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Roberts dissatisfied with reasons for CCCAN absences

Minister of Sport Anil Roberts demanded parents and representatives indicate in writing the reasons for their swimmers’ unavailability for the Central American and Caribbean Age Group Swimming

Championships (CCCAN) after dismissing their original reasons in a face-to-face meeting on Thursday.

And Lindsay Gillette, president of the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) has received an extension to the deadline for entries to the June 29-July 7 CCCAN Games in Costa Rica from the organisers to today, trying to facilitate a “window of opportunity” for the nine national swimmers who were declared unavailable last week.

This although ASATT had already submitted their final entries to the games organisers on Wednesday, one day after the CCCAN selection meeting.

The Trinidad Express understands that ASATT used their good relationship with the first president of the CCCAN from the English-speaking Caribbean, Barbadian Errol Clarke to secure the extension.

On Thursday, Roberts asked the parents and representatives to make a decision about their children’s participation/availability and submit the decision in writing in a meeting that involved ASATT officials, parents and representatives of the unavailable swimmers at the Minister’s headquarters on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain. Sources who attended the meeting said Roberts, who had been in Parliament for close to 20 hours prior to meeting with ASATT officials, said commitment to national duty trumped everything. He dismissed out of hand the excuses, which ranged from sickness without a certificate to unavailability and to participation in alternative non-national team meetings and training.

According to a correspondence from ASATT president Gillette, Roberts “expressed his disappointment and displeasure with what seemed to be the apparent ‘boycott’ by these senior athletes both locally- and foreign-based and sought explanations for same”.

A source, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to disclose the details of the meeting, said one parent claimed not to be aware that the ASATT was sending a swim team to the June 29-July 7 CCCAN Games.

ASATT officials said at that meeting that they had at no time advised that the CCCAN meeting was off or that T&T was not going to send a team to the Costa Rica Games.

Roberts also sought clarification on who was representing Dylan Carter, a member of the Davies Nadadores Swim Club in Florida since August 2012, as Aerios Aquatics coach Franz Huggins had initially written ASATT on June 2 stating multiple Carifta and CCCAN medallists Carter and Joshua Romany were unavailable. The source said Huggins admitted he was not authorised to speak for Carter.
Another source said Roberts gave the example of Suriname 1988 Soeul Olympic medallist Anthony Nesty and Trinidad and Tobago’s 2004 Athens bronze medallist George Bovell as swimmers who were world ranked in senior swimming and still competed in Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC), a lower level age-group competition than CCCAN, on their way to world standard performances.

Following the meeting with Roberts, swimmers’ parents and their representatives held a meeting with ASATT officials.

On Friday, Gillette issued a memo to swim clubs and representatives updating them on the CCCAN developments.

Up to press time last night, parents and/or representatives of none of the nine unavailable swimmers--which also include US-based Alexandra Donahue and Tyla Martin, both multiple Carifta gold medallists, Canada-based Adrian Goin, UK-based Rebecca Marshall and Hannah Chatfield, US-based Emiro Goossen, and the local based Jonathan Ramkissoon--had submitted written documents.

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KINGSTON

Jamaica’s 200 metres world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown has tested positive for a banned diuretic, sources close to Jamaican athletics told Reuters.

The sources said the doping violation occurred at the Jamaica International Invitational meeting on May 4 in Kingston.

Campbell-Brown, who won the Olympic 200 title in 2004 and 2008, is Jamaica’s most successful female athlete and the biggest name in track and field to fall foul of the drug testers since disgraced American sprinter Marion Jones.

Jones served a six-month prison sentence for perjury and was stripped of the five medals —including three golds—she won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics after admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Local media reports said Campbell-Brown had been present at the laboratory in Canada when her B sample was tested earlier this week.
The finding comes after Jamaican 400 metres runner Dominique Blake received a six-year ban on Thursday for her second doping violation since 2006.

Diuretics, which promote the production of urine and treat medical conditions including high blood pressure, are viewed as masking agents by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The penalty for a positive result ranges from a public warning to a two-year suspension depending on the circumstances.

The Jamaica Gleaner also reported that Campbell-Brown’s sponsors have been informed of the positive tests, while the IAAF are preparing a statement on the matter.

Campbell-Brown has since withdrawn from the June 29 Edmonton International Track Classic, and is also likely to miss Jamaica’s National Championships, and by extension, the 2013 IAAF World Championships, which run off from August 10.

Legendary Jamaica track coach Glen Mills has called for an accredited testing centre on the island. He also cautioned against judgement without facts.

“One can’t make any comment of great detail without knowing the circumstances,” he was quoted as saying by CMC. “However, it’s not something that our track and field would want to experience at this time, or anytime for that matter.

“Veronica Campbell has carried our flag with distinction over the years and I am waiting until I hear what are the details surrounding this incident because her reputation has been a solid one over the years and so one has to wait to hear her explanation as to what led to this situation,” he said.

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June 13 - USA Rugby are the latest to confirm their interest in hosting the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in an attempt to boost the sport's reputation in the nation, though they will face competition from the likes of Wales and Singapore, who confirmed their bids yesterday.

USA Rugby director Will Chang, who is also a part-owner of the San Francisco Giants baseball franchise, will lead the bid and will visit Moscow to observe this year's event at the Luzhniki Stadium later this month.

"Hosting this tournament will support our goals of developing the game and further its popularity in the United States" said Chang.

"We are looking forward to hearing more about the bid process and will do everything we can to ensure the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens will take place on United States soil."

Sevens will make its debut appearance at the Olympic Games at Rio 2016, and the International Rugby Board (IRB) have decided to push the World Cup Sevens back by a year to ensure a seamless integration into the Games programme, making a five-year gap as opposed to the usual four.

The United States will face major competition to host the event, however, and even though Wales and Singapore have confirmed plans to launch a bid, there is also expected to be interest from France and Argentina.

Rugby has never been a particularly popular sport in America with sports such as baseball, American football, basketball and ice hockey ruling the roost, but participation has increased three-and-a-half fold since 2004 and rugby was found to be the fastest growing sport in the nation in a survey by National Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in 2010.

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IOSLO

Olympic champion Usain Bolt responded to last week’s surprise sprint defeat in Rome by storming to a world-leading time of 19.79 seconds over 200 metres at the Bislett Games IAAF Diamond League meet, yesterday.

The Jamaican world record holder, surprisingly beaten over 100 metres by American Justin Gatlin in Italy, streaked away from the field to win comfortably on a chilly night in his first competitive race over the distance this season.

“I need to work on my curve, as my coach has said, but overall it was a good race,” said the 26-year-old who is the first man to break the 20 seconds mark this year.

“Under better, warmer conditions... (I could do) a 19.50 race, easily,” he told a news conference.

Bolt said his confidence was high ahead of the Jamaican trials, starting on June 20, where he needs to be in the top three in the 100 to qualify for the World Championships after the country’s automatic entry went to titleholder Yohan Blake.

Ever the showman, Bolt appeared to have put the loss to Gatlin out of his mind as he rubbed his arms and pretended to shiver while standing at the blocks before the start.

But once down to business, the six-times Olympic gold medallist showed he had recovered from the hamstring injury that dogged him earlier this season with a meet record, having said earlier in the week he was in shape to go below 20 seconds.

Home favourite, Jaysuma Saidy Ndure was second in 20.36 in a field lacking any other Jamaican or American athletes. European champion Churandy Martina of the Netherlands was disqualified from the event for a false start.

“I thought I could take him,” said Norwegian Saidy Ndure. “All the way to 150 I thought I could catch him... But then he accelerated.”

Olympic champion Meseret Defar shook off Kenya’s Viola Jelagat Kibiwot and fellow Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba over the last 200 metres to win a fast women’s 5,000 in a world leading 14:26.90—the fastest time since 2011.

“I felt very comfortable throughout the race. I knew I had the shape. I think I’m in world record shape, but was not confident to try it,” the 29-year old said.

Kenya’s 18-year old Conseslus Kipruto followed up on his Diamond League victories in Shanghai and Eugene by again beating London Olympic gold medallist Ezekiel Kemboi in the 3,000m steeplechase in 8:04.48.

The Bislett “Dream Mile” was won by Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman with a time of 3:50.53.

Russian Olympic and world high jump champion Anna Chicherova suffered her first defeat of the season when she finished third with 1.95 metres, behind compatriot Svetlana Shkolina who cleared 1.97 on her third attempt.

The event had been billed as a match-up between Chicherova and former world champion Blanka Vlasic, who missed last season after Achilles surgery, but the Croatian was a disappointing fifth after failing to clear 1.90.

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Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott finished 10th in the men’s javelin, at the Bislett Games IAAF Diamond League meet, in Oslo, Norway, yesterday. The reigning Olympic champion threw the spear 77.03 metres.

Vítezslav Veselý, of the Czech Republic, topped the field with an 85.96m effort, beating Finland’s Tero Pitkämäki (84.74m) and Germany’s Thomas Röhler (82.83m) into second and third, respectively. Two-time Olympic champion, Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen (80.99m) finished sixth.

On Tuesday, at the New York Road Runners Club Speed Series meet, in the United States, T&T’s Jamaal James bagged bronze in the men’s 800 metres event in one minute, 48.16 seconds--his fastest time this season. American Brian Gagnon struck gold with a 1:47.36 run, while silver went to Ghana’s Selasi Lumax (1:48.07).

Also on Tuesday, Aleesha Barber earned bronze at the Toronto International Track & Field Games, in Canada. The T&T athlete finished third in the women’s 100m hurdles, getting to the line in 13.26 seconds.

Canada’s Jessica Zelinka emerged victorious with a 13.06 run, beating American Cassandra Lloyd (13.19) into second spot.

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Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, who qualified Trinidad and Tobago for the 2006 FIFA Men’s World Cup, will take up a two-month assignment with the senior national football team for the 2006 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which takes place from July 8-28 in the United States.

The Soca Warriors have qualified for the region’s premier football competition for the first time in six years.

Beenhakker will be in charge for a two-month stint as head coach for the Gold Cup, and will work alongside current coaches Jamaal Shabazz and Hutson Charles. The local coaches are said to favour the move.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) approved Beenhakker’s return last night at a meeting of its Executive Council.

Preliminary discussion began with the former Real Madrid coach when TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee met Beenhakker at a FIFA Congress in Mauritius recently. Casual discussions were held, after which Beenhakker was invited to view T&T’s friendly international against Romania, which the Europeans won 4-0.

Beenhakker apparently saw basic flaws in team structure, and, while making no commitment, agreed to further telephone discussions with TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips.

Tim Kee said the decision to re-hire Beenhakker was made to give the current staff the benefit of Beenhakker’s tactical and technical expertise, and so, ensure a good Gold Cup showing.

“Mr Beenhakker’s return is imminent, but he has put out certain conditions which we have agreed to,” Tim Kee said last night.

“Tomorrow (today) we will meet with certain sponsors to get the kind of assistance we will need for such a venture.”

The T&T team will go into camp today, and will have the services of all the overseas-based players. “It had been 10 matches now, and we have not done much winning or scoring goals,” said Tim Kee. “We needed to up the ante for the Gold Cup.”

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13 June 2013

On Saturday 22 June the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) invites persons from all walks of life, regardless of sporting ability, to be part of the annual Olympic Day celebrations. The theme “Move, Learn and Discover” encourages people to become physically active and learn about the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

The Olympic values inspire us to forge friendships despite of our differences and to respect ourselves, others and the environment. Excellence encourages us to give our best and strive for a healthy balance of body, mind and will.

Olympic Day, held annually, is celebrated by thousands of people in more than 160 countries. Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympics. Nine NOCs Austria, Belgium, Canada, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela participated in the first Olympic Day celebration on 23 June 1948.The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

Trinidad and Tobago should be proud to be part of this worldwide celebration and TTOC encourages families to come out and witness the sporting activities between 9:00am to 4:00pm at Chagville, Chaguaramas.

• OSLO


Usain Bolt laughed off suggestions yesterday he may be “past it”, saying he’s looking forward to the World Championships.

Bolt, who will run the 200 metres at the Bislett Games tomorrow, said he has his “eye on the prize” of the Worlds, in August in Moscow.

He said he’s not concerned after coming off a rare defeat in the 100m last week.

Bolt lost by one-hundredth of a second to American sprinter Justin Gatlin in Rome, marking the Jamaican’s first significant international loss since the false start disqualification at the 2011 Worlds in South Korea.

“I’ll just point something out. In ‘08, I lost one race and I won the Olympics that year,” Bolt said. “(The loss to Gatlin) doesn’t say much. All I’m concerned about really, is the championship.

“Running the runs, getting into shape, figuring out what I need to do to get to the championship.”

Bolt is the world record holder in the 100 and 200, and any slight dip in form will attract attention. His dominance is being questioned while rivals Gatlin, Tyson Gay of the U.S. and Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake challenge him this season.

Bolt said he respects them all.

“Never try and single out one person to see who’s the strongest, because in track and field people get injured all the time,” Bolt said. “If I focus on one person and they get injured, then what? Then you have to change your focus and you may not be ready for that other person.

“So for me, I just work hard and try to be at my best when those seven persons are lined up against me.”

Bolt will face local favourite, Jaysuma Saidy Ndure tomorrow. The 28-year-old Norwegian sprinter set a season-best time of 10.13 seconds in the 100 in Rome last week.

“I always look forward to running against him,” Ndure said of Bolt. “I know he’s going to push me again into another season’s best.”

Bolt isn’t underestimating the Gambia-born Ndure.

“For me, anything is possible. You never know what’s going to happen on the day. Hopefully, he doesn’t beat me,” said Bolt, who wants to be the first to break the 20-second mark in the 200 this season.

Bolt was asked again about his lacklustre start to the season.

“I’m not really worried,” he said, with a resigned laugh. “I’m always confident in whatever I am doing. As long as my coach is not worried, I’m not worried, and my coach is not worried. So I’m definitely confident that I’ll be up to standard, that I’ll be able to perform to defend my titles.”

The 26-year-old said his fans shouldn’t worry, either.

“I keep explaining to everyone that for me it’s never about one-off events,” Bolt said. “They keep worrying, but for me, I show up at the championship. That’s my aim because it’s all about medals.”

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For the second consecutive year, the AISTS are pleased to announce that we will be providing a scholarship to an international athlete providing them with the opportunity to study at the AISTS MSA 2014 edition in Lausanne, the Olympic Capital.

The application deadline is the 15 August 2013.



HOW TO APPLY for the AISTS Athlete Scholarship

Applicants must first apply for the AISTS MSA 2014 programme with the online application form (more information here: www.aists.org/howtoapply)
Applicants must be a current or former international athlete
Applicants must prove that they are able to support the cost of living in Lausanne (approx. CHF 2’100 per month), and the cost of travel to Switzerland and back to their country of residence.



DOCUMENTS REQUIRED to apply for the AISTS Athlete Scholarship (documents required in the online application form):

Applicants must indicate expected financial support for all study induced expenses (incl. travel to Switzerland and back, housing, transportation and other additional cost of living).
Applicants must include supporting documentation confirming their sporting achievements
Applicants must include a motivation letter to their scholarship application (1 to 2 pages). This letter must be different to the motivation letter submitted with their application to the AISTS MSA.



For additional information on the AISTS Athlete Scholarship, please visit: http://aists.org/scholarships



The AISTS MSA (Master in Sports Administration) is a 1 year post graduate programme taking place in Lausanne, the Olympic Capital. The programme consists of five core discipline namely Management, Law, Technology, Sociology and Medicine with additional trans-disciplinary topics such as event management, anti-doping, sustainability, athlete career optimisation, and venue management to name just a few. The programme is aimed at providing participants with a 360° view of sports administration and equipping them with the skills and knowledge to apply themselves in a wide array of sport related professions.



For additional information on the AISTS MSA programme, please visit, http://aists.org/msa

Patrice Stollmeyer, aboard Monte Carlo, erased previous highs by recording a score of 75.172 per cent in the Preliminary Adult test recently, the highest ever recorded by a T&T rider.

Currently second to her is Angela Halloran-Smith of Bermuda with 72.241 per cent, and Lackife Leslie from Jamaica in third with 70.690 per cent.

The Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) is fresh from holding its annual Mini Dressage Challenge over the last few weeks of May, into June.

And Team T&T turned in a super performance, with their Adult team currently second to Bermuda, and their Children’s team also second, to Jamaica. The Cayman Islands remains the last territory to turn in their scores on June 16th, when their home leg of the event will be held.

This is a regional competition where national teams from Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Jamaica compete against one another, and the riders are able to compete using their own horses.

Once each leg of the competition in every island is completed, the scores are compiled and the ranking of the riders and their horses in each category is determined. This year, the judge for the event was Merrilyn Griffin, of Wellington, Florida licensed by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Griffin was awarded the US Dressage Federation Silver and Bronze medals with her horse AQHA’s Royal Viking.

A dozen of T&T top Dressage riders entered this year’s competition, and each individual rider was ranked, and the national team selected on competition day based on highest scores attained on the day.

Besides Stollmeyer, T&T Adult riders also performed well in the Elementary Adult test.

T&T’s Franka Costelloe, riding Viking Thunder, is currently second in the region, tied with Susan Wates from Jamaica with 68.243 per cent, just a breath off the first place mark set by Michelle Ingham of Bermuda (68.473 per cent). Closing off the adult competition was the Medium test level, and T&T rider Nevine Boccara performed well on her Saxon Dan with a first place score of 66.875 per cent, ahead of Bermuda’s Ashley Gibbbs with 63.875 per cent.

T&T young and upcoming riders Amber Thompson, Hadley Rahael and Kahlan Chin formed the Children’s Team, and left no doubt that T&T will be well represented for many competitions to come. In the Elementary Child test, Thompson placed first locally on Highly Esteemed with a score of 67.432 per cent, the highest for the region in many years.

She also placed first locally in the Preliminary Child test, again on Highly Esteemed with a score of 69.483 per cent, but she needs to keep up the pace to stay ahead of Hadley Rahael and Zeus who were right on their heels with 69.138 per cent.

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TRINIDAD and Tobago’s improbable dream of winning the Women’s Pan American Cup ended in Peru on Tuesday night.

The five-time Caribbean volleyball champions have no chance to advance to the knockout phase of the competition after suffering their second successive defeat.

After going down to defending champions United States in a tick under an hour when the 12th annual tournament served off the night before, the five-time Caribbean champions kept Argentina on the floor for 71 minutes.

However, the South Americans prevailed 25-23, 25-11, 25-18 for their second Group A triumph from as many matches as they had also disposed of Puerto Rico in straight sets the night before.

T&T were out-aced 10-3 and committed 18 unforced errors, six more than their opponents.

However Channon Thompson, the Most Valuable Player when this country won the gold medal a few weeks ago to advance to the penultimate round of NORCECA (North, Central America and the Caribbean) qualifying for next year’s World Championships in Italy, notched 16 points.

The Poland-based 19-year-old scored one point more than Emilce Sosa, one less than the game’s leading scorer, Lucia Fresco, and six more than compatriot Krystle Esdelle.

Skipper Esdelle and Thompson had struggled and combined for only three points against the United States. Former national youth captain Darlene Ramdin notched only three this time after leading the way with ten in the opener.

The Puerto Ricans seemed on their way to a major upset when they led the United States by two sets to love. But the fifth-ranked team in the world clawed their way back to take the nail-biter 28-30, 23-25, 25-14, 25-17, 15-13.

The victory ensured the North Americans a place in the knockout phase alongside Argentina, but, like T&T, the Puerto Ricans will be playing for no higher than seventh place from tonight.

The round-robin group phase of the tournament concluded after press time last night, with T&T opposing Puerto Rico and Argentina clashing with the United States to determine the winner of the group.

There are three groups, and the two winners with the best ratio will move straight into Saturday night’s semi-finals. The winners of the other group and the three runners-up will be involved in the quarter-finals the night before. The champions will be crowned on Sunday night.

In Group B four-time champs Cuba prevailed for the second time (25-20, 25-14, 25-17 over Costa Rica) to move into the knockout phase. But after squandering a two-set to love lead and losing to the Cubans the night before, the Canadians remained in contention by edging Peru 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-11.

The world No 2 Brazilians also kept their hopes of advancing to the knockout phase alive when the rebounded from a four-set loss to fellow two-time champs Dominican Republic to defeat Mexico 23-25, 25-16, 26-21, 25-15 in Group C.

After losing to the Mexicans in straight sets, Colombia are now forced to play for positions after their 25-20, 25-14, 25-21 defeat which ensured the Dominican Republic a place in the knockout phase.

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A newly designed uniform for all national football teams will be unveiled on July 1.

This is among several new concrete developments that have come about in recent weeks aimed at improving the image and operations of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

On July 1, TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee will speak about some of the new steps initiated and carried out by Tim Kee, recently appointed general secretary Sheldon Phillips, and the executive committee.

Among them is the switch back to the TTFA, which was first incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1982. The TTFF logo was used in an international match for the final time, last Friday, in T&T’s friendly against Estonia in Tallinn.

“This is a new era for our football and we are extremely satisfied about some of these new developments and equally excited about it,” Tim Kee told TTFF Media.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is now back and we are pleased about this direction we’ve taken. This has been under discussions for some time now since I took office in December. The executive committee met a couple weeks ago to ratify this, among other steps that we are taking, which includes a new logo for the Association.”

An improved approach involving the business and operations of national teams at all levels, development programmes and other projects will take focus in the coming months, according to Tim Kee.
Tim Kee also met with president of the Romanian Football Association, Mircea Sandu as he led a TTFA delegation which included Phillips and director of communications Shaun Fuentes.

“President Sandu and the Romanian Federation were most gracious hosts. They left nothing undone with regards to ensuring our stay was most comfortable and enjoyable. The national team was afforded luxurious accommodation in the heart of Bucharest and the opportunity to train at some excellent facilities in Bucharest and Buftea,” Tim Kee said.

“We were able to exchange some ideas,” the TTFA president continued, “and they have agreed to share with us some of the measures and approaches they have applied over the years, particularly with the structure of their federation and the operations of their leagues. Romania has a rich football history, and they must have been doing something right. And Estonia have also made some inroads.

Both countries have expressed a willingness to maintain this relationship and possibly pay us a visit in the future.”

Sandu, who has been president of the Romanian Football Federation since 1990 and is currently a member of the UEFA executive committee, said he was impressed by the TTFA’s initiatives.

“The visit of the Trinidad and Tobago national team,” said Sandu, “was a historic one as it was not just the first time a national team has been to Romania but I am aware that your country has not played in Europe since 2006, and it was an honour for us to host you. We had some good discussions with the TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee and his general secretary Mr Phillips, and it’s pleasing to hear their intentions for the way forward in the football in Trinidad and Tobago. We are always willing to assist wherever possible.”

Sandu was particularly interested in the business and cultural sectors in T&T.

Estonian FA president, Aivar Pohlak spoke of the similarities between Estonia and T&T, citing his country’s population of 1.34 million and its many beautiful beaches.

“There are similarities between us, and football-wise we have the same desires for success. These are all makings of a hopefully cordial and long-lasting relationship between the two countries.”

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T&T Calypso Spikers made a losing start to the 12th Movistar Women’s Pan American Volleyball Cup after going under to world top ranked and defending champions USA in their opening match 13-25, 12-25, 13-25, the second of Pool A at Coliseo Miguel Grau, Callao, Peru, on Monday night. With T&T coach, Cuban-born Francisco Cruz giving some rest to the key trio of Channon Thompson, Kelly-Anne Billingy and captain Krystle Esdelle to start the match and each set, it was always going to be a daunting task for the  the five-team reigning Caribbean champions who were eventually overpowered  by the Americans, in blockings (13-4) and service aces (9-0) in the loss which came in 59 minutes.

Lauren Gibbenmeyer led USA with 11 points, including three blocks, captain Kristin Hildebrand added ten, Nicole Fawcett had six aces among her nine points and Rachel Adams had eight points with four blocks. The loss was the first for T&T in international competition since a 25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-6 defeat to Costa Rica in ninth placed playoff last July 19, at the Pan Am Cup in Toluca, Mexico. Since then, the “Calypso Spikers” won the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association crown for a fourth straight time in US Virgin Islands and topped their first and second round FIVB Women’s World Championship 2014 qualifying groups. Speaking after the match, Poland-based Esdelle who is one of no fewer than seven players with injury concerns said her team-mates were a little nervous playing against a team like USA whose fast rhythm was new for her team.”

Cruz added, ““It was not surprising for us given the quality of USA as major powerhouse.” “Overall I am satisfied with the performance and we gave playing opportunity to some young players,” added Cruz. Today the 32nd world ranked T&T will close out round-robin play against with 18th ranked Puerto Rico after facing 19th ranked Argentina last night in its second match.
In the other Pool A match, Argentina also had a straight-set 25-23, 25-21, 25-15 victory over Puerto Rico led by Paula Nizetich with 14 points followed by Lucia Fresco and Emilce Sosa with 11 and ten respectively. Josefina Fernandez and Natalia Aispirua contributed nine and eight for the winners while Lynda Morales finished with a team-high nine points for Puerto Rico
In Pool B, four-time champions, Cuba, ranked 13th, recovered from a 0-2 deficit to overcome 22nd ranked Canada 21-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-13 and Peru, rated 17th in the world  began its participation beating 26thn ranked Costa Rica 25-19, 25-18, 25-16 in a match of Group B that lasted 76 minutes. And in Pool C, two-time winner Dominican Republic prevailed in four sets to defeat three-time champions and three-time runner-up Brazil, 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 35-33 in a match that lasted more than two hours while Mexico defeated Colombia 25-18, 25-23, 25-16, both at the “Mayor Fernando Antonio Suarez Coliseum, Huacho.

Today’s schedule:
Group A: Puerto Rico vs T&T, 7 pm; USA vs Argentina, 9 pm.
Group B: Peru vs Cuba, 8 pm; Canada vs Costa Rica, 10 pm.
Group C: Dominican Republic vs Mexico, 7 pm;  Brazil vs Colombia, 9 pm.

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June 11 - FIFA claim that this month's Under-20 World Cup in Turkey will go ahead despite riot police today storming Istanbul's Taksim Square, using tear gas and water cannons to scatter protesters demonstrating against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The World governing body claimed there was no threat to the tournament, which is due to start on June 21 and will feature 24 countries.

"The riots deal with a domestic issue based in two contained areas in Istanbul," said FIFA in a statement.

"It is not foreseen that the tournament locations are affected."

Matches are due to be hosted in seven cities, but Istanbul will be the centrepiece of the tournament.

It is due to host 11 matches at the Ali Sami Yen Arena - Galatasaray's home stadium - including the final on July 13.

"We are in contact with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and we receive regular updates regarding the security situation," said the FIFA statement.

"The LOC will continue its close cooperation with law enforcement and will regularly update FIFA.

"Safety and security is one of the most important matters in the preparation of any major event.

"FIFA has full confidence in the Turkish authorities and their developed security concept for the FIFA U-20 World Cup which encapsulates any potential risks."

FIFA's backing for the Turkish organisers came as the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG) sent a letter asking for security assurances and more information regarding the on-going demonstrations ahead of their event, which is due to open on June 20 in Mersin.

The success of the event is seen as vital in Istanbul's bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, which is up against rivals Madrid and Tokyo.

Police had used tear gas in Adana, part of the Adana-Mersin metropolitan area in southern Turkey, as they clashed with protestors on the eve of a visit from Erdoğan last Sunday (June 9).

"I am writing to express, on behalf of my colleagues, our great concern and sympathy for the unfortunate events that have occurred in Turkey," ICMG secretary general Isidoros Kouvelos said in the letter addressed to Uğur Erdener, President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey (NOCT) and to Mersin 2013 officials.

"As you understand, all the Mediterranean family finds this situation quite worrying, especially as the opening of the Games in Mersin will be in a few days.

"In order to reassure the Mediterranean family, I think it would be useful if you could give to the ICMG and all Mediterranean NOCs (National Olympic Committees) more precise information about the situation in the area of Adana-Mersin and also the assurance that all the necessary measures have been taken in order to ensure the safety of the Games."

Publication of the letter coincided with the riot police unexpectedly storming Taksim Square, the heart of the protests since May 31 and which had sparked the nationwide anti-Government protests, spraying tear gas and causing a stampede as people tried to flee.

Istanbul's Governor, Huseyin Avni Mutlu, promised that the operations would continue until the Square had been cleared.

"We will continue our measures in an unremitting manner, whether day or night, until marginal elements are cleared and the square is open to the people," he said.

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In the not-so-distant past, national sport organisations would have focused on administrating rules and regulations, organising of sport competitions and leagues, selecting, entering and sending national teams to regional, continental and global sport competitions, games and tournaments. Sport was amateur and volunteer run. Clubs came from the bowels of the communities. Bingo, cake sale and car wash were the fund-raising events of choice. Fun and enjoyment the raison d’être. Sport engaged a sense of community and was part of social and cultural life.

There are many perspectives through which sport can be viewed. Given the way our society has evolved, can sport adapt and evolve to meet the demands of this and future generations? Where does sport now fit in T&T?

At times it seems to have social and cultural relevance and at other times it is treated as non-essential.

One perspective that most national sport organisations (including the TTOC) push is the youth agenda—the importance of sport to young people.

It is not an unrealistic mandate. But why are many young people frustrated and disillusioned with sport. Why do they feel sport is not meeting their needs?

Is it that national sport organisations have not been as successful as they would like at engaging young people?

Recently, I was speaking to some young people involved in sport about their ambitions, concerns, doubts and fears. What came through loud and clear was the message that many young people didn’t feel that national sport organisations were dedicated to helping them overcome challenges and reaching their full potential. There is, at least in the mind of the young people, a disconnect between them and their sport leaders.

Is there a need for national sport organisations to pay more attention to the young people and not just on their performances in the cauldron that is competitive sport?

Something is amiss and it is incumbent on all of us involved in sport to heed the cry of the young people for guidance, direction and protection.

Young people have dreams and they want to be given a chance to pursue and fulfill their dreams. They also have a point of view about what they need and don’t need. Given that the future of T&T lies with our youth we shouldn’t dismiss their views, hurt feelings, sense of betrayal and of having been let down. They want mentors who they can trust and look up to.

Mentors and role models who will inspire and motivate them not to accept mediocrity and to always act with integrity who will guide them to stay focused and control their own destiny by grabbing opportunities with both hands. Mentors and role models, who by their example, teach the young people to push themselves beyond their comfort zone, don’t procrastinate, never treat people unfairly, never fail to prepare and never leave for tomorrow what you can do today.

Young people expect their sport leaders to identify sources of unnecessary stress and work to minimise them. Too many of our young people are saying “participating in sport isn’t fun anymore”.

Serving as a role model is one of the most important function of an effective leader. Sport leaders set an example. Young people take their cue from the behaviour of those in charge.

Sport leaders are always in a fish bowl. People pay attention to what they do. Colin Powell said: “Leadership is not rank, privilege, titles, or money. It is responsibility.”

For young people the leaders are who they count on to serve as examples of the priorities, values, and behaviours they (leaders) espouse.

Brian Lewis is the president of the T&T Olympic Committee. Visit www.ttoc.org and learn more about Olympism, Olympic values and the Olympic movement.

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Trinidad and Tobago athletes, Deon Lendore and Sparkle McKnight will bid for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championship titles, in Oregon, USA, today.

On Wednesday, the opening day of the Championships, Lendore topped heat two in the men’s 400 metres preliminaries in 45.36 seconds to advance automatically to today’s final. The Texas A&M University sophomore was third fastest in the qualifying round.

McKnight, a junior at University of Arkansas, booked her lane in the women’s 400m hurdles final as a “fastest loser”, after finishing third in heat three in 56.70 seconds.

Washington State University’s Shawna Fermin finished sixth in heat three and 13th overall in the women’s 400m preliminaries in 52.76 seconds, and did not advance to the final.

Tomorrow, T&T’s Shermund Allsop is expected to be part of the Louisiana State University (LSU) team that will bid for honours in the men’s 4x100m final. On Wednesday, Allsop anchored LSU to victory in heat three in 38.94 seconds.

Another T&T sprinter, Jamol James was part of the University of Tennessee quartet that did not finish heat one.

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Serena Williams remains on course to win a second French Open title after powering through to the final, where she will face defending champion Maria Sharapova.

The world number one and the second seed will meet on Saturday after coming through their semi-finals in very different manners.

Williams thrashed Italy's Sara Errani 6-0 6-1 to reach her first Roland Garros final since she won the tournament back in 2002.

Sharapova had earlier coped with a rash of double faults to beat Victoria Azarenka 6-1 2-6 6-4.

"To come back as the defending champion, it's extremely special to get back on that stage where it comes down to the last two players of the tournament," said the Russian.

Sharapova prevailed in a semi-final that swung wildly in momentum, dropping serve in the opening game with a double fault and sealing victory with an ace more than two hours later.

In between, the ferocity and depth of Sharapova's hitting, particularly off the return, was often too much for Azarenka, and 14 winners flew past the Belarusian as the first set raced by.

Azarenka managed to get a foothold at the start of the second, and a brilliant forehand winner off a high-bouncing Sharapova shot set her up to break for 4-2.

With rain starting to fall, Azarenka broke once again to level the match before play was suspended, and when the action resumed a little over half an hour later it was Sharapova who pressed first.

A cross-court winner gave her the break at 2-1 but the double faults that have plagued her in recent years began to tell.

Her ninth, to none from Azarenka, gifted the advantage straight back in game four, and after blasting her way to a 5-2 lead as her returns continued to pepper the baseline, Sharapova faltered dramatically when serving for the match.

Four match points came and went before she lost the game, inevitably, with her 11th double fault of the day.

Azarenka might have thought she had put the pressure on with a quick hold to trail 5-4, but the unpredictable Sharapova serve then clicked and she sealed victory at the second attempt with ace number 12.

"Despite having those match points and not taking advantage of them, I was happy with the way I came out at 5-4 and served it out," said Sharapova.

"That was really important."

Williams could not have won in more contrasting, or convincing, style.

Errani might have been last year's runner-up but Agnieszka Radwanska is the only top-five player she has ever beaten, and she was overwhelmed by Williams.

The American broke to love in the opening game and fired 19 winners, dropping just two points on serve, as she won the opening set in 21 minutes.

Williams took the winners count to 26 by swatting away a forehand return to break in the second, and Errani could not get a racquet near a 199km-per-hour ace that flew by her for 3-0.

The Italian raised her arms in triumph when she finally won a game after 37 minutes, and the crowd chanted "Sara! Sara!" in the hope of seeing a real contest, but Williams was having none of it.

A backhand return winner earned Williams her fifth break of the match, and she capped a superb performance in just 46 minutes with another totally dominant service game.

"Those stats are really good, and very consistent," said Williams, who took her winning run to 30 matches.

"I didn't necessarily go out there feeling great. For me, it was more like let's just see what happens and try to do the best I could."

Errani admitted: "She played unbelievable, that's it. When she plays like this for me it's difficult to play. She's very strong, so there's nothing I can do."

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The chess world is keenly anticipating the duel next November between 43-year-old World Champion Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, the 22-year-old challenger from Norway.

But while the battle for the supreme chess title is always an engrossing affair, this particular encounter will hold an interest beyond what the enormous talent of the two combatants will produce over the chessboard. Let’s call it The Age Factor.

That most humans suffer a deterioration in their faculties as they get older is a fact of life. In terms of the world’s greatest mind game, the question then seems appropriate, at what age does a player, especially those in the grandmaster class, begin to lose his edge, the sharpness that has brought him to the peak of his career?

In other words, will the Age Factor play any part in the coming clash between Anand and Carlsen with a 21-year gap between them?

Not unexpectedly, this topic has occupied a considerable part of conversations among GMs. During the recent London Candidates Tournament, it became the subject of a discussion between GM Nigel Short and IM Lawrence Trent who wondered about the existence of a “peak” age in chess ability.

Short said he was intrigued by the debate, especially considering two points; first, that the world champion has been performing relatively poorly in the past two years and, secondly, the hype that surrounds Carlsen, the highest rated player in the world. Because of this, he wondered whether youth is a major asset in chess.

Considering that the young Norwegian star, “the overwhelming centre of modern chess attention,” is 100 rating points higher than the Indian champion, rated seventh, “many believe that chess ability may resemble a bell curve when controlling for age,” says Short, “and the young are better fit to sit at the board for six or seven hours at a time.”

But will the battle at Chennai in November really serve to settle this recurring question? Anand, it seems, does not think so. Facing the expected criticism over his present form, Anand pointed out that his victory over Gelfand last year, bagging his fifth world title, showed he was still the king of chess. Though the game is not physically demanding, he noted that stamina and mental agility play a key role.

The champion’s lifestyle, being able to relax, take long walks and “hit” the gym regularly also helps him to clear the way for the magnum opus of chess.

Indian GM RB Ramesh points out that it’s the motivating factor that plays a vital role as you age in chess. “It’s not so much about physical or mental fitness, but the actual task of egging yourself on to achieve glory,” he says.

“When you are young in the chess circuit, you have various targets in mind—beat this particular player, achieve a certain ranking, etc. But as you keep conquering all the big tournaments, like Anand has, motivating yourself to do the same thing again and again is the key.”

Without denying the Age Factor, DR is inclined to agree. The history of the sport, in fact, provides a number of impressive refutations of the “old man” syndrome; players, including champions, who have dominated the higher echelons of the game well into their middle age.

Perhaps the most remarkable among them is the Russian legend Victor Korchnoi who retired last year at the age of 81, ending a magnificent career that included three challenges for the world title against Anatoly Karpov, four Soviet championships and victories over most of the players who at some time were the best in the world. Korchnoi, in fact, is regarded as the strongest GM never to have won the world title.

But we really don’t have to scan the international chess arena to cast doubt on the Age Factor, to find strong players who have defied the so-called “ravages of time.”

Home-grown stalwarts such as Mario Merritt, Cecil Lee, Frank Sears, Andrew Bowles and John Raphael have maintained their prominent place in the T&T chess world over two decades and more, even against the challenge of a rising generation of young and talented players.

The fact is, they have not lost their zest for the game, and that quality, perhaps, is the essential antidote to the Age Factor.

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...Bovell misses registration

California-based T&T swimmer Dylan Carter established a new record in the 15-17 boys’ 200-metres butterfly at the Arena Grand Prix Series Santa Clara.

The event was held at the George F Haines International Swim Centre, northern California, on the weekend.

Competing on Friday’s second day of competition, the 17-year-old Carter failed to get to the A-Finals of either the 100m freestyle or the 100m butterfly events he contested.

In the morning heats, Carter was 20th best in the 100m freestyle in 51.25 seconds and followed it up with a second-place finish in the C-Final in 51.15, to trail Justin Glanda (51.04).

He was 38th overall in the morning heats for the 100m butterfly in 56.04 and returned to the pool in the afternoon session for an eighth-place swim in the D-Final in 57.56.

Carter, who has verbally committed to attending the University of Southern California (USC) from January next year, was back in action on Saturday and had a much better showing in the 200m freestyle where he ended 19th in 1:51.88, the same as Dan Madwed, prior to topping the B-Final in 1:51.35 ahead of Blake Worsley (1:51.45) and his soon to be USC Trojans teammate Michael Domagala (1:51.53).

In his other event on Saturday, the 200m backstroke, Carter of the Davie Nadadores club was a disappointing 49th in 2:13.91.

A day later, he was 44th in the 200m butterfly in 2:09.44, a new national mark in the 15-17 boys age-group

He fared better in the 100m backstroke, however, with a 23rd-spot finish in the heats in 58.61, followed by his top spot in the C-Final in 58.14 ahead of Mathew Myer (58.15) and En-Wei Hu-Van Wright (58.49).

T&T’s Olympic and World Short Course Championships bronze medal swimmer George Bovell was also expected to compete at the Santa Clara Grand Prix, however, there was a mix up with the entries and he was a day late and not allowed to compete.

The 29-year-old T&T swimmer splashed off his season with victory in the TYR Jax50 freestyle at the Bolles School Vible Pool, San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida, in April and was hopeful of getting in some competitive action before heading over to Europe.

Bovell, who recently returned from an initiative against Malaria and Drowning in Uganda, will now focus on the Tropheo Setti Coli in Italy, Rome, from June 13-15 followed by the Canada Cup (June 28-30), the French Open in Vichy (July 6-7) and then the FINA World Long Course Championships from July 28 to August 4.

At the conclusion of the World Championship, he is expected to turn his attention to the FINA World Cup which starts with an August 7-8 meet in Eindhoven, Holland followed by Berlin, Germany, September 10-11.

The remaining six stops will continue in October and November, but Bovell, who won a combine 16 medals on the World Cup circuit last year to end in second spot overall, says he may not participate in those as it was deemed too hard to continue through all eight like last year.

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