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

Source: www.guardian.co.tt
Story by: Nigel Simon

A fit again, Olympic bronze medal swimmer, George Bovell III leaves on Sunday, for Rome where he will compete at the Italian Open at the Stadio del Nuoto. It is the same venue where Bovell competed in the 13th FINA World Long Course Swimming Championship two years ago where he placed seventh in the 50 metres freestyle final.  This time around, Bovell who earned his Olympic bronze medal in the 200 metres individual medley in Athens Greece 2004 says he will compete in the 50 metres freestyle as well as the 100 metres freestyle and 50 metres backstroke.

He will also compete at the Paris Open next weekend before returning home to fine-tune his preparations for the FINA World Long Course Championship in Shanghai, China from July 16 to 31.
Looking ahead to the swim meet in Italy, the 27-year-old Bovell said it is expected to be a top quality one attended by a number of top swimmers. Asked if he was ready for the challenge, a confident Bovell replied, “Yes I am. I have been training very hard and things are coming along great under coach (Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs) Anil Roberts. So at the moment I’m tapered and just trying to get some rest ahead of the competition.

Last weekend, Bovell III returned to the pool and competed in the National Age-Group Long Course Swimming Championship at the Marlins’ Swimming Pool, Morne Coco Road, Westmoorings.
The former Auburn University stand-out and NCAA Division swimming champion, competed in the 50 metres freestyle and 50 metres backstroke events and won comfortably. In the 18 & Over 50m freestyle, Bovell coasted to victory in 22.80 seconds, which improved on his preliminary time of 22.94.
Second was Joshua Mc Leod in 23.58 while Caryle Blondell took third in 23.66. Bovell won the 50m backstroke in 26.30 seconds followed by Mc Leod (27.38) and Blondell (28.33). His swim over the weekend marked the first time since 2007, Bovell III had competed locally and was his first since he last competed in mid-April at the Eindhoven Open in Holland.

He began the year with three gold medal swims in South Africa and followed it up by competing at the Spanish Open where he repeated as the 50m freestyle champion. However, his scheduled was interrupted by a freak injury in Spain enroute to Holland when he sliced his toe and was sidelined for almost a month. But after last weekend’s outing Bovell who said he was a bit disappointed with his time in the 50m freestyle, is now ready to resume his preparations on the international stage. “Since my injury has healed I have continued with my programme to increase my strength, speed, technique and fitness.

In the lead-up to the meet at Marlins, Bovell III also had two of his former Auburn University swimming teammates, Bryan Lundquist and Joe Pascall join him for training in Trinidad. “Lundquist and Pascall joined me in training for two weeks each because training on your own could be very difficult at times. “When you are training on your own you have to find that inner drive to succeed. But it has worked so far and in the long run it will work to my benefit,” he said.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Shot-putter Mark Edwards, who finished second in the British rankings last year and was a coach to disabled throwers at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, has been banned from the sport for three years after testing positive for two performance-enhancing substances.

The 36 year-old, winner of the UK indoor title in 2009 and 2010, was found to have taken the steroids testosterone and Clostebol shortly before last year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

He was given a longer ban than the standard two-year suspension due to “aggravating circumstances” — the first time that UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has argued successfully for a stiffer penalty than the two-year sanction.

Edwards claimed that he should not have been tested as he had pulled out of the Commonwealth Games on medical grounds the day before he was tested and said he intended to retire from competitive athletics.

He also told a disciplinary tribunal that he had no idea how the substances came to be in his urine sample and suggested it may have been tampered with en route to the laboratory.

But his defence was rejected by the tribunal, who said the presence of more than one banned drug in his sample constituted aggravating circumstances.

In a statement, the tribunal said: “The athlete is a senior athlete and a role model in the throwing community. He runs a sports therapy business and has a history of working with disabled athletes.”

Andy Parkinson, the UKAD chief executive, said: “The three-year suspension should send a strong message to anyone looking to dope in the UK and I hope gives clean athletes the confidence that we will aggressively pursue those who we think are cheating.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the rights of clean athletes in the run-up to London 2012 and beyond.”

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Michael  Romany visited a Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) Rugby  7s training session last Saturday at the King George V Park. Trinidad and Tobago will participate in CYG 7s for the first time.TTRFU president Leslie Figaro was also in attendance . Romany, Figaro along with Team manager Rudolph Jack, each gave a brief  address to the eager youngsters who face a gruelling training programme ahead of the 4th edition of the Games scheduled for 7-13 September Isle of Man.

Romany told the youngsters that "it is an opportunity of a life time" and  they should approach their training and preparations with discipline, dedication and commitment.

" You will  meet  very tough opposition. Your mental and physical fitness will be tested like never before. But it is a challenge you should embrace, especially as rugby 7s will be an Olympic sport come Rio 2016."
Romany also made a presentation of rugby balls and other training equipment to the TTRFU on behalf of the TTOC .

Team Manager of the Commonwealth Youth Games rugby 7s team, Rudolph Jack expressed thanks on behalf of the players, coaches and TTRFU.

" This  donation is appreciated. All of us - players, coaches and myself, understand the responsibility and the trust that has been placed  in us. Playing rugby at the Commonwealth games  at any age level is a tall hill to climb. You are up against the very best rugby nations in the world. As manager I will do my best to motivate the players and coaches. I have accepted the opportunity to serve my country in a different capacity with this assignment. I assure you that I will give it my best."

TTRFU president Leslie Figaro told  the young rugby players that coming close on the heels of T&T's recent  loss to Guyana (22-20) in the Caribbean 15s rugby championship, discipline and dedication to fitness and a positive life style are important ingredients if they are to be at their best.

" Participating in the Commonwealth Youth Games is a leap of faith and an investment in the future with Rio 2016 firmly in mind. You young men have an opportunity to lay down your mark and let the senior national players know and understand that if they are not serious you are. I enourage you to work hard, but above all enjoy the training, hard work and knocks that will come" said Figaro.

There are seven sports on the CYG programme which is for  young athletes between the ages of 14-18 years. See link below for more information.

pdf Commonwealth Youth Games Sport

Source: www.trinidadguardian.co.tt

Story by: Nigel Simon

Overseas-based University of T&T and national women’s team volleyballers, Sinead Jack, left, Channon Thompson and Krystle Esdelle during the recent Mark Daly Invitatational Tournament at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. Photo: Anthony Harris The senior national women’s volleyball team stepped up its preparations for the Pan American Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, June 29 to July 9, with the return of its five overseas players. The trio of France-based national captain, Krystle Esdelle of Third Division club, Quimper Volley; 17-year-old Poland based duo Sinead Jack and Channon Thompson, both of AZS Bialystok returned home late last month and were all part of the University of T&T squad that ended as runner-up to Technocrats in the Mark Daly Invitational Tournament. The USA-based pair of Darlene Ramdin (St John’s University, USA) and Renele Forde (Florida International University, USA) have also returned home as link up with the team coached by Cuban, Francisco “Panchee” Cruz.

Today, the team will continue with a training session at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Tacarigua from 5 pm while tomorrow the players will have a gym session at the University of T&T, Point Lisas Campas, before returning to Tacarigua on Friday. On Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays training is schedule for the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Pleasantville. The team is expected to leave T&T on June 22 for Mexico where it will enter a training camp at the Mexico Volleyball Development Centre until June 28. According to women’s team manager, during the camp the T&T squad, winners of senior Caribbean title for a third straight year in Suriname last July and fourth overall is expected to play warm-up matches against host Mexico and Puerto Rico, who will also be in camp at the same venue before leaving for Chihuahua.

Following the tournament, the T&T women will also compete at the Norceca Continental Championship in Caguas, Puerto Rico (September 10-18) and Continental Olympic Qualifiers carded for December 10 to 18 at a venue to be decided. Meanwhile, Indonesia-based Joelicia Ross is expected to be out of action for a year after undergoing successful surgery on her torn left ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) on Friday. The 26-year-old Ross suffered the injury while training with her club Petrokimia on April 10. She suffered the same injury to her right knee during her US-Collegiate playing career at Marshall University six years ago but made a speedy recovery and has been a fixture on the senior women’s team for the past three years.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com

A new Mondo track is being laid at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Port of Spain. And the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (sportt) is putting things in place to ensure the longevity of both the track and the football field.

This assurance was given by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, yesterday, during the launch of the June 25-26 National Senior/Open Track and Field Championships.
"The Sport Company is in the process of procuring the best covering. The Hasely Crawford Stadium, as all stadia, will be utilised—in conjunction with all sporting activities—for cultural events. However, there are strict guidelines that have been put down for all people wanting to utilise any of the facilities—with major caution fees, major timelines. If you have an event you will only be allowed a day before and a day after to get in and out."

Minister Roberts said the covering that will be used during shows "will ensure there'll be absolutely no damage to the track".

"We must understand that these facilities take a lot of money to be maintained, and while we want to allow all our sporting people and our track athletes to utilise the facilities for free, there is no free lunch, so somebody has to pay the bill. The fusion of culture and sport--they will pay the bill, but we will manage and maintain the facility, so that we do not damage it. That's the synergy we are trying to put in place.

"This track," Roberts continued, "is going to be one of the best in the world, and we will not want it damaged in any form or fashion, whether by concerts, culture, religious festivals or the track athletes themselves. They will have to use the correct shoes. The coaches will be held responsible on those training days. People will be penalised very heavily. This track is supposed to last us ten years. We do not want to see in 2015 that we have to rip up and put down another track.

"We are also going to do the Ato Boldon (Stadium) and the Larry Gomes (Stadium) within the next six to eight months, so the same policies of the Hasely Crawford Stadium will apply to those other tracks. We must take care of what we invest in."

The Minister assured priority will be given to sports events at the Crawford Stadium.

"The NAAA (National Association of Athletics Administrations) are very well advanced with their calendar of events, so those dates have already been blocked off. The problem arises with certain football organisations that are not as disciplined as the NAAA and want to feel they could come two weeks before and they want a match. It will not work like that. They have to be efficient enough to move from good to great.
"To ensure that your sporting event gets the priority, send in your calendar of events to the Sport Company. Those dates will be blocked off, and then cultural events will fill in the gap.
"We must understand," Roberts continued, "that to rent the Stadium brings in 150 to $350,000 on one event. It takes approximately $1.9 million a month to maintain the five stadia in Trinidad and Tobago.
"We cannot just be a Caroni (1975) Limited, and just keep sucking money. We would like to generate some revenue, so I don't have to harass the Minister of Finance every minute for more and more. The cultural events will be charged heavily because it's a fantastic facility. We'll cover the track and the field properly, and the revenue will go towards the upkeep and maintenance."
The laying of the new Mondo track at the Crawford Stadium is expected to be completed by June 17.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Anil Roberts is insisting that all elite track and field athletes compete at the June 25-26 National Senior/Open Championships.

Speaking at yesterday's launch, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Port of Spain, Roberts said athletes are obligated to show off their wares at the two-day meet.

"All the best athletes must come home and run. You want funding, you call everyday, you write everyday, you want taxpayers' money. It's not a right.

"The people want hospital beds, we have 175,000 people living on less than $665 a month, we have pensioners who need their $3,000. We are competing for every dollar we get. So when athletes feel they deserve funding, that's not how it works. You get what you deserve, based on your work ethic, on your pride and love for country, on how you perform.

"So to those athletes," Roberts continued, "who will try to feign injury and not run in your National Championships, you have a coach as Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, so it's not going to be that easy. You must run at your Championships, or else you may be penalised for not performing.

"We are watching the trends as we move forward. And for all other athletes, whether it's cycling, swimming, who feel they cannot represent Trinidad and Tobago, no problem. If you don't want to, go to Sagicor and get some funding. But as long as you get funding from your people, from your taxpayers, you must treat that responsibility with the utmost respect that it deserves. Red, white and black is critical."

But Roberts, who coaches 2004 Olympic 200 metres individual medley bronze medallist George Bovell III, stressed that "no athlete in Trinidad and Tobago will ever be penalised for being legitimately injured".

The National Championships will be staged at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, on a brand new Mondo track. Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Ashwin Creed, said yesterday the laying of the track will be completed next week.

"The Sport Company (sportt) is charged with the responsibility for the refurbishment of the stadium, the relaying of the track. It's on schedule. We expect a delivery around the 16th or 17th of June, once there are no challenges with the weather. We are almost 80 per cent ready. Let's pray for good weather to ensure that we meet the delivery time."

National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) secretary and Games Committee chairman, Alan Baboolal, explained that countries hoping to qualify for the World Championships in the 4x100m and 4x400m relay events will have the opportunity to do so at T&T's National Championships.

"The IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) once again has granted us permission to use the Championships as a relay qualifier."

T&T earned silver in the men's 4x100m relay, at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships.

Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender, Darrel Brown and Aaron Armstrong are among the sprinters who will be bidding for selection on the T&T sprint relay team for the August 27-September 4 World Championships, in Daegu, Korea.

At the National Championships, Team T&T will square off against St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda and Puerto Rico.

"Still waiting word on Brazil and Japan.

"We're going to have invitational 100 male and female events and invitational 400 male and female," Baboolal continued. "For instance, we'll have Daniel Bailey coming from Antigua. He will not compete in our open 100, but in an invitational.

"Denzel Ramirez just ran under 15 (minutes). So, we're going to bring five Kenyans and two Venezuelans for the 5,000. They will also compete in the 3,000 metres steeplechase. We'll bring two or three athletes, around 50/51 seconds, to help Jehue Gordon (in the 400m hurdles). Ayanna Alexander, we will bring some people to assist her with the triple jump. And we told (half-miler) Melissa De Leon if she doesn't see the kind of competition she's looking for (at home), get us some athletes and we'll bring them."

Yesterday's function also served as a launch for the NAAA's new website, www.ttnaaa.org. The impressive website was designed by former marathon runner Shane Collens. Collens also designed the NAAA's new logo.

T&T Olympic Committee (T&TOC) president, Larry Romany, praised NAAA president Ephraim Serrette and his executive.

"Track and field has been the carrier of the flag in sport in Trinidad and Tobago for a long time. Of the 14 medals we have won at the Olympic Games, track and field has won over 70 per cent of those medals, and continues to perform. We expect great things from the team (at the Olympics) next year.

"Mr Serrette has moved it (NAAA) from one level to the next level. He's somebody that has a lot of creativity and a lot of ideas. And it's no surprise to me today that you would be launching a new logo and a new website--things that inform the public as to what you're actually doing. The executive of track and field must be commended for this effort."

While Minister Roberts also lauded the NAAA, he challenged track and field's local governing body to do even better.

"They have been very good over the years. The NAAA is one of our best associations. They are functioning well, but good is not great."

The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs has sponsored the 2011 National Championships to the tune of $400,000, while Sagicor has contributed $150,000.

Hyatt Regency and Blue Waters are also sponsors of the two-day meet.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt
Story by: Clayton Clarke

Sports Minister Anil Roberts, left, is all smiles as he congratulates (NAAA) president Ephraim Serrette, at the unveiling of the new NAAA Web site and logo at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain yesterday. At centre is Sagicor General Insurance Company’s Michelle Serville, who presented a cheque for $150,000 to the organisation yesterday as part of the company’s sponsorship for the junior championships this weekend.

The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs is investing $400,000.00 into this year’s National Senior Track and Field Championships set for the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 25 and 26. The two-day meet will see this country’s best athletes compete for the right to represent Trinidad and Tobago at several upcoming regional and global events. At this year’s event several foreign relay teams will be seeking to qualify for the World Championship in Daegu, South Korea from August 27 to September 4. Speaking at the launch of the Championships at the Hyatt Regency Hotel yesterday, National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) Secretary Allan Baboolal said St Skitts Nevis, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda and Puerto Rico have confirmed their participations.

Baboolal added that the monies will be used to provide accommodation for the visiting contingents.
“This year the International Association of Athletic Associations (IAAF) has granted permission for us to use our Championship as relay qualifier to allow teams seeking to make the trip to Korea an opportunity to attain the required qualifying standards. The visiting teams will provide their own airfare but the NAAA will cover the accommodation for them. He also said: “Other athletes have been invited to provide competition for our local athletes in pursuit of the World Championships standards and the NAAA will be meeting the cost of airfare and accommodation for these athletes.

“The NAAA executive decided to bring in five Kenyan runners who are based in the US and two Venezuelans to run against Denzil Ramirez in the men’s 5000m. Denzil recently ran the event under 15 minutes.  We also bring some hurdlers who are running 50 to 51 seconds for Jehue Gordon. Also Ayanna Alexander has no competition in her event, the women’s triple jump. For the women’s 800m we have indicated to Melissa Deleon that if she can identify competitors we will meet the cost of airfare and accommodation.”  Baboolal added that last year the NAAA brought in athletes to compete in the pole vault but the initiative was not well received as there are no local pole vaulters competing.

Baboolal, who is also the chairman of the association’s Games Committee said the Championships is a must for all local athletes to be eligible for selection. Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts supported the requirement and said funding provided by his ministry to the athletes is not a given. “All the best athletes must come home and run. Funding is not a right. It is about pride and love of country and performance.  So when athletes feel they deserve funding that is not how it happens.” Roberts cautioned that those who chose not to come home and compete run the risk being disciplined, “To those athletes who try to pretend and fake injuries so as not to run at the championships, you have a Sports Minister who is also a coach, so it will not be easy. You must come and compete or else you will be penalised.”

In addition to the World Championships local athletes will be looking to selected for the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico from July 15 to 17, Pan American Junior Champs in Florid USA from July 29 to August 31 and the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 23 to 30.

Source: http://m.nzherald.co.nz

Cricket's chances of being included at future Olympics have been boosted following some flattering comments from International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge.

The Belgian pointed out the sport's worldwide appeal, a key factor for any sport trying to fight its way onto the Olympic program.

"The International Cricket Council will decide at the end of June whether they will make an application. The incoming president might be interested. We would welcome an application," Rogge told the Evening Standard.

"It's an important, popular sport and very powerful on television.

"It's a sport with a great tradition where mostly you have a respect of the ethics. In the Olympics, it will not be Test cricket, of course."

Twenty20 is the most likely format for cricket at an Olympics - the three-hour timeframe making it more palatable for viewers not familiar with the sport.

Cricket Australia have been trying for a number of years to have Twenty20 included at the Olympics - the added exposure providing lucrative benefits outside of traditional cricket-playing nations.

With rugby sevens and golf scheduled to be part of the 2016 Olympic schedule in Rio de Janeiro, the prospect of cricket being played doesn't seem so fanciful.

Cricket last appeared at an Olympics at the 1900 Paris Games.

Rogge described himself as a devoted cricket fan.

"I love the game. I have watched Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Shane Warne, Ian Botham. It's tactically very interesting, a game of patience, a game of great skills and the only sport where, after five days, you can have a draw," he said.

- AAP

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

T&T Olympic hopefuls, Canada-based William Albert and Tots and Tumblers’ Thema Williams, will be among the top athletes at the 17th National Invitational Gymnastics Championship this weekend at the Woodbrook Youth Facility. The two young gymnastics stars will be competing before they leave for the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico and the World Championships in Japan, later this year. In January, Albert and Williams will take to the Olympic Test Event en route to the London Olympic Games 2012.

They are among 240 other athletes from local and regional clubs. The T&T Gymnastics federation’s (TTGF) Top Club for 2011, Tots and Tumblers will be expected to feature some of the most talented athletes in the tournament along with clubs such as Mucurapo Artistic Achievers, Lee’s Gymnastics, St Andrew’s School Gymnastics, Olympia Gymnastics, the Gymnastics Training Centre, Lambert’s School of Dance & Gymnastics, the International School Gymnastics Club and Flip Gym Barbados. Competition starts on Saturday at 10 am with Session 1: Level 3 & 4 followed by Session 2 at 1 pm and Session 3A and 3B at 4 and 5 pm. On Sunday, the competition will resume at 10 am for Session 4 and Session 5 at 1.30 pm.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Brian Lewis

­­No one is above getting caught up in an ethical or moral dilemma. The FIFA executive committee are authors of their present predicament. However, because of blind loyalty many are afraid to ask the hard questions or speak out for fear of repercussions. Debates about personalities, popularity, likeability, achievements and contributions raise hypocrisy to the level of fine art. There are degrees of truth when fuzzy logic is applied. What is needed is an acknowledgment that something is not right. Adidas is right to call for clarity as opposed to naïve falsifications. Sir Humphrey Appleby in the British comedy Yes Prime Minister said: “The truth, in politics, means any statement that cannot be proved false.” General Norman Schwarzkopf defined leadership as “a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one of them be without strategy.” In his book How the Mighty Fall, Jim Collins argued the point that moral vices of pride, greed and denial have led to corporate destruction. The members of the FIFA executive committee would have all started off with the best of intentions but somewhere along the line they miskicked the ball.

In the organisation’s code of ethics adopted in September 2009 the rules of conduct are authoritative and unambiguous. According to the code FIFA has a special responsibility to safeguard the integrity and reputation of football worldwide and to protect the image of football and especially FIFA from jeopardy or harm as a result of immoral or unethical methods or practices. There are guidelines on fiduciary duty, conflict of interest, political neutrality, bribery, accepting and giving gifts and other benefits, commission, conduct towards government and private organisations — http// www.fifa.com. There is much more at stake than money, power, authority, ego and self -aggrandisement. The leaders of FIFA have a fiduciary responsibility to world football and FIFA—and legal as well as moral duties. If the leadership is perceived as being unethical, on what moral authority will FIFA attack issues such as bribery, match fixing, doping and illegal gambling?

Ethical behaviour, however, can only be properly evaluated with proper ethical analysis. Very often there may be more than one appropriate course of action—it is not simply a case of right and wrong or good and bad. What is the duty of the decision maker in a particular situation? What is the duty to the organisation, stakeholders, yourself and society on the whole? Someone can be unethical, and yet be trusted, popular and excellent in everything they do. On the other hand someone can be ethical, untrustworthy and mediocre. The world governing body for football has a golden opportunity in the spotlight of world media attention to lead by example and behave with ethics and integrity above all other considerations. No one wants “to teach a fish to swim” or “swap horses in mid-stream.”

However, a good reputation is not built up overnight, but it can be destroyed in a second. All things in life happen for a reason. Those who have the humility to learn from adversity can avoid being misled by emotion. Is FIFA listening to the many concerns raised about their individual and collective behaviour?
There is a Chinese saying: “Heaven and Earth will not be angry with one who will correct his faults.” Another one that comes to mind is, “arrogance costs a fortune.” FIFA’s vision needs to shift back for the greater good of the beautiful game. There are those who believe they have violated no duty and at worse may have committed an act of imprudence.

Whoever is careless with the truth cannot be trusted in important matters. In the grey area of political expediency the full truth becomes a sacrificial lamb. FIFA must self-regulate and adhere to its own ethical code of conduct. Not only Adidas and other major corporate sponsors, but global football and sport, are urging that the dilemma be clarified. The truth of the matter is that this is not only about FIFA, but also the IOC and any number of international sport federations.

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

Source: mobile.nytimes.com

WELLINGTON - Love him or loathe him, Sonny Bill Williams's every move is guaranteed to provoke a reaction.A supremely talented athlete who has turned his hand to rugby league, rugby union and now boxing, "SBW" causes a stir wherever he goes, whatever he does.On the rugby field his passing and amazing ability to offload the ball have won over many rugby union fans, while during his league days he was famed as much for his brutal tackling technique as his skills with ball in hand.But it has not always been easy for the New Zealander with Samoan heritage.

During his time in rugby league, he was involved in several alcohol-related incidents off the field. But since converting to Islam in 2008, he has kept out of trouble.The same year, he went from being the darling of the Australian National Rugby League competition to Australia's most hated man when he walked out on the Canterbury Bulldogs club.He had been at the club since 2002 and won legions of fans with his slick offloading and hard-hitting tackling. However, just 18 months into a five-year contract, Williams fled Australia for France to try his hand at rugby union with the rich club Toulon.

After a couple of seasons there, learning his new trade alongside England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga, Williams turned down big money to stay and instead signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union to chase his dream of playing for the New Zealand All Blacks.The N.Z.R.U. bent over backwards to get its man, allowing him to pursue his other passion, boxing, while playing for Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks.Williams's charity fight on Sunday against Alipate Liava'a, a Tongan gospel singer, took place during the Crusaders' bye week in the Super Rugby competition.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

The 29th edition of the Trinidad and Tobago Marathon will be held on Sunday July 24, from five a.m., as part of the finale of a three-event running festival, starting on July 23.

In recent years, the marathon was held in late January and finished at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, but as part of the event's rebranding as Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon (TTIM), it will be returning to its traditional route, finishing at Whitehall, Port of Spain.

This will allow the start to return to Freeport, which was the start location for the first T&T Marathon, in 1983, and remained the start point for many years.

The traditional route follows the Southern and Eastern Main Roads into Port of Spain before heading to Whitehall.

The West Shore Medical 5K race, traditionally associated with the Marathon, will kick off the running festival on July 23 from four p.m. around Queen's Park Savannah, and will also finish at Whitehall.

The move to Saturday will ensure that there will be no clash with Marathon runners finishing at the same time. Marathon runners will also be able to run the 5K as a pre-race warmup.

A new event this year will be the Half Marathon, which will start at the halfway point of the Marathon, in Caroni, and proceed along the Marathon course, to the finish at Whitehall.

The Half Marathon will also be staged on July 24, and has a 5.45 a.m. start.

For more information, email info@ttmarathon.com, or call 757-7772 or 642-4129.

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By David Gold

British Swimming has selected 16 youngsters for its Aspiring World Performers Programme (AWPP), hoping to enhance the potential of athletes competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and beyond.

The group, who have been identified as possessing the required ability to achieve podium finishes at global events in the next six years, will receive tailored and extensive support to help them achieve their potential.

British Swimming national performance director Michael Scott said: "We've identified 16 of the most talented athletes from our British Gas Talent Development Programme and are providing them with added support in their training environment as well as opportunities to access key motivational and learning experiences."

The first intake will be running until April 2012 and the continuation of the programme will be dependent on athlete performance.

Scott added: "This group is full of exciting young athletes who we see as having the potential to perform on the world stage.

"As part of the programme we're looking at providing valuable experience to the athletes and therefore they will shadow a national team camp in Edinburgh prior to next year's Olympic Games.

"We will conduct a three-day camp for the athletes and coaches where they will have the chance to observe the team training as well as mix and mingle with them."

Funding for the athletes under the programme will be £1,500 for those not based at a British Gas Intensive Training Centre (ITC) or funded club, £1,250 to those at funded clubs and £1,000 for any participating at an ITC.

The athletes will also have access to one of two elite athlete mentors appointed for the programme, who will provide personal support via e-mail and opportunities to train with them.

And competitors at this year's World Junior Championships in Peru will receive a unique experience in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the host city of the 2016 Olympic Games.

The group of swimmers is as follows: Tom Allen - British Gas ITC Swansea; Ieuan Lloyd - City of Cardiff; Xavier Mohammed - City of Cardiff; Jak Scott - British Gas ITC Stirling; Thomas Sunter - City of Sheffield; Josh Walsh - British Gas ITC Stirling; Sophie Allen - British Gas ITC Stockport; Eleanor Faulkner - City of Sheffield; Georgia Hohmann - Nova Centurion; Rachael Kelly - Royal Wolverhampton School; Karley Mann - Seabyrd/Hillingdon; Siobhan-Marie O'Connor - British Gas ITC Bath; Sophie Smith - City of Leicester; Jessica Thielmann - City of Newcastle; Rebecca Turner - City of Sheffield; and Aimee Willmott - Middlesbrough.

Contact the writer of this story at david.gold@insidethegames.biz

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

June 5 - Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, has claimed that many of the problems that have overwhelmed FIFA and its President Sepp Blatter recently could have been avoided if they had adopted anti-corruption World Cup bidding reforms he had proposed more than two years ago.

Coe was appointed as the first-ever chairman of FIFA's Ethics Committee when it was set-up in 2006 but stepped down in February 2009 to avoid a conflict of interests because he was involved in England's disastrous bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

During his period there, the double Olympic 1500 metres champion sought to introduce new rules to avoid the kind of allegations that have rocked FIFA in recent weeks.

But he believes the organisation "took their foot off the pedal" on his proposals and are now paying the price.

"There is absolutely no doubt that the view of me and some of my colleagues on the Ethics Committee was that once they [FIFA] had moved from continental rotation to actually choosing countries outside of that norm, the structure of that bidding process was not fit for purpose," Coe wrote in today's Sunday Telegraph.

"There was no question about that.

"I suppose, for me, the only frustration was that when I got asked to help England's bid for 2018, we were as a Committee at that stage putting a framework together for the bidding countries.

"I was driving it particularly because of the Olympic experience.

"It does appear to me that when I stepped down to do the England stuff, the thing that they took their foot off the pedal on was that.

"That now has to be a serious priority, to get some structure back into that.

"There's no excuse about time here because, as we know to our cost, they have got until 2022 to figure that out."

In a separate article published in the News of the World, Coe claimed he had tried to apply to FIFA the lessons he had learnt from the role he played in helping clean up the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following the Salt Lake City scandal that blew-up in 1998.

"The creation of the [Ethics] Committee was in part a response to a growing clamour for greater transparency within the organisation of football at the highest level,"  wrote Coe, who has supported Chelsea for 42 years.

"Based on my involvement in the IOC 2000 Commission and the changes that were introduced there, I knew that although clearly a step in the right direction, this was going to be a lengthy journey.

"Originally the Ethics Committee could only review and respond to concerns raised from within its own membership.

"My colleagues on the Ethics Committee successful broadened this scope and gave the Committee access to independent legal advice.

"Had I not left the Ethics Committee to help England's 2018 World Cup bid we would also have constructed a framework for those bidding countries and the members of the Executive Committee charged with the responsibility for selecting them.

"This now has to become a priority.

"There can never be another round of bids where there was so little trust in such a major decision.

"The selection of World Championship countries and cities is a task that quite rightly is left to those within the sport.

"The criteria for selection should be at all times clear and never ambiguous."

Coe, who was in Zurich last December for the World Cup vote along with former England captain David Beckham and England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson, also appears to criticise the choice of Qatar as the host country for the 2022 World Cup.

He claims that the venue has not been chosen in the best interests of the players and supporters, warning that the hot conditions will make it a difficult tournament for both groups.

"There are two client groups that must always be at the top of the list when making this decision - and they are in this order: the competitors and the spectators," he wrote.

"The competitors must at all times be in poll position.

"You simply cannot select a host that does not at all times recognise that they are providing sporting arenas for young people who have often dedicated half their young lives in pursuit of sporting excellence.

"These are the occasions that change players and athletes lives and create role models for a generation following in their footsteps.

"Of course, it is important to take these sporting events around the globe offering opportunities for young people wherever they live and whatever they believe - but this can never be at the expense of the welfare of the competitor.

"The problem I have with the [World Cup] decision that was made in Zurich before Christmas is that one of those host countries selected will be asking players to perform in an environment where if we put our hands on our heart we know cannot allow their full potential to blossom."

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

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com

Prefontaine bronze for Borel-Brown

Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Keston Bledman joined the sub-10 club when he clocked 9.93 seconds in the men's 100 metres final, at a meet in Florida, USA, yesterday.

With the clocking, Bledman moved into third spot on the all-time T&T list, behind quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon (9.86) and 2008 Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson (9.89). Two other T&T sprinters are members of the sub-10 club--Marc Burns (9.96) and Darrel Brown (9.99).

In yesterday's qualifying round, American sprint star Tyson Gay ran a world-leading 9.79 seconds, and in another heat Bledman clocked a wind-assisted 9.99. Gay did not face the starter in the final, and Bledman emerged victorious.

At the Prefontaine Classic Samsung Diamond League meet, in Oregon, USA, yesterday, T&T field athlete Cleopatra Borel-Brown bagged women's shot put bronze with an 18.85 metres throw. Nadzeya Ostapchuk, of Belarus, topped the field with a huge 20.59m effort, beating American Jillian Camarena-Williams (19.76m) into second spot.

Rondel Sorrillo finished fourth in the men's 200m in 20.51 seconds. Another T&T sprinter, Emmanuel Callender was sixth in 20.67. Walter Dix (20.19) of the United States, Norway's Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (20.26) and Churandy Martina (20.39) of the Netherlands were first, second and third, respectively.

Thompson ran a season's best 10.01 seconds in the men's 100m. The clocking, though, was only good enough for seventh spot, the top six men in the race diving under 10 seconds.

Jamaican Steve Mullings blazed to victory in a personal best 9.80. Mike Rodgers also clocked a PR (personal record), the American sprinter finishing second in 9.85. Jamaica's Nesta Carter (9.92) and American Darvis Patton (9.94) were third and fourth, respectively. Fifth-placed Jamaican Michael Frater ran a PR, 9.94, while sixth-placed American Justin Gatlin clocked 9.97. Another US sprinter, Ivory Williams got to the line in 10.02 to finish eighth and last.

Josanne Lucas was eighth in the women's 400m hurdles, the T&T athlete getting home in 57.76 seconds. American Lashinda Demus triumphed in 53.31, beating Jamaicans Kaliese Spencer (53.45) and Melaine Walker (53.56) into second and third, respectively.

Source: www.ttrfu.com

Aasan Lewis credits a three month training stay at the Esher Rugby Club Academy in Surrey, England for the improvement in his rugby that earned him a call up from the Trinidad and Tobago development squad to the national senior team.

Lewis who represented Trinidad and Tobago at under 19 rugby described his expereince at the English championship division club as "absolutely fantastic".

“ My game understanding, technique, skill and fitness improved . I was out of my comfort zone-away from my family , friends and sunshine, I had to prove myself,the training sessions were intense and physical, the contest for a place in the team was competitive. The cold weather took some getting use to .I certainly returned to Trinidad a more mature ,mentally tougher , highly motivated and confident rugby player. I can't thank Mr Schmid (Director of Rugby), Mr Chalcraft(Academy coach) and the other coaches enough. Mr Schmid gave me the opportunity. I went to Esher following a one month stay with Penarth rugby club in Cardiff, Wales. "

"The culture in the club house and the dressing room is one of striving for excellence. As an academy player you can't help but be inspired and motivated to want to one day play for the first team.The senior players were willing to give you advice. I learned a lot about myself and my passion for the game. Mr Chalcraft provided me with detailed feedback about exactly what I have to work on . Hard work,discipline,character,,self belief and dedication were some of the key messages that were instilled. Esher changed my attitude, outlook and approach to the game."

A past student of Mucurapo Junior Secondary school and Fatima College in Port. Of. Spain .Lewis is a former T&T Taekwondo champion and national under 14 doubles (tennis) winner who also played football in the T&T professional football league youth system with Defence Force.

The former T&T Olympic youth camper was an unused replacement for T&T's recent Caribbean Championship outing against Barbados (T&T won 17-10 ) but made his senior team debut in the second half of T&T's 22-20 loss to Guyana last Saturday.

“As a little boy you dream about playing for your country so I was excited about my senior team run on debut but the loss and the fact that we disappointed our supporters was tough to swallow. We were the defending Caribbean champs but Guyana dented our hopes of retaining our title..20-12 up with eight minutes left. Playing at home with a cheering crowd and they (Guyana) fight back to win 22-20. Not a nice feeling at all. "

The 21 year old Harvard club centre told ttrfu.com that he intends to build on his Esher rugby academy experience.

" It is up to me to do the hard work..One objective is to establish myself on the national senior team and the other is to play professional rugby in the UK or France. Esher has opened my eyes to the possibilities and given me the self confdience to push myself to be the best that I can be. "

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Andrew Gioannetti

Janelle Barker has been appointed captain of the 12-member team selected by the T&T Netball Association (T&TNA) to travel to the World Netball Championship (WNC) Singapore, from July 3-10.
The team was announced by Francisca Rousseau, president of the T&TNA at a press conference held at the conference room, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, head office, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
In addition to Barker, the world eighth-ranked Calypso netball squad team includes the experienced Anika La Roche (vice-captain), Anastacia Wilson, Tricia Liverpool, Rhonda John-Davis, Crystal-Ann George, Joelisa Cooper and Alicia Liverpool. In Singapore, T&T will open its campaign against Wales on July 4. They will also meet Commonwealth Games champion New Zealand and Fiji in Pool B. Jamaica, ranked fourth in the world,  has been drawn in Pool C for the early rounds of the tournament alongside host Singapore, South Africa and Botswana. 

Defending champion Australia was drawn in Pool A with Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland and Samoa with England, Malawi, Barbados and Malaysia in Pool D. In its continued preparation for Singapore, the Calypso netballers will look to end an international six-match losing streak when they host Caribbean neighbours and fellow World Championship participants Barbados in a three-match series which jumps off today at Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Pleasantville from 6.30 pm. Tomorrow, both teams will meet at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Tacarigua from 4 pm while the third and final match jumps off at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Wrightson Road from 4 pm on Sunday.
Over the past few months, the Calypso netballers have been swept by similar 3-0 margins, both away to Jamaica (March) and South Africa (May).

Looking ahead to the series against the tenth-ranked Barbadians, national technical director, Australian Karen Worland said her team will be facing possibly the most suitable opposition at this point in time. “Our two previous international series against Jamaica and South Africa were against higher ranked teams, but  I believe at this point in time, Barbados is the ideal opponent, three weeks out from the World Netball Championship because in terms of ranking we are almost evenly matched,” she said.

T&T netball squad: Janelle Barker (captain), Anika La Roche (vice-captain), Anastacia Wilson, Tricia Liverpool, Rhonda John-Davis, Crystal-Ann George, Joelisa Cooper, Alicia Liverpool, Candice Guerero
Jellene Richardson, Onella Jack, Kielle Connelly
Reserves: Jillisa Allan, Ashelle Legall, Daystar Swift
Technical staff: Carol Gitten (manager), Karen Worland (coach), Jennifer Frank (assistant coach), Dr Oba Gulston (physiotherapist), Zypherinus Nicholas (primary care), Dr Maragret Ottley (Sports Psychologist).

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Asha De Freitas-Moseley

A few years ago, I thought that sportsman hernias were a rare diagnosis. However, since returning to Trinidad and practicing locally since 2007, I have seen at least five confirmed diagnoses of sportsman hernias (compared to none during the eight years I lived and worked in the USA). It is possible that the reason for this high number is due to the increased availability of imaging technology locally, particularly that of diagnostic ultrasound, allowing a clear view of the tissue beneath the surface, facilitating more accurate diagnoses of similarly symptomatic injuries; or, it could be due to the increased demands on athletes who are not subject to properly balanced training regimens; or perhaps, poor body mechanics is the underlying reason, whereby a motion analysis would be an excellent diagnostic tool to more closely study the athlete’s movement pattern. The specific reason for this injury has not yet been identified, if one even exists.

The sportsman hernia, also known as athletic pubalgia, sports hernia, Gilmore’s groin, or groin disruption is characterised by symptoms of diffused pain in the lower abdomen and groin region.
In acute cases, it can be felt by males (the more frequent victim of the two genders to suffer this injury) in their testicles. Pain is usually felt during sporting activity, particularly with hip extension and rotational movements and especially when these movements involve power. While any athlete that incorporates these movements are vulnerable to this type of injury such as hurdlers, rugby and hockey players, most of my athletes claiming this injury, so far, have been football players. The sportsman hernia is a result of a physical weakness of the posterior abdominal wall resulting in an unobservable, unpalpable bulge of the underlying tissues ie a bulge that cannot be seen or felt with your hands/fingers.

Conservative therapy i.e. rehabilitation has been recommended by physicians for initial management of this injury, particularly in the early signs of development. However, failing that, laparoscopic surgery is done whereby a synthetic, mesh-like material is used to reinforce the repaired abdominal wall. Data is still being gathered to accurately identify the effectiveness of surgical intervention. When dealing with this injury the muscles addressed include the rectus abdominus, oblique and transversus abdominis all of which originate in the area of complaint; structurally, the inguinal canal and inguinal ligament are also contained in this area; neurally, the ilioingual nerve is present and can become trapped in some instances. Due to the location of this injury, the groin becomes involved, shortening as a guarding response to protect the area that is injured and compensating for strength deficiencies in the kinetic chain.

When producing rotational forces as with the kicking action in football, the abdominal, oblique and core muscles work in conjunction with the abductor and adductor muscles of the lower body, to create a movement similar to an accordion, using opposing forces to extend and contract ipsilaterally to generate the necessary force to kick a ball, while balancing on the other leg. Similarly, in field hockey the athlete rotates the upper body, rotating away from lower body to generate the force needed to strike the ball with the hockey stick. Again, one leg is favored while opposing abdominal and lower body muscles work to create an accordion-like movement through the mid-section of the body. The mid-section is where the forces meet and where the sportsman hernia occurs, therefore this mechanism is one that is kept in mind while rehabilitating an athlete.

In treating this type of athlete, the priority is first to alleviate the pain. Modalities including ice and/or electric stimulation are incorporated to accomplish this, along with gentle stretching to address any loss of motion in the abdomen and/or groin area might be applied during the initial stages of therapy. Ideally, resting from activity is required for a period of four to six weeks. Once the pain has been eliminated the athlete is encouraged to activate the core muscles, which usually involves some muscle re-education. Athletes are typically very responsive to therapy, and are able to progress through very basic exercises quickly. Keeping the prescription exercises simple is very important, progressing the athlete gradually through intermediate to more complexed movements, always ensuring that proper body mechanics are applied and become habit.

Assessing the abductor and adductor strength of the lower extremity and addressing any muscle deficiencies or imbalances are also considered in designing the exercise prescription. Eventually, combined movements involving both upper and lower extremities are brought together, building endurance in the muscles before graduating to power movements. Some basic advice to those working with athletes on the field, with some background of injury management: The symptoms for sportsman hernia will include groin pain. If after a period of management whereby the athlete has experienced some pain relief but then seems to plateau, have them see a sports medicine physician for further assessment. What might appear to simply be a weak groin might actually be something more serious which, if left untreated, can lead to increased pain and further damage to the athlete.

Asha De Freitas-Moseley is a certified athletic trainer. She works with the athletes of Trinidad and Tobago from recreational to elite level at Altus Health Services Ltd, Port-of-Spain, and Total Rehabilitation Centre Ltd, El Socorro.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Dylan Carter and Cadell Lyons will lead a 36-member national swimming team selected by the Amateur Swimming Association of T&T general council on Tuesday night to represent this country at the 27th Central American and Caribbean Nations Swimming Championship (CCCAN) in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, from June 25 to July 2.

The team, which is a fine mix of debutants and experience, would have a hard act to follow as the 2009 CCCAN team achieved a record haul of 54 medals consisting of 16 gold, 23 silver and 15 bronze in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

Host Venezuela won the title easily with a bulging bag of 159 medals (74 gold, 48 silver, 37 bronze) for 1,767 points, while Mexico (537 points) was third with 41 (seven gold, 16 silver, 18) and Guatemala (472), fourth with 29 medals (seven gold, nine silver, 13 bronze).

Swimming team

T&T CCCAN
11-12
Girls: Amira Pilgrim
Boys: Aaron Acres, Gwillym Watkins, Revash Ramtahal,
Tariq Lashley

13-14
Girls: Bryanna Duncan, Chadae Thompson, Jessica Gay, Kristin Julien, Sangeeta Maharaj, Syriah David
Boys: Christopher Greene, Dylan Carter, Jabari Baptiste, Jeron O’Brien, Johnathan Gonzales

15-17
Girls: Kadeja Phillip, Kimberlee-John Williams, Rejan Chin,
Simone Maundy.
Boys: Blaine Sobrian, Jonathan Cabral, Jonathan Ramkissoon
Joshua Romany, Kareem Baptiste, Sean Roget, Stefan Sharpe

18 & Over
Girls: Brittany Stewart, Cherelle Thompson, Sharntelle Mc Lean
Boys: Abraham Mc Leod, Anthony Edwards, Cadell Lyons,
Caryle Blondell, Joshua Mc Leod, Napoleon Howell

Team management
Gary Morales (manager), Edmund Pouchet (head coach), Franz Huggins (assistant coach), Vincent Tardieu (assistant coach), Mona Clarke-Edwards (chaperone), Jessica Chin (chaperone).

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

A Turkish doping control centre at the centre of controversy after it conducted a test on American basketball star Diana Taurasi (pictured) which it claimed was positive only for it later emerge they had made a mistake has had its accreditation suspended by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

WADA announced today that the Turkish Doping Control Centre (TDCC), based at Hacettepe University in Ankara, has been banned from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities indefinitely, effective immiediately.

The laboratory had claimed last December that a urine sample provicded by Taurasi, a member of the United States teams that won Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008, showed traces of the banned substance modafinil.

The results led to Taurasi being sacked by her club Fenerbahçe.

The laboratory later admitted that they had made a mistake and Taurasi was exonerated, agreeing to return to Turkey to play for Fenerbahçe's biggest rivals, Galatasaray.

"Pursuant to the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), WADA is responsible for accrediting and re-accrediting anti-doping laboratories, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards," WADA said in a statement.

"This monitoring is conducted in conjunction with ISO assessment by independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

"Whenever a laboratory does not meet ISL requirements, WADA may suspend the laboratory's accreditation.

"WADA will re-evaluate the status of the laboratory in the course of the suspension period."

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