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

Source: The Guardian Trinidad by Nigel Simon

Joshua Mc Leod (two), Joshua Romany and Kristin Julien all bagged gold medals as T&T continued its impressive showing on the second night of finals at the 27th Central American and Caribbean Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico on Tuesday night. In addition to the four gold medals, the T&T swimmers also collected three silver and two bronze to take its two-day haul to 19 (nine gold, six silver and four bronze). First up the FINA World Long Course Championship (Shanghai)-bound 20-year-old Mc Leod was the  18 & Over boys’ 50 metres butterfly where he touched the wall in a golden time of 24.43 seconds ahead of Suriname’s Marcelino Richaards (25.15) and another T&T and his young sibling Abraham Mc Leod (25.42).

It was the second time on the day Mc Leod (J) had eclipsed the event record after he clocked 24.73 in the morning heats to lower Venezuela’s Jesus Casanova 2009 mark of 25.33 before he improved on his own new mark. Mc Leod, who along with Cherelle Thompson and Olympic bronze medallist George Bovell III will represent T&T in Shanghai, China next month added another gold on the night in the 100 metres freestyle in a personal best time of 51.23 followed by fellow T&T swimmer, Caryle Blondell (51.99) and Puerto Rican, Raul Martinez (52.19). In this his first year of the 15-17 boys’ age-group,  Romany splashed to gold in the 50 metres freestyle in a blistering personal best 23.59 seconds, just outside the 2009 national record of 23.55 held by Blondell.

However, the time was good enough for Romany to book  his ticket to Lima, Peru for the FINA World Youth Swimming Championships in August, as the qualifying time is 23.60. Suriname’s Diguan Pigot took silver in 24.22  and Aruba’s Jonathan Panson, bronze in 24.33 while T&T’s Jonathan Cabral was sixth in 24.78. Kristin Julien won her first ever CCCAN gold in the 50m freestyle, in a personal best 27.48 to beat Honduran Julimar Avila (27.67) and Barbadian Zabrina Holder (27.80) into second and third respectively. Julien, who will represent this country at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle-of-Man later this year was hoping to join Romany and Kimberlee John-Williams on the team for the World Youth Championship in Lima last night when she competed in the 50m backstroke event. Julien was 0.01 seconds off the qualifying time going into the event.

On the opening night, the US-based John-Williams booked her spot with her 30.48 clocking in the 50m backstroke. First day double-gold medal winner, Dylan Carter added a silver to his tally when he raced home in a personal best of 24.38 in the 13-14 boys’ 50m freestyle. First home was Aruba’s Jordy Groters  (24.17) while Panama’s Manuel Gonzalez took bronze in 24.45, with T&T’s Jabari Baptiste, seventh in 25.70, a personal best. The other silver medal on the night for the T&T swimmers came from Stefan Sharpe, who swam the gruelling 15-17 boys’ 1,500m freestyle  in 16 minutes, 30.80 seconds.

CCCAN medal standings after two days
Teams    Gold    Silver    Bronze    Total

P Rico    8    8    12    28
T&T    9    6    4    19
Mexico    5    8    4    17
Aruba    3    2    4    9
Suriname    3    3    1    7
El Sal’dor    3    6    1    10
Guat’ala    4    3    3    10
Honduras    2    4    1    7

National coach Richard Hood says he expects Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic women's team to have little difficulty in overcoming their opponents in the opening phase of the Caribbean Football Union qualifiers, despite the fact that he will be taking a mostly locally-based team.

T&T travel to Dominican Republic to face the hosts, Bermuda and Dominica from July 5-9, with the group winners advancing to the CONCACAF finals in Vancouver, Canada in January.

Hood has been putting his players through their paces at the University of the West Indies Ground, St Augustine, with Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) technical director Even Pellerud also assisting in the sessions.

"The last couple of weeks has seen things falling into place nicely. The players are gelling well at this point. It is a work in progress. We have had some issues with the players as there's been a change in management and we have been working on them buying into the philosophy of the coaches, but I expect good things from these players," Hood told TTFF media.

"We will go to the tournament with a more local team. We have some players from the last Under-17 World Cup team joining as well as some other members from the senior team, so it will be a nice mix of youth and experience. We haven't played much international practice games but understand the situation with the Federation now so to compensate that we have been playing a lot of practice games against boys teams," added Hood, who only recently took over the position of head coach of the women's senior/Olympic team.

"I don't see much difficulty in us getting through this first phase. The girls have been putting in the hard work and I am expecting them to perform creditably at the tournament in Dominican Republic."

Hood, who is also a TTFF instructor for the ongoing "C" Licence coaching course, added that the T&T women's programme has benefitted tremendously from Norwegian Pellerud.

"We have benefitted surely. I have learnt a lot from Even. He has assisted in putting a structure into our programme and assisted with developing the work ethic of our players. The programme has advanced leaps and bounds and we're trying to maintain that kind of progress."

Hood added that several players from overseas have been making contact with the Federation showing interest in representing the Trinidad and Tobago women's teams.

"We don't have a full scouting programme in place for the women's football, but we have ensured that the word is out there through our contacts and there continues to be massive interest from players wanting to be part of the programme and we try to make arrangements for them to be seen or to join the training at some point," Hood added.

Source: www.nytimes.com  By RICHARD SANDOMIR

General Electric extended its global Olympic sponsorship on Wednesday through 2020, matching the decision three weeks ago by NBC Universal to acquire the rights to the four Olympics from 2014 to 2020 for $4.38 billion. G.E., which sold majority control of NBC Universal to Comcast, has sponsored the Olympics since 2008, adding an estimated $200 million sweetener to the $2 billion it paid for NBC to carry the 2008, ’10 and ’12 Games.

G.E.’s decision to continue as a sponsor was not a surprise.

Although G.E. now owns 49 percent of NBC Universal in a joint venture with Comcast, it still recognized the benefits of continuing the sponsorship, which lets it sell industrial products like energy generation systems to build and manage products in Olympic host cities. As of 2008, G.E. said that it had secured $700 million in contracts for 400 Olympic projects in and around Beijing for the 2008 Summer Games.

Jeff Immelt, the chairman and chief executive officer of G.E., said in a statement: “We are committed to working with the IOC and the local Organizing Committees to deliver world-class infrastructure solutions and a sustainable legacy to future generations.”

Source: The Trinidad Guardian

T&T Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) president Leslie Figaro remains confident that T&T will still be a force to be reckoned with despite this country’s recent drop in rank on the International Rugby Board (IRB) world ranking list. This was his reaction to new North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Caribbean 15 a side rugby champion Bermuda, moving past T&T to hold the 47th spot. Bermuda defeated favourite Guyana 11-0 last Wednesday in Georgetown, Guyana, to be crowned Caribbean rugby kings. The last time Bermuda lifted the title was ten years ago. While congratulating Bermuda on their success, Figaro said that T&T rugby will face up to the renewed challenge posed by Bermuda.

“There was a time when Bermuda considered themselves masters of Caribbean 15 a side rugby but when the IRB tightened up on the eligibility rules Bermuda were caught out as the majority of their players at that time were expats. To their credit they have since focused on developing home grown talent. They are the reigning Caribbean Under-19 champs so they must be doing something right.”

Figaro believes that the revival of old rivalries between Bermuda and T&T will only serve to raise the standard of rugby in the region. “For the Caribbean 15s rugby championships to raise its profile and be more marketable. The rebirth of fierce regional rivalry is great. Here in T&T. I am trying and continue to strive to get the stakeholders to take our destiny into our own hands. “As I have said over the years at the national team level there is no room or place for players with a social and recreational mindset. An important issue remains the players taking responsibility for their strength and conditioning.”

T&T’s recent 22-20 loss to Guyana at home was deeply disappointing indicated Figaro but he remains firm in his belief that it was a necessary wake up call. “I am beginning to sound like a stuck record but T&T rugby stakeholders must stop looking for a rugby saviour. Our destiny is in our own hands. If we prefer social and recreational rugby then so be it. “Let us forget international and regional ambitions, goals and objectives and focus on social rugby. If we are serious about achieving our full potential as a rugby nation-small as we are- then stop the blame game.”

The decision by the TTRFU selection committee to “blood” 13 uncapped players and entrust the national senior men’s team fortunes in the hands of new coaches Larry Mendez (head coach) and Dale Trotman (assistant coach) is a necessary development, according to Figaro. “As far as I am concerned maintaining the status quo represent stagnation. Medicority is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. It is time for T&T rugby to look forward. “Larry and Dale understand the realities and can only improve. The same can be said about the young players. We missed eight conversion attempts that's a total of 20 points. We know that there is work to be done. Lets buckle down and do it and stop the finger pointing.”

Glasgow 2014, the Organising Committee for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, has announced that its Chief Executive, John Scott, has resigned with immediate effect.

David Grevemberg, the Chief Operating Officer, will take charge of the Organising Committee until a permanent Chief Executive appointment is made.

Lord Smith, Chairman of Glasgow 2014, said:

“John Scott has made an important contribution to the planning of what we believe will be an outstanding Games.

“The Board has accepted his resignation today for an error of judgement he made in accepting, and not declaring, an offer from one of Glasgow 2014’s potential Suppliers, in breach of the Organising Committee’s strict Gifts and Gratuities policy.

“I know he deeply regrets this mistake and this was a job that he loved. It is a measure of the man that he has put the values and reputation of the OC ahead of his own at this time. John was largely responsible for setting the OC’s high standards of governance and he felt he could not continue in his role as Chief Executive under the circumstances.

“Now we must look to the future. We have a great team in the Organising Committee and a strong relationship with our Games Partners. We are on track and on budget and do not intend to let the pace of our preparations drop.”

Bermuda defeated  pre final  favourties Guyana 11- 0  last Wednesday in the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association(NACRA) Caribbean 15 a side rugby Championship final played in  Georgetown Guyana.
The last time Bermuda lifted the title was ten years ago. The new Caribbean rugby kings have risen to number 47 on the International Rugby Board(IRB) world ranking list demoting former champs T&T to 48th.
Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union(TTRFU) president Leslie Figaro while congratulating Bermuda on their success this year said that T&T rugby will face up to the renewed challenge posed by Bermuda.

" There was a time when Bermuda considered themselves masters of Caribbean 15 a side rugby. But.. when the IRB tightened up on the eligibility rules Bermuda were caught out as the majority of their players at that time were expats. To their credit they have since focused on developing home grown talent. They are the reigning Caribbean under 19 champs so they must be doing something right."

Figaro believes that the revival of old rivalries between Bermuda and T&T will only serve to raise the standard of rugby in the region .
" For the Caribbean 15s rugby championships to raise its profile and be more marketable. The rebirth of fierce regional rivalry is great. Here in T&T. I am trying and continue to strive to get the stakeholders to take our destiny into our own hands. As I have said over the years at the national team level there is no room or place for players with a social and recreational mindset. An important issue remains the players taking responsibility for their  strength and conditioning. "

T&T's recent 22-20 home loss to Guyana was deeply disappointing said Figaro but he remains firm in his belief that it is a necessary wake up call.
" I am beginning to sound like a stuck record. But T&T rugby stakeholders must stop looking for a rugby saviour. Our destiny is in our own hands. If  we prefer social and recreational rugby. Then so be it. Let us forget international and regional ambitions,goals and objectives and focus on social rugby. If we are serious about achieving our full potential as a rugby nation-small as we are- then  stop the blame game."

Figaro believes the decision by the TTRFU selection committee to 'blood" thirteen uncapped players and to entrust the national senior men's team fortunes in the hands of new coaches -Larry Mendez,head coach, and Dale Trotman ,assistant coach is a necessary development.

"As far as I am concerned maintaining the status quo represent stagnation. Medicority is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. It is time for T&T rugby to look forward. I understand that with the loss the knives will be out but it comes with the territory. Larry(Mendez) and Dale(Trotman) understand the realties and can only improve. The same can be said about the young players.We missed eight conversion attempts thats a total of twenty points. We know that there is work to be done. Lets buckle down and do it and stop the finger pointing."

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) Olympic day relay run was held this year at Chaguaramas, opposite Chagville Beach.
There were a number of winners but star of the show was Granny Luces.

Olympic day 2011

Race Winners

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Day celebrations will take place tomorrow in Chagville, Chaguaramas. Olympic Day was celebrated globally on Thursday but local activities have been carded for tomorrow with events such as SNAG Golf, volleyball, football and cricket among others.

This year's theme is Learn, Move, Discover. It's an opportunity to spend quality time with the family at the same time while promoting a healthy lifestyle for every citizen of T&T.

The day's activities get on the way at 9am with the mountain bike race. There will also be running events for all age groups. At 2pm the wheelchair race will be held to be followed by the 5k relay run (5 persons on a team with each runner completing 1K). The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee have arranged transport for over 600 primary and secondary school students from various communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Members of the public are invited. Registration for all the events start at 8am.

Olympic Day, 23rd June, is celebrated annually by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and over 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) worldwide, including Trinidad and Tobago.

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) however, will host its Olympic Day activities on the 25th June, 2011 at the Chagville Beach Facility, Chaguaramas beginning at 9:00am.

The TTOC in preparation for Saturday’s event held its first ever Beach Clean-up on Thursday 23rd June, 2011 (Corpus Chrisiti) at the Chagville Beach Facilities. Students of the UWI/ FIFA/ CIES Post Graduate Diploma in Sport Management together with past TTOC Olympic Youth Campers of the  came out in their numbers.

With sunshine throughout the day, the clean-up was successful said TTOC Administrative Assistant Kyome Pascall Mortley.

“With all the rainy days that we have been having we were hoping that today would be blessed with sunshine. We had a large turnout and the objective was to ensure that the area and environment where the Olympic Day activities would be held was cleaned up. Our objective was achieved and we had fun doing it.”

Editor’s Note: This year, the TTOC expects approximately one thousand (1000) persons to participate in the annual celebration. The celebration will take the form of a ‘Family Day’, and participants will be exposed to an array sporting activities including Sporting activities such as Sailing, Hockey, Football, SNAG Golf, and continuous Cricket, as well as a variety of team activities such as Tug-o-War. The traditional Relay Run, Cycling and Wheelchair races are all expected to generate lots of excitement and interest

Source: www.royalgazette.com

By Stephen Wright

Guyana 0 Bermuda 11

For the first time in more than a decade Bermuda’s national rugby team are Caribbean Champions.

The Islanders defeated pre-final favourites Guyana last night in their opponent’s capital city, Georgetown, thanks to a first half try by Aldo Campbell and two Tom Edwards penalty kicks.

Bermuda coach Lawrence Bird praised his victorious side’s commitment and discipline and described their defensive play as “absolutely superb”.

“It means so much to the guys who have worked so hard and so long for this,” said Bird.

“Guyana were heavily fancied and so to beat them with a clean sheet is very impressive. Defensively our boys were absolutely superb and very committed as we expected.

“We scored a try in the first few minutes through Aldo Campbell. We then had two penalties which Tom Edwards converted to give us an 11-0 lead at half-time.

“After the break they absolutely came at us from the word go and we incurred a lot of penalties, but we kept our composure and discipline.”

Bermuda finished top of the Caribbean North Zone after defeating Mexico in the semi-finals, while Guyana beat Barbados in the other semi to finish top of the South Zone.

Bermuda’s starting line-up: Paul Dobinson (Renegades), Tank Greenslade (Teachers), Allan Steynor (Mariners), Aldo Campbell (Teachers), Dave Rourke (Mariners), Gareth Edwards (Mariners), Conor McGlynn (Renegades), Peter Dunkerley (Renegades), Tom Healy (Renegades), Chris Naylor (Teachers), Jack Ellison (Teachers), Scott Coban (Teachers), Tommy Edwards (Police), Dave Porter (Teachers), Alun Thomas (Mariners)

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Andre E Baptiste

It is interesting, if not perplexing and disturbing, that Fathers Day passed off and with it, a weekend of disappointment as the promotion for fathers was as limp as the explanation by the Sports Company of T&T on the non-availability of the Hasely Crawford Stadium for the National Amateur Athletics Association’s  Championships this weekend.

If you add the news that T&T’s senior cricket team will be involved in a six-team playoff to qualify for the Airtel Champions League, it is easy to understand why most fathers always believe they have more to do than their female counterparts. It is a travesty that those in control of the stadium were not equipped with enough information to plan this entire procedure better. There is no excuse  for this mess-up, this shameful disregard for athletes and their association. Perhaps the much said association can also be blamed for being too trustworthy and too naïve in believing what was being stated openly by these high placed sporting officials both from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Sports Company.  

It is also an indictment of the times that persons who are supposed to set the examples are the ones neglecting their duty to the sporting personnel of this country. It is so sad that many youngsters and their coaches who made numerous sacrifices for this championship will be disappointed because a few people who should have known better, did not do their homework. Chairman of the Sports Company, Rhett Chee Ping, will need to explain why his organisation released a notice to the media on Friday before talking with the governing NAAA. This goes against good corporate governance and since the Sports Company is a corporate organization, these procedures need to be adhered too. Chee Ping and his team failed to follow the correct protocol and his continual absence from these matters would suggest that he does not understand his role.

At a time when many are hoping sport will encourage youngsters to focus on what is good, we are now in a situation where there is more disappointment for our young athletes.In Hasely Crawford, Ato Boldon and Richard Thompson, we have shown we are up to world class and with dedication and some level of support, we can only get better. But on the evidence of the treatment meted out to the NAAA, something is wrong. Former Olympic medalist Edwin Skinner, now a leading coach, was very emotional on Isports Saturday on i95.5fm and offered the view that “athletics was being treated like the bastard child.”

This was not a man with a vendetta but instead was someone thinking about “how would I tell the young athletes who were still not aware of this matter, that all of their training for the Hasely Crawford Stadium would be in vain...” It is difficult to understand why people cannot understand that young athletes consider the stadium as the “mecca” of athletics and not only because of the certification issue, but because of the image, prestige and pride associated with running there.  The news, confirmed by the NAAA, that their leading officials were not allowed into the stadium to view the state of the surface being installed was very sad and typical of someone who is insecure about the quality of their work.

This is not in the best interest of the sports. Many times we have to believe that those in authority take their positions  for granted and ignore the responsibility assigned to them. Renowned athlete Ato Boldon who was also on Isports was particularly disappointed in the NAAA, for not establishing a contingency plan in the wake of what was clearly shoddy planning and a lot of introspection of how they operate in the future. Boldon was certainly not surprised by the consistent lack of care to athletics and is warning organisations to be wary of the words of officials in sports based on history.

In my view, Boldon is 150 per cent correct, there is little doubt that most persons in sports just say what they think you want to hear, but do not check the facts. Perhaps it is time for the NAAA to be more aggressive and not as timid in its relationship with those in authority. This is a lesson for all sporting administrations. While you may depend on the Ministry and Sportt for subventions and grants, it  does not mean that you have to accept everything that is said, when you are certain it is wrong or will have a negative impact in the long run, just for the sake of money.  Honesty and integrity should not be sold for a few dollars. Therefore no sporting organization should be able to dictate who gets the award of a contract or not based on friendship or personal involvement. That is a clear cut “conflict of interest” and must be treated as that.

Current Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts, will want to sort out this apparent war between the NAAA and the stadium. He will not want to be remembered as the  “Minister of modern time” who presided over the cancellation of a national athletics championships in the year of the World Championships and the year before the Olympic Games. Roberts, unlike his predecessor Gary Hunt, is considered a man who knows about sports and has a fervent love for it so therefore these  mistakes cannot be easily forgiven or erased. In the context of all that is happening around him at the moment, the Minister may be forgiven for not clearly understanding the facts.

Whatever the reason or the rationale, this entire event is distasteful and leaves a sour taste. Whether it is through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ashwin Creed, chairman of the Sportt, Rhett Chee Ping, or Minister Roberts, there is a need to clear up this unfortunate situation.  This country, the NAAA and our young athletes, in particular,    deserve better. There are still too many unanswered questions in this  episode. They are far too uncomfortable for the good of sport. Minister Roberts must not allow his office to be embroiled in something as distasteful as this incident. The Hasely Crawford Stadium is for out athletes. Let us honour that!

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

By Jonathan Ramnanansingh

THE postponed 2011 Sagicor National Senior Track and Field Championships has been re-scheduled to August 13 and 14, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

This announcement was made at a press briefing by NAAA president Ephraim Serrette, secretary Alan Baboolal and public relations officer Trevor James held at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, yesterday

The championships was originally carded for Saturday and Sunday, but the athletics men were told by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) on June 17, that the venue would not be available.

“These dates represent the only opportunity on the International Track and Field calendar to accommodate our athletes with professional obligations. “These dates have also been chosen to allow the completion of the laying of the new track surface at the Hasely Crawford Stadium,” explained Serrette.

The NAAA executives have set a July 2 date for the layers of the new tracks to complete the entire job.

What is critical though, is that the tracks must still receive a full 14 day period of sun to get the required result for the championships.

If everything goes according to plan, the NAAA would make their final decision on July 20.

“In this regard the association sees it as a responsibility to monitor on a weekly basis, the work being conducted on the track surface so as to better advise its planning.

“We will appoint a team to liaise with the SPORTT Company to facilitate weekly inspection of the work done,” mentioned Serrette.

The option of hosting the championships at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Tobago, was turned down entirely due to the fact that the tracks there, were not well equipped for this type national meet.

NAAA’s executive carried out a thorough investigation of the tracks and deemed it unfit. They also mentioned numerous other reasons why the championships were not suitable to be held in Tobago.

Serrette continued, “It is totally out of the question for varying reasons. The Tobago tracks are absolutely no good and are not in the proper conditions to host such an event. Besides the track and its undulating surfaces, one must think of the extra cost for taking all the athletes, officials and necessary equipment needed for the championships. A great move such as this would be very costly to the 49 participating clubs and the individual athletes.

“Also taking into consideration hotels, accommodation, food and transportation, all these additional costs.”

The worst case scenario of the championships not being held at all would force the selection of national teams for the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC), based on the athlete’s previous track and field performances, to date.

This is indeed a reality because of the start of the rainy season and the still required 14 days of sun for the new tracks.

Serrette apologised to all athletes for all inconveniences caused to athletes local and foreign, sponsors and fans.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Brian Lewis

This Thursday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Movement worldwide will celebrate, as is done every year on June 23, Olympic Day. The IOC constituted itself on June 23, 1894. Since then the IOC has weathered many a storm on all fronts—financial, political and ethical—and along the way the IOC kept building and learning and growing. One may well remember the 1976 to 1984 period. Many claim that were it not for the Los Angeles Olympics, the Olympic Games would have crashed out of existence. Who knows? It is a fact that the revenue stream of the IOC changed and the marketing of sponsorship and television gifted the IOC a financial gold mine. Los Angeles and money aside. One would still have to give enormous credit to the IOC for its resilience and indomitable will not just to survive but to thrive.

Truth of the matter is that different eras bring with them different challenges. Questions about the future of the Olympic Games and their relevance remain subjects of debate, but even in the face of divergent views inside and outside the Olympic movement there remains that deep will and dedication fueled no doubt by age old Olympic history and tradition to carry forward Pierre de Coubertin’s legacy. But no matter the many triumphs, there is need for eternal vigilance as the most virulent threats to the Olympic values and spirit come from within. Olympism is a philosophy of life blending sport with culture and education. It seeks to create a way of way of life based on the joy found in effort,the educational value found in good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles. The goal of Olympism has not changed over the years: to place sport at the service mankind and to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport.

Any organisation or person belonging in any capacity whatsoever to the Olympic movement is bound by the provisions of the Olympic charter. The annual celebrations afford those involved or interested in the Olympic movement and Olympic sports to revisit the Olympic charter and the fundamental principles of Olympism. It should also serve as a reminder to those in leadership positions about the true purpose of the Olympic movement. Carrying the flame of Olympism in these times—where winning is all that matters and winning at any cost is viewed as par for the course—is not an easy burden to bear.
The difficulties are great but succumbing to the whirlwind of commercialisation and self interest must be resisted. Olympic day is an important respite. The TTOC will host its Olympic Day activities on June 25 at Chaguaramas opposite the Convention centre starting at 930 am. The popular Olympic relay will be run off at 2 pm. Don’t miss it.

Editor’s note: Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee- http// www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

Allan Baboolal, secretary, National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) has said “it is a possibility” that no National Championships could not be held this year.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Baboolal said he was very disappointed that the NAAAs were forced to postpone the event after the German contractor Porplastics revealed the track would not be ready in time for the June 25 opening.

Baboolal revealed the NAAA received an email on Friday night stating that the earliest the track would be ready is by July 2. He noted that because of the packed international calendar the Championships if held next month would be without a number of the country’s recognised stars.

“We will not have the benefit of our top athletes. Our top sprinter right now Keston Bledman will be leaving a disappointed man on Tuesday to go to Europe. (National female 100m champion) Kelly- Ann Baptiste has already asked for an exemption.

She has the Diamond League meetings in July and it understandable that they have their contractual arrangements,” he said, “It is a possibility (that there could be no Championships this year). That is my view not that of the NAAAs. I can’t see it happening next month. We have to send a team to the CAC (Age Group and Senior Championships) and the Pan Am Junior Championship (July 22-24). I will be there with the team,” he said.

Baboolal explained the ramifications of postponing the Championships are being felt throughout the world.

“This was to be one of the bigger years for us. The IAAF gave us permit for relay qualifiers for the World Games and Olympics to be held here. The response was overwhelming...the Sport Company sent out a media release and people started calling like wildfire wanting to find out if it was true,” he said.

He said the meet could not be held at the Ato Boldon Stadium because the track was not certified therefore the relay teams would not be achieving what they came to do.

He explained a lot of money has been spent by his organisation already on tickets and advertising and that has now gone down the drain.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

The Trinidad and Tobago men’s hockey team lost the first two of their four-match series against the US men’s national team on their USA tour, in preparation for this year’s Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, in October.

Although the “Soca Stickmen” had an impressive start, they lost their opening match 4-2 to a better prepared US team. Trinidad and Tobago (TT) opened the scoring in both halves with goals from Akim Toussaint in the 5th and 37th minute respectively. It was the defenders, however, who made critical errors which resulted in goalkeeper Karlos Stephens being beaten four times.

TT’s line-up for the first match was Stephens, Toussaint, Kwan Browne, Darren Cowie, Javon Woodward, Shaquille Daniel, Aidan De Gannes, Mickell Pierre, Alan Henderson, Attiba Whittington and Dwain Quan Chan.

Game two was played on Thursday and saw the US team clinch a 3-2 win over the Soca Stickmen. TT opened the scoring with a cracking field-goal from Mickell Pierre in the eighth minute. The US team equalised 15 minutes later to level the score at 1-1. Atiba Whittington put TT on top with a field goal in the 36th minute to close off the first- half with a 2-1 lead.

In the second-half, the Soca Stickmen played well but just could not penetrate the tough US defence. On the other hand, the US team utilised their opportunities and were able to score and level the game at 2-2. In the final minutes of play, the US took advantage of a series of short corners and scored the winning goal seven seconds from the final whistle.

Christopher Scipio was in the starting line-up for TT in this match.

National men’s hockey team coach, Eric Verboom expressed his disappointment with the results but was still optimistic of the squad. Verboom said the TT team is more talented but were beaten by a team who was more prepared for the encounter.

The third game against the US team was played yesterday.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH

Local middle-weight boxer Andrew Fermin left for Cuba yesterday to resume his sparring training in preparation for a tight schedule of tournaments and Olympic qualifiers over the next few months.

Fermin will be in Cuba for the next two weeks as he seeks to improve on his current form before these top international tournaments.

His first challenge is the third and final qualifiers for the 2011 Pan American Games scheduled for July 1 - 8.

The 26-year-old is in a confident mood and is pleased by his recent form in the ring.

“I’m confident that I will make it into this year’s Pan Am Games. I personally think that right now my boxing is of a good standard but I will continue to work at it and further develop myself. I’ve been burning some hours practicing in the ring, but my coach and I see it necessary for us to go to Cuba to work on my sparring a bit more,” stated Fermin.

Since November of last year, the Defence Force private has been training tirelessly to stay fit and keep abreast in his boxing category. He has been further developing his fighting style by experimenting with some new and varied forms of boxing. Fermin has also put much effort into his physical fitness and is goal bound on keeping his energy levels at the maximum.

“I’ve been keeping myself pumped. I have also tried to vary my style of fighting in the ring by trying out some new moves. My coach has been very particular with me throwing more punches and being a more aggressive fighter. I think my chances at the final Pan Am qualifiers are good,” continued Fermin.

On July 1, the Siparia-bred boxer will fly directly from training in Cuba to Panama, to compete in the qualifier. Two weeks after, he flies to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to compete in this year’s International World Military Games (July 18-24). This tournament consists of military fighters from all across the globe competing for top honours in their respective fighting-style and weight categories. After these meets, the 2010 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) silver medalist will have a month’s rest to recover and fine-tune his boxing before he participates in the World Senior Championships, Azerbaijan, from September 18-30. These championships are also a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Fermin’s coach, Reynold Cox also expressed his confidence in the TT fighter and believes sparring practice in Cuba is essential.

“I want Andrew to do a little more work in the ring. Throw some more punches and further develop his all-round abilities. He gave good performances in the last two Pan Am qualifiers and will seek to capitalise on his recent positive mind-set and agility in the ring,” mentioned Cox.

“We are focusing on what lies ahead, but as you can see it’s a very tight schedule we’ll be working with over the next couple months. He has a good chance of advancing to the Pan Am since most of the top fighters have already qualified. The World Senior Championships is a major event and we will put much time into proper preparation into achieving hopefully an Olympic spot, added Fermin’s coach.

Also joining Fermin in Panama from July 1 is local boxer Aaron Prince. He is a 2010 CAC bronze medallist and will be competing in the 59 kilogramme Welter-weight division. Two female fighters, Jamila Jones and Chimire Taylor, are also expected to join Fermin and Prince. Jones and Taylor will have to undergo some fitness tests and evaluations before they are officially selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Pan Am Games.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The T&T Olympic Committee will join the rest of the global Olympic Movement in celebrating Olympic Day and Olympism on June 23. In a worldwide event held to celebrate the establishment of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) while providing a medium for the promotion and education of Olympic values. The T&TOC’s actual day of activities will take place on Saturday with the theme being “a new Olympic style format and an opportunity to spend quality time with the family while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for every citizen of T&T.” This year the T&TOC adopted a different approach to the management of the commemorative activity following a decision by the national Olympic committee's executive to allow the UWI/FIFA/CIES Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management to manage the event as part of the NOCs collaboration with the University.

­The post graduate students have proposed some  new ideas that the T&TOC have unanimously agreed to adopt, including a change of venue from King George V Park in Port-of-Spain to Chaguaramas. The Chaguaramas location offers appropriate land space, aesthetics and the opportunity to host a wide array of activities. In agreeing to permit the T&TOC's event to be held in the Western peninsula, Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) officials said that the CDA shares similar values and vision with  the T&TOC, the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Day.  Both the T&TOC and the CDA consider the promotion of family oriented sporting activities, respect for and appreciation of the natural environment and a greater awareness of health and wellness as important attributes in the development of a healthy and crime free T&T.

T&TOC president Michael Romany expressed his organisation's confidence that Chaguaramas could prove to be  the ideal location for Olympic  type activities. "This  year's Olympic day event can be used by both the T&TOC, IOC, Olympic Solidarity and the CDA to build the foundation for future partnerships for sports, health and family activities. (The TTOC) is also delighted to continue to partner with UWI and UTT in an ongoing effort to afford students pursuing sports related study practical experience and internships." added Romany. Romany said that a benefit of having the post graduate students involved is that the students bring a different perspective. “Over the years we have managed the event in house. But it is always beneficial to inject new perspectives and ideas. The Olympic day run and week is a major event on the Olympic calendar. It is therefore important that we use the potential of the event as a key driver of the Olympic message to the fullest. “It is a wonderful platform to present the Olympic values. It is also an exciting opportunity for the students to learn more about the T&TOC and the Olympic movement while at the same time getting the opportunity to develop, implement and execute their ideas and plan as part of their diploma project.” said Romany. Olympic day activities will include: A 5K Run, badminton, volleyball, cycle/wheel chair races, dance (ballroom), football, mini golf/snagg golf, mini hockey, paralympics, target archery, karate, kkayak, tag bee, aerobics, dragon boat races, basket ball, face painting, bouncy castle.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

T&T’s senior men’s hockey team will be hoping to stop a two-match losing slide when it comes up against host USA at Moorpark College in Moorpark, California, USA from 1.30 pm today. This after the “Calypso stickmen” surrendered a 1-0 lead in a last-minute 3-2 loss to the Americans in their second of four matches on Thursday night at the same venue. The star of the night for the host was veteran player Pat Harris who scored three penalty corner goals, including a last-minute item. Early on in Wednesday’s encounter, it seemed as though the Kwandwane Browne-led T&T squad would level the series at 1-1 after it dominated the first ten minutes before going ahead 1-0 via a Mickel Pierre chip finish over the dive of goalkeeper Andrew Zayac.

However in the 24th minute USA secured a penalty corner which was converted by Harris only for T&T to respond less than a minute later when Atiba Whittington capitalised on another American defensive error, to beat Zayac from a one-on-one play.  Just before the interval, T&T goalkeeper Karlos Stephens pulled off a stunning save from a penalty corner to preserve his team’s 2-1 cushion at the half. The second half opened with much of the same back and forth play, but it was the Americans who stuck first in the thirty-ninth minute when Harris once again drag flicked a shot past Stephens to level the score at 2-2. As the match continued both sides saw scoring opportunities go unrealised and it appeared as though the game was on the verge of being a draw.

But it was not to be. One last USA penalty-corner was granted in the sixty-ninth minute and, as he had done earlier, Harris once again beat Stephens to give USA a 3-2 advantage and the victory. On Wednesday in the first match, USA came away with a 4-2 triumph after T&T had also taken the early advantage. Akim Toussaint fired T&T ahead as early as the fifth minute with a quick flick from close range that whisked past Zayac. But the Americans did not sit idly by, as Will Holt teed up Harris for the equaliser in the 14th minute.

USA then went ahead when Ian Scally tipped in a rebound in the 24th minute before Harris scored on his own penalty corner rebound in the 32 minute for a 3-1 lead at the break. On the resumption, T&T started aggressively and reduced the deficit to 3-2 as Toussaint picked up his second goal of the day when he hit a quick, high shot into the net. With momentum swinging towards the T&T, USA stepped up and used a long ball by Scally to set an unmarked Harris free. The USA ace player did not disappoint as he used a one-time sweep pass to hit Jon Ginolfi for the fourth USA goal of the day in the 41st minute.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Nigel Simon

Local Olympic bronze medal swimmer, George Bovell III was a sixth placed finisher in the men’s 50 metres freestyle final at the 48th Sette Colli International Swim Open, Rome, Italy, yesterday. In the final, the 27-year-old Bovell III touched the wall in 22.53 seconds to finish ahead of Hungary’s Krisztian Takacs (22.73) and Russian, Sergey Fesikov (22.99) at the Stadio del Nuoto.  The winner was South African, Roland Schoeman who sped home in 22.31 seconds just ahead of home boys Marco Orsi (22.36), and joint third placed swimmers’ Luca Dotta and Andrea Rolla, who both clocked 22.47. Fifth was Finland’s Ari-Pekka Liukkonen (22.50).

Earlier on in the morning heats, Bovell who is competing at the same venue of the 13th FINA World Long Course Swimming Championship two years ago where he placed seventh in the 50 metres freestyle final was the top qualifier in the fifth and final ten-swimmers heat in 22.56 seconds ahead of Takacs (22.80). His time going into the final was the third fastest overall behind Orsi (22.40) and Fesikov (22.52).
The other qualifiers were Dotto and Liukkonen, both in 22.64, Rolla (22.72) and last but not least Schoeman, in 22.81, just ahead of Federico Bocchia (22.82). USA-based 15-year-old T&T swimmer Keegan Boisson-Yates of the Coral Springs club, was sixth in the first heat in 25.16.

Spain’s Aschwin Wildeboer won the final in 25.26 followed by South Africa’s Gerhard Zandberg (25.28) and Great Britain’s Liam Tancock (25.36). Today, Bovell III who earned his Olympic bronze medal in the 200 metres individual medley in Athens Greece 2004 will have a rest day while Boisson-Yates competes in the 100 metres backstroke heats. Tomorrow, Bovell III will return to action when he lines up for the 50 metres butterfly and 100 metres freestyle while Boisson-Yates also competes in the latter. Bovell who then travels to France for the Paris Open next weekend before returning home is using the meets as part of his preparations for the FINA World Long Course Championship in Shanghai, China from July 16 to 31.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Angus Eve is in the process of finalising his squad to contest the Caribbean Football Union Olympic Qualifiers next month in Dominica.

Eve, a former national team captain, took over the responsibility of head coach from Zoran Vranes after serving as an assistant coach alongside Clint Marcelle for the past few months.

Now charged with the responsibility of getting the T&T Under-23s ready for the qualifiers, Eve said he's welcoming the challenge at every session. The team has been training three days per week at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training pitch.

T&T face Dominica, Netherlands Antilles and Grenada from July 20-24 with the Group B winners going forward to the CONCACAF Finals in United States next year, with qualification for the 2012 Olympics the ultimate goal.  

Marcelle and Derek King are his assistant coaches, with Norris Ferguson holding the manager's post.

"More or less we have an idea of what the squad will look like for the competition but we have a couple spaces still opened. I want the guys to push themselves to the limit and as such we have players still competing against others for particular positions, " Eve told TTFF Media yesterday.

"I am also looking at the possibility of including two overseas-based players in Khaleem Hyland and Kevin Molino because I'm taking nothing for granted in this first round."

Grenada booted T&T out of the last Olympic qualifiers at the Marvin Lee Stadium and have also qualified ahead of the "Soca Warriors" for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Grenadians also defeated T&T in the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Cup.

"We haven't particularly dealt well with Grenada at the regional tournaments. They also knocked us out of the last Olympic qualifiers. I have the experience of being a player both in Olympic and World Cup qualifiers and the most difficult games to play are in the qualifiers because it's all about getting results in order to qualify.

"You find that in the tournament itself, once you've qualified, all the teams make a greater attempt to play good, attractive football.

"Right now we have an excellent bunch of players in training and it's a case of trying to get them to play with the right intensity. We've been looking at how the other teams are playing, especially at the Gold Cup and you realise the difference with the Caribbean teams like Grenada and Guadeloupe compared to rest of CONCACAF," Eve added.

The former Joe Public and Chester City player said he felt privileged to be given the responsibility of preparing the Olympic team.

"It's a great honour, being someone who has played for country for such a long time to now step into the coaching ranks. It's a massive opportunity for me, especially seeing the way the Federation has gone before with regards to giving foreign coaches the top positions with the national teams. I feel honoured to lead my country into a qualification campaign for a tournament which we've never qualified for.

"It's a great opportunity for me and for other local coaches to show our potential. I think we have some good local coaches and the only disadvantage for some of them is that they may not have played or coached overseas to have gotten that additional experience and exposure that goes a long way.

"But generally I think we have coaches here who have really good potential," Eve said.