,the youth market and a waning lack of interest in sport. The role of potential sponsors and sponsors in the fast food , alcohol and tobacco industries.What impact do these issues have on the marketing and sponsor strategies of Sport Organisations? How do they shape the development of sponsorship programmes?

    The TTOC inaugural sport sponsorship work shop will address these issues and more in an effort to provide local sport decision makers with the tools and principles required to successfully develop a local sport sponsorship market.
    German sport marketing expert Christopher Weck will facilitate the historic workshop.


    Feb.28.2010

    Rugby Sevens may not enter the Olympic Games until 2016, but Canadian flyer Heather Moyse already has a gold medal to her name after teaming up with driver Kaillie Humphries to win the two-man bobsleigh in Vancouver on Wednesday night.

    The Canadian pair led from the outset, breaking the track record at the Whistler Sliding Centre in the first three heats and then posting the second fastest run for a combined time of three minutes 32.28 seconds.

    This was enough to give them the gold medal by 0.85 seconds from fellow Canadians Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown, with Erin Pac and Elana Meyers claiming the bronze medal for USA to give North America a clean sweep of the podium.

    The success - Canada's first medal in the event - banishes the disappointment of 2006 when Moyse, then only a few months into her bobsleigh career, acted as brakeman for Upperton and the pair missed out on the bronze medal by five hundredths of a second in Turin.

    Later that year Moyse was back on the rugby pitch at the Women's Rugby World Cup and proving one of the stars as Canada finished fourth on home soil in Edmonton behind three-time champions New Zealand, England and France.

    Moyse ended the tournament as the leading try scorer with seven in five matches and is now set to turn her attention back to rugby and making the Canada squad for Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 in England from 20 August to 5 September.
    Source: www.irb.com


    Feb.28.2010

    Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football (TTRFU) president Leslie Figaro has extended congratulations to Heather Moyse Canada's dual national sport athlete in bobsleigh and rugby on her Gold medal for Canada in the two woman bobsleigh event at the Vancouver Olympic Games.Figaro said that Moyse made many life long friends during her three year stay in T&T.

    " Heather was very involved in rugby here. She played with Caribs Rugby Club. She helped the TTRFU with coaching and the efforts to develop women's rugby. She is a wonderful person. Her determination to compete at the international level in two demanding sports is an inspiration ." said Figaro
    In 2001, Heather was selected to serve as a Disability Sports Program Officer with Commonwealth Games Canada in Trinidad and Tobago. She developed and established a camp for children who are deaf or hearing-impaired from islands across the Caribbean called Camp ABLE (Active Bodies, Leadership, and Esteem). Following her three year stay she returned to Canada to do her Masters in Occupational Therapy, she has continued to serve as a Member-at-Large for Commonwealth Games Canada with an avid interest in international development through sport.

    On her website www.heathermoyse.net Moyse said she went to Trinidad and Tobago as a Disability Sports Program Officer through the internship with Commonwealth Games Canada, using sport as a medium for development. Where she worked with the Special Education Unit, Ministry of Education to develop and implement sporting programs/events for students with various disabilities. Planned and held a workshop for teachers of “Special” schools, as well as a seminar for the Physical Training Instructors for the National Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago on movement analysis and adaptation to sport. Founded, organized, established, and directed Camp ABLE (Active Bodies, Leadership & Esteem): a sports leadership development camp for hearing-impaired teenaged students from various Caribbean countries.

    Worked as a consultant for the Trinidad and Tobago Chapter of Disabled Peoples’ International, preparing and presenting a proposal to the Government to implement an incentive system for public transportation for wheelchair users.

    "It is really this line of work about which I am truly passionate. I believe that sport is a wonderful medium for development – individual development, group development, community development, and national and international development. Lessons can be learned, eyes can be opened, and barriers can be overcome – it can be a better world because of sport" said Moyse


    Mar.04.2010


    The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee inaugural sport sponsorship workshop and forum held last weekend  at the Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s, was labeled “very informative”.

    The sport sponsorship workshop geared at providing local sport decision makers with the tools and principles required to successfully develop a local sport sponsorship market was well received.

    “We were already aware of the pre-modern ways of marketing and sponsorship but this seminar was very informative,” said one participant.

    “It also made us aware of the formalities in requesting sponsorship which I believe should definitely help sporting organizations,” added another participant following the seminar.

    The workshop attracted 70 participants and was facilitated by German sport marketing expert Christopher Weck and dealt with key topics in principles of sponsorship and client service.

    Issues impacting on the global sports marketing sector, engaging the attention of some of the world's major sport rights-holders such as IOC, FIFA, IAAF, NBA and UEFA to name a few was also discussed.

    Among the participants were recently retired T&T track and field star Candice Scott, Secretary General of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee Keith Joseph and Glynice Clark of the Barbados National Olympic Committee.

    Seventeen of the 30 plus National Sporting Organizations (NSOs) affiliated to the TTOC were represented, which included Hockey, Track and Field, Rowing, Triathlon, Rugby, Swimming to name a few.


    Mar.08.2010

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the winner of the Youth Olympic Games Medal Design Competition as Setsuko Fukuzawa, from Montreal, Canada, with her design entitled “Yes, Youth Can”. The design will be used to inspire the obverse of the Singapore 2010 medals which will be awarded to the winning athletes from 14 to 26 August 2010.
    Setsuko’s design is a contemporary representation of the winged Greek goddess of victory, Nike. The “Y” design symbolises this and also the youthfulness of the Youth Olympic Games. The design includes the Olympic emblem, the rings, to empower athletes to participate and celebrate, and the flame detail reflects both the cheering wave of supporters and the spirit of an athlete.
    Setsuko Fukuzawa commented on her design: “I wanted the design to be very clean and modern; for me this means simplicity to deliver a clear message. ‘Yes, Youth Can’ represents every young athlete in a victory stand, celebrating.
    Simple, but powerful.”
    She continued: “It reflects the participants at the Youth Olympic Games: they will face challenges, believe in themselves and go beyond their limits. I wanted to design something that would make winners of this medal remember and feel the moment they won it. I hope that, from my design, people can feel the energy and excitement.”
    Singapore 2010 Organising Committee Chairman, Ser Miang Ng said: “Ms Setsuko Fukuzawa's ingenious design will harmonise well with the creative design that will be developed on the reverse of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic
    Games medals, as we will be taking inspiration from what is representative of Singapore as a young and vibrant nation, as well as the Singapore 2010 ‘Spirit of Youth’ emblem. Our heartiest congratulations go to Ms Setsuko, and we look forward to welcoming her and the rest of the world to Singapore for a memorable Youth Olympic Games experience in August.”
    Gilbert Felli, Olympic Games Executive Director, said: “This competition has been a great success. We have received entries from 34 countries whilst engaging with the public through our social media channels. Congratulations to our winner and to all the competition entrants who have contributed to the first Youth Olympic Games. I am looking forward to seeing the medal awarded to the YOG athletes in Singapore this summer!”
    From the public voting round, “Yes Youth Can” received 3,881 votes, which took the entry through to the shortlisted 10 Medal Design Competition finalists. The second round of judging was by an IOC jury, which selected Setsuko’s design as the overall winner.
    The design can be seen on www.medaldesigncompetition.com.  
    # # #
    For more information, please contact the IOC Communications Department:
    Tel: +41 21 621 60 00, e-mail: pressoffice@olympic.org,  or visit our web site at www.olympic.org

    Photos
    For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr
    To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org

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    Mar.15.2010

    “Happiness is not found in a gold medal!” These were the words of secretary general of the T&T Olympic Committee, Brian Lewis, as he delivered the feature address at the 2009/2010 T&T Amateur Boxing Association (TTABA) awards, held on Saturday at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Speaking as the TTOC secretary rather than in his capacity as chairman of the T&T Boxing Board of Control, Lewis said the TTOC has always supported amateur boxing, even when it was considered a black sheep among sports in T&T.
    The TTOC secretary believes that if sport was taken serious, the country would not have some of the issues it faces. All of us involved in sport know that regardless of what we do in the ring, when we leave it is finished.” Lewis urged the youths present to be the best that they can be and always strive for excellence, “The future of this country is no longer in the hands of us adults. The future of this country is in the hands of you young people.”
    Also in attendance was Sport Company of T&T (SPORTT) representative, Charles Branche, who asked the Association to support SPORTT as they have supported the association in the past. He also challenged President of the TTABA to expand the association’s grassroots programme, to other parts of the country, while promising to continue providing financial support for the venture.
    Source: www.guardian.co.tt written by Shari John


    Mar.17.2010

    The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) has selected Kwanieze John as Trinidad and Tobago's young ambassador for the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore this August.
    The Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the first new event launched by the IOC since the 1924 introduction of the Winter Games, will focus on balancing sport, culture and education.
    Thirty (30) out of the International Olympic committee (IOC) 205 member National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were selected to participate in the historic Program. The TTOC is one of five chosen from the PASO region.
    Kwanieze John, a first year student of the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the 2007 TTRFU female rugby player of the year received her letter of appointment in February from the TTOC president Larry Romany.
    "I am very excited about the opportunity and looking forward to building awareness and sharing information with the youth of T&T about the Youth Olympic Games and Olympism. I am looking forward to representing my country and the T&T Olympic Movement to the best of my ability." said Kwanieze.
    Commenting on Kwanieze’s selection the National Olympic Committee chief said the process was intense as the shortlisted candidates all had extensive experience and involvement in TTOC Olympic Youth Camp and Academy activities.
    "Kwanieze is very involved in youth development work as a volunteer. She is a national level athlete and her passion for sport will serve her well “said Romany.
    More about the Youth Olympic Games visit www.ttoc.org


    Mar.29.2010

    Larry Romany, president of the T&Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (T&TCGA) has informed the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) that T&T will not submit a bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The deadline date for confirming an intention to bid is on Wednesday.
    The T&TCGA and the Government of T&T conducted a full review, open, constructive and candid discussions in respect of all the current and projected circumstances and concluded that progressing a 2018 bid at this time is not a prudent or responsible course of action.
    “Arriving at this point demanded balancing aspirations, ambitions, practical and pragmatic considerations. “We wish the other potential 2018 candidates best of luck,” said T&TCGA and T&TOC president Romany.


    Apr.06.2010

    Two cities have submitted a formal nomination to the Commonwealth Games Federation to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

    The Gold Coast in Australia and the Sri Lankan city of Hambantota met the CGF’s deadline of March 31 to nominate as a candidate city.

    Each will now build their candidature in the hope of being selected as the 2018 host city by the CGF General Assembly, consisting of representatives of all 71 member nations and territories, when it meets in St Kitts and Nevis in October, 2011.

    Commonwealth Games Federation President, Mike Fennell, is delighted that cities from two different Commonwealth regions have put themselves forward to host the 2018 Games.

    “It is most pleasing to have two cities from different regions of the Commonwealth vying for the right to host the 2018 Games,” Mr Fennell said.

    “We have India hosting the Games for the first time in 2010, Glasgow already selected for the 2014 Games as a European host, and now we know we will be in either the Oceania or Asia region for the 2018 edition.

    “Each city has recognized the enormous benefits that flow from hosting a Commonwealth Games. A successful bid provides an opportunity to provide a legacy for future generations.

    “I am confident that each city will put forward a strong case for selection.

    “The Commonwealth Games Federation thanks both the Gold Coast and Hambantota for their interest and commitment, and we certainly wish them the best as they try to win the prize of hosting the 21st Commonwealth Games.”

    Trinidad and Tobago,Auckland -New Zealand and Abuja-Nigeria had all at indicated an interest in submitting a 2018 bid.
    Following feasibility studies and in depth consultations with government the three Commonwealth Games Associations decided not to progress their intention to bid.

    T&T CGA president Larry Romany said it is an encouraging sign that two cities have decided to bid. He was not prepared to provide a hint as to which way T&T would lean as he felt it is important not to make premature judgments until the two cities release the full extent of their bid offer.
    Romany has no regrets about T&T's decision not to progress a bid as he is confident that the reasons for doing so were in the best interest of the public and the country.

    " Our due diligence and honest analysis with the Government resulted in the view that it was not in the best interest of the country to make a bid at this time. I am comfortable with the decision .Gold Coast and Hambantota have decided to go ahead. Like us Auckland and Abuja have not."


    Apr.15.2010

    Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) president Larry Romany is elated that the Trinidad and Tobago's participation in the netball competition at the Commonwealth Games in India is confirmed. Netball's world governing body IFNA, and the Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed that T&T, Jamaica and Barbados had accepted invitations for the Games scheduled for October 3-14.
    Romany said with six months to go the T&T netballers must buckle down and seriously focus on getting properly prepared.He noted that with Australia and Jamaica in the same group T&T will have to be at their very best to stay in medal contention." This is a huge opportunity and I urge the netball training squad to take personal,individual and collective responsibility for their fitness and skill enhancement and development. Focus like they never focused before on the task ahead. Like all of the other local based athletes they will be required to meet the TTOC fitness criteria.Cycling,swimming and track and field (timed sports) are the only disciplines not subject to the beep test."
    New Zealand the defending World Champions are also defending Commonwealth champions.
    The Calypso Girls are in Group A with Jamaica,Australia,Samoa,Malawi and India


    Apr.21.2010

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was deeply saddened to learn today of the death of Juan Antonio Samaranch, aged 89. He was widely credited with renewing and fundamentally changing the landscape of the Olympic Movement.

    “I cannot find the words to express the distress of the Olympic Family,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “I am personally deeply saddened by the death of the man who built up the Olympic Games of the modern era, a man who inspired me, and whose knowledge of sport was truly exceptional. Thanks to his extraordinary vision and talent, Samaranch was the architect of a strong and unified Olympic Movement. I can only pay tribute to his tremendous achievements and legacy, and praise his genuine devotion to the Olympic Movement and its values. We have lost a great man, a mentor and a friend who dedicated his long and fulfilled life to Olympism.”

    Born in Barcelona in 1920, Samaranch pursued an outstanding career as diplomat and sports administrator before leading the IOC for 21 years.
    Soon after his election, Samaranch worked towards the abolition of amateurism at the Olympic Games. Despite two boycotts in Moscow in 1980 and in Los Angeles in 1984, Samaranch managed to maintain the quality of the Games and increase the number of participating countries. He was the man behind improving the financial health of the Olympic Movement, developing TV rights and sponsorship negotiations and strengthening Olympic Solidarity, the organ by which the IOC redistributes its revenue in order to ensure the training and participation of athletes at the Olympic Games.

    A hugely energetic man, he was responsible for the new IOC headquarters building in Vidy and for inaugurating The Olympic Museum in Lausanne. He will also be remembered for championing the representation of women in the IOC, overseeing the entry of the first women members in the 1980s. He was likewise responsible for setting up the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and for involving the athletes themselves in the decision-making of the IOC by creating the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

    A diplomat, Samaranch started his career as Municipal Councillor responsible for sport in the City of Barcelona. He then took on the role of National Delegate for Physical Education and Sport before becoming President of the Barcelona Diputación. He was appointed Spanish Ambassador to the former Soviet and the People’s Republic of Mongolia from 1977 to 1980.

    Before his election as IOC President in Moscow in 1980, Samaranch had a long career in sports administration. He was a member and subsequently President of the Spanish National Olympic Committee from 1967 to 1970; President of the Spanish Skating Federation; and Chef de Mission at the Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956, in Rome in 1960 and in Tokyo in 1964. He was himself a keen rink hockey player.

    The IOC has expressed its deepest sympathy to Juan Antonio Samaranch’s family.


    Apr.27.2010

    Sankar's Taekwondo School won the Tobago Junior Open Tournament which was staged at the Signal Hill Secondary School, in Signal Hill last Saturday, 24th April, 2010.

    Sankar’s school is coached by 2000 Olympian and two time Sports Woman of the year, Cheryl Ann Sankar. Her daughter Chelsea was named the most outstanding female in the Competition. Also among the winners were Tarique Murell (Best Taekwondo Spirit), Daniel Rodriquez (Best Male ) and Zenric Reid (Most Promising). The tournament attracted students from four taekwondo schools in the country: Euge, Sankar, Tobago and Olympic Style Martial Arts.

    Sankar said she opened her school 15 years ago and is aiming at producing an Olympic medalist. Speaking after the day’s competition Sankar said she only brought eight athletes to the tournament. “The experience was good for the the belts who competed for the first time. We are proud of their achievements. We have a lot more work to do. At this level of tournament I see the differences. I need to take them overseas where they can get a higher level of training”. On her daughter's success Cheryl Ann said “she was involved in the sport from about two and a half years”. I trained up to eight months in pregnancy. When she came out she was a taekwondo baby. With more training and discipline she can do better”.

    Mr. John Soverall, Head of School and Host of the Tournament expressed gratitude for the support he received from the many individuals and Organisations in Tobago.

    Secretary of the Tobago Taekwondo School who hosted the tournament, Rachel Low said the tournament went “really well. It was well received despite the challenges of getting the majority of the participants over to Tobago”. Low said the organizers learnt a lot that would help them host future tournaments.

    Mr Anthony Ferguson, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Taekwondo Association, expressed his pleasure at the success of the Tournament. He noted that it was the forerunner to the Tobago Open International Championships which is being scheduled by the TTTA for later this year.


    May.03.2010

    Trinidad and Tobago’s top seeded squash player, Colin Ramasra is targeting success at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) and Commonwealth Games later this year.

    He recently won the Cayman Islands Open and Holiday Snacks Open and is currently intensifying his preparation for the two major tournaments after adopting a new training regime.

    “Everything on the professional circuit is going good thus far. I have not played much tournaments because I have placed greater focus on my training. I think this had a lot to do with my success at the Cayman Islands and the Holiday Snacks Open because it was due to a good block of training,” said Ramasra yesterday.

    Currently Ramasra is ranked 172 in the Dunlop Professional Squash Association (PSA) Rankings dropping 24 places due to starting a new training regime and shifting his focus on the CAC and Commonwealth Games.

    “The summer will be a busy time because I would like to be here for the Trinidad and Tobago Nationals in June to finalise my preparation for the CAC Games in Puerto Rico and then get ready for the Commonwealth Games in India. The conditions in India due to the heat will be different and I will need to prepare for that. I am focusing more on training and going into tournament adequately prepared,” said Ramasra.

    The Petrotrin squash played said he will use club games in Holland to ensure that he is match ready and continue his buildup to the CAC and Commonwealth Games. He noted that the progress made recently due to his new training regime has been successful and is confident that it will benefit him later in the season.

    “I decided not to play much tournaments at the start of the season and focus on tournaments later in the year. My performance in the Cayman Islands was not the best but it showed my mental strength.

    Playing in the Cayman Islands with plenty of the local players getting strong support it was a good test. However, I got my rhythm back during the tournament and this transferred to the Holidays Snacks Open,” said Ramasra.

    He added, “I did not drop a set during the whole of the Holiday Snacks Open and this was fantastic. I think during the two tournaments I lost one game and I showed character and fight.”

    Trinidad and Tobago’s first professional squash player commended the standard of the local squash players and paid tribute to national coach Richard Glanfield for the work he has done in improving the standard of play.

    “The junior players played fantastic and it is a great sign for Trinidad and Tobago squash because it can show we can compete. I think there is a bright future for squash in Trinidad and Tobago and the coach Richard Glanfield must be commended for the good shop he is doing thus far,” said Ramasra.


    May.06.2010

    Countries that host the Pan American Games will get extra votes to cast for future hosts of the Games under a change in rules adopted at the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO)general assembly in Merida, Mexico. The change, adopted by a 39 to 3 vote, came today after 90 minutes of debate that pitted some small nations of the Caribbean against larger countries.

    Proposed as a way to provide incentives to potential bidders for the Pan Am Games, the new rule modifies an existing one that already grants the NOCs of Pan Am hosts one more vote in the balloting for future Pan Am hosts. The change adds a vote each time a country hosts the Pan Ams. The extra votes are only applicable to Pan Am Games votes, not to other business of PASO. Canada, U.S., Argentina, Brazil and Mexico stand to gain from the change as multiple hosts. But leaders of NOCs such as St. Vincent, St. Kitts and Dominica said the move was not democratic and urged their colleagues to reject it. “This is a form of discrimination that is against the Olympic Charter” said St. Vincent secretary general Keith Joseph. But Richard Peterkin of St. Lucia noted that no fundamental change in PASO rules was being proposed and that the change would benefit small and big nations. Columbia, Dominican Republic and Ecuador were among those rallying to press for the change. “It’s the most important day for our organization,”claimed PASO President Mario Vazquez Rana as he counted the votes. Vazquez Rana told the PASO delegates that there are few incentives that can be offered to games hosts and says this was a choice for “progress over stagnation”. The reason for such concern for Pan Am host countries? The Pan Am Games are becoming a money-maker.

    TV rights fees for the 2007 and 2011 Pan Am Games will reach $28 million, outstripping the money PASO receives from Olympic Solidarity. Vazquez Rana says the extra vote encourages cities to bid for the Pan Ams, building the prestige of the event.

    Jimena Saldana, the long-serving aide to Vazquez Rana, is now the secretary general of PASO, named to the post at the open of the Merida general assembly.She succeeds Felipe Munoz Kapamas, who steps down to have more time to spend on his work as president of the Mexico Olympic Committee. Michael Chambers, who stepped down as Canadian Olympic Committee President last month, will now head the legislative commission for PASO. In this new role he introduced the voting change proposal adopted

    London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe reported on progress to the Games in his second appearance at a PASO assembly since London won the Games in 2005. “I actually think that it’s important for the chairman of an organizing committee to maintain relationships they build during a bid,” Coe tells Around the Rings.“I always said at the beginning that I didn’t want to be an organizing committee that got enough votes to deliver a Games and then seven years later saw those people at the Games.” London was the only OCOG to report at the Thursday session of PASO. tomorrow, Rio 2016, led by President Carlos Nuzman will report, as will Gudalajara 2011, the next Pan Am Games host. Two hours is set aside for the Guadalajara report.


    May.09.2010

    Barbados,St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago stood their ground and voted against the proposal to give extra votes to future hosts of the Pan Am Games.

    Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Larry Romany and secretary general Brian Lewis represented the TTOC at the contentious Pan American Sport Organization (PASO) general assembly meeting held in Merida ,Mexico from 6-7 May.

    On his return to T&T this afternoon Romany told www.ttoc.org that the rule changes were not in accord with the principles of contemporary good governance thinking and the spirit of the Olympic Charter and Olympism.
    " There was the implicit inference that voting against the proposed amendment to the Paso Statute could in some way negatively impact PASO Olympic Solidarity funding grants to NOCs.In the context of sport politics the decision suggested that small NOCs were not to be treated as equals.

    Nonetheless, the delegates voted in the affirmative .To say I am disappointed is an understatement. However I remain confident that in due course PASO will revert to a fair and equitable approach to governance. as the reasons put forward for the amendment cannot withstand objective scrutiny." said Romany
    39 of 42 PASO National Olympic Committees including Brazil, Canada,,Mexico and the USA voted for the changes.

    However, Romany believes that there is a silver lining as the PASO amendment can be a wake up call for progressive Caribbean Olympic leaders.
    " Caribbean NOCs must remain resolute and indomitable.You always have to look for the opportunities and lessons in any setback or disappointment. Building sustainable sport development pathways and putting the best interest of athletes first are the values and objectives that should drive us.Given that PASO is making decisions on the basis of money and television rights. It is time for the Caribbean to become more assertive and self confident in our approach to the issue of broadcast and image rights. It is important that the tremendous progress we [ Caribbean Olympic Committees] have made in terms of arriving at consensus and unity of purpose not be cast asunder." added Romany.


    May.13.2010

    According to the International Rugby Board (IRB).The decision by the International Olympic Committee to include Rugby Sevens in the Olympic Games, beginning in Rio in 2016, has provided an enormous boost for rugby sevens and planning is under way by the IRB on the required qualification process for international teams.
    This forms part of a major overhaul of the existing IRB Sevens Strategic Plan, a collaborative process with all s that will outline the blueprint for the further growth of the Game around the world in recognition of Rugby 7s Olympic profile.

    The Strategic Plan will allow the Game to grow in new markets and ensure that all 117 IRB Member s can collaborate with their respective National Olympic Committees and have access to a structured development, tournament and qualifying pathway that optimises the effects of inclusion in the Olympic Programme.

    Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football (TTRFU) president Leslie Figaro is confident that Trinidad and Tobago has the talent and capacity to benefit from the IRB's new sevens rugby strategic plan.

    " I am confident that we can qualify for Rio 2016 Olympic Games. We are also focusing on qualifying for the 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup and the 2011 Pan Am games. In july we go after the CAC gold.Thanks to the support of the Minsitry of Sport Murray Roulston from New Zealand is in T&T for the next two years.The TTRFU and its stakeholders must grab the opportunity in both hands. T&T Rugby will be in the Top 12 of the World Ranking by 2016."

    Figaro recently re-elected T&T Rugby chief for a third consecutive two year term of office said that T&T getting to the Olympic games in 2016 is a strategic objective of his administration.

    " There is a lot of work and attitudes to change but I am unwavering in my beleif that it is a realistic objective. For too long T&T rugby has limited itself. radical changes will have to be made. But it will be done. " added Figaro.


    May.23.2010

    India's Government have been warned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to respect the autonomy of the country's sports federations or risk facing sanctions, including being banned from the London 2012 Olympics.

    Randhir Singh, the secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), revealed that he had received a letter from the IOC following the announcement by Sports Minister M.S Gill that officials would have the length of time they can serve in their positions limited.

    Singh, a member of the IOC, told The Times of India: "The IOC is watching and if anything happens or any of their clauses is disturbed, then we are in trouble."

    Singh, who has held his position for 23 years and is an IOC member, released details of the letter from Lausanne.

    "Public authorities must respect the autonomy of the organisations of the Olympic sports Movement, and must in no way intervene in or interfere with the internal affairs of these organisations," the letter said.

    Gill wants Presidents of sports federations, including the IOA, limited to 12 years while a secretary or a treasurer can serve two terms of four years each but will have to take a four-year break before seeking re-election.

    Suresh Kalmadi, the President of the IOA, who will have held his position for 16 years by the time he is due to re-election after London in 2012, is another who will be affected by the new rule.

    Also, anyone over the age of 70 will not be eligible to continue in their posts.

    A copy of the letter, which has been signed by Miro Pere, the IOC's director of National Olympic Committees (NOCs), has also been sent to Jacques Rogge, the President of the IOC.

    It makes it quite clear that Governments should not interfere in the running of sport in any country.

    "The National Olympic Committee’s (NOC) internal operations, decision-making mechanisms, holding of meetings, election arrangements, etc. all come under the exclusive responsibility and competence of the NOC, in accordance with the NOC statutes and the Olympic Charter, and must not be subject to any external pressure or interference," it says.

    "The same principles also apply for the national sports federations which shall establish their specific internal procedures in their own statutes, in accordance with the regulations of their respective international sports federations to which they are affiliated."

    The letter also draws attention to the Olympic Charter, which says: "The officers and members of the executive body of an NOC shall be elected in accordance with the NOC’s statutes, for a term of office not exceeding four years; they may be eligible for re-election."

    Piro warns of the consequences if the IOC suspect political interference.

    "This might regrettably expose the NOC and the Olympic Movement in India to the protective measures and potential sanctions provided in the Olympic Charter," the letter says.

    Singh said: "If a sanction comes, India would not be able to participate in Olympic Games as well as international events."

    The IOC has previously suspended several countries when they believe that the Government is interfering, most notably Iraq which nearly kept their competitors out of the Beijing Olympics.

    A row with the IOC could also seriously jeopardise a proposed bid from New Delhi for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and would overshadow the Commonwealth Games, which are due to open in the Indian capital on October 3.

    Gill, though, was unmoved by the IOC letter and defended his position.

    He said: "I can’t help it if [sports officials] they want to be in their posts for 23, 33 or 43 years... till the end of time.

    "We are trying to introduce the best practices, the norms followed across the world.

    "Our guidelines have taken a leaf out of the IOC regulations.

    "The federations must respect it."


    Jun.02.2010

    2 June- Port.of. Spain

    Last Saturday the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football (TTRFU)  announced the names of eighteen (18) players selected to the T&T Central  American and Caribbean (CAC) Games Seven-a-side rugby squad. The shortlist was made from a training squad of thirty seven players . The squad will be further reduced to  will be reduced twelve players by the end of June 2010.

    The Trinidad and Tobago team is scheduled to participate in the CAC Games  7s  competition . Also  on the cards is  the  2010 NACRA  7s. The tournaments are set to take place in Guyana between July 23 to 31, 2010. The NACRA tournament will also be the regional qualifier for the 2011 Pan American Games.

    Rugby Sevens was included in the CAC Games after a landmark decision by the International Olympic Committee in October 2009 to include Rugby Sevens as an Olympic sport. “It is in this vein that we thought it wise to also announce a group of young players to prepare for the 2016 Olympics. This group is being called our 2016 Squad and will start training immediately” said  T&T's New  Zealand  born  Technical Director, Murray Roulston.

    The National Women’s Rugby Sevens team is also scheduled to play in the NACRA Sevens tournament in Guyana in July. “Presently both squads are in training, to be the best we can be when representing our country and ourselves” said Curtis Nero, Chairman of the Selection Committee.

    The National Men’s squad is being coached by John Williams with support from Murray Roulston, Larry Mendez and Willet Pantor with Orlando Griffith as strength and conditioning coach. The women are being coached by Kitty Andrews-Nero.

    The shortlisted CAC and 2016 squads are as follows:

    T&T National 7’s Squads 2010

    - National Squad to prepare for upcoming 2010 Tournaments

    - and Development Squad 2016

    National Squad

    1. Graeme Alkins
    2. Wayne Kelly
    3. Dexter Snaggs
    4. Andrew Crooks
    5. Heron Graham
    6. Keith Francis
    7. Kurt Quashie
    8. Jason Clark
    9. Felician Guerra
    10. Keishon Walker
    11. Kelson Figaro
    12. Jonathan O’Connor
    13. Justin McLean
    14. Abdeel Giles
    15. Ronald Silverthorne
    16. Joseph Quashie
    17. Matthew Marine
    18. Randy Regis
    		2016 Squad

    1. Jessie Richards
    2. Phillip Rogers
    3. Jerome Richardson
    4. Andrew Taylor
    5. Andrew Welch
    6. Gordon Dalgliesh
    7. Kendall Mootoo
    8. Abdallah Perry
    9. Aasan Lewis
    10. Zane Campbell
    11. Kordell Joseph
    12. Derondie Jones
    13. James Phillips
    14. Nicholas King
    15. Mark Poon
    16. David Gookol
    17. Daryl Scott
    18. Andel Matamora
    19. John Taylor


    Jun.11.2010

    Saturday, June 12 2010

    THE United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the University of Delaware created a programme called International Coaching Enrichment Certification Programme (ICECP) to certify national coaches from all sports for the improvement of their coaching structure in their countries.

    Three archery coaches participated in the ICECP 2009-2010 edition with the support of the Olympic Solidarity.

    The coaches presented their final projects in Lausanne, Switzerland. The FITA Development Department was invited by the organisers to attend the presentation and graduation day at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters and at Maison du Sport International (MSI).

    FITA Development Department was pleased to attend and celebrate the success of the archery coaches.

    Yu Chiao-Hsu (TPE), Edward Ramesar (TRI) and Badamkhatan Tsogt (MGL) photo benefited from this programme and graduated successfully.

    Tsogt graduated with honours on his project.

    Chiao-Hsu presented a project on the importance of combining Pilates in the archery training programme. Ramesar’s project was focussed on developing youth archery in his home country.Tsogt’s presentation was on youth talent identification with a calendared programme.

    FITA Development Department looks forward to collaborating with the new ICECP certified coaches for the development of archery in their countries.

    Ramesar was selected to attend the ICECP course based on his long experience in the sport of archery including five years as a coach. The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee offered the TTTAF a spot on the course, which was eagerly accepted.

    This was the second edition of the ICECP where participants learn advanced coaching methods including topics specific to their sport. Ramesar spent six weeks at different locations in USA including the US Olympic Centre, the University of Delaware and the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center.

    Ramesar recently presented his paper in Lausanne, Switzerland at the home of the International Olympic Committee.