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

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

T&T Olympic Committee Junior Sportsman and Junior Sportswoman of the Year Christian Homer and Cherelle Thompson will be the favourites to win the corresponding titles at the First Citizens Sports Foundation’s Youth Awards Ceremony which will be held today at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain. Homer took part in the inaugural youth Olympics in Singapore where he won a gold medal to become the first athlete from T&T to win a medal at the Games.

Thompson set a new Girls 15-17 50m Freestyle record at the ASATT Open National Short Course Championships in October, and was a finalist at the CAC Games, a semifinalist at the Commonwealth Games in India and represented T&T at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Dubai.
In all, 34 young athletes have been nominated by their respective national sporting organisations. Middle distance runner Jehue Gordon was named “Youth of the Year” by the Foundation last year.

Semoy Hackett and Lalonde Gordon are T&T’s highest ranked athletes on the latest 2011 IAAF World Indoor rankings. Hackett, the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Division II Outdoor 100m and 200m champion is third on the women’s 200m list with second quickest time for the year of 22.98 seconds. The 2009 World Championship 100m semi-finalist clocked the time in finishing third at the LSU/Texas A&M Dual meet at College Station, Texas on January 22. The Louisiana State University student was edged out of second place by Jeneba Tarmoh of the USA who also clocked 22.98 seconds. Winning the race was another American Jessica Baird who crossed the line in 22.95 seconds, the fastest time in the world. Hackett’s time is a personal best for the 2009 World Championship sprint relay finalist and is now the third local woman to run under 23 seconds in the indoor one lap event.

The Bishop High School graduate is behind Kelly Ann Baptiste (22.90) in March 2007 and Fana Ashby (22.91) in March 2005. Hackett was also eleventh in the 2011 60m dash with 7.24 seconds (equalling her personal best) also set January 22nd. The 2006 CAC Junior double sprint bronze medallist was named the South Eastern Conference female athlete for the week ending January 25. Gordon improved to eighth in the men’s 200 sprint with 20.93 seconds. The 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games 4x400m relay bronze medallist set a personal best in winning at the Boston University Terrier Classic meet in Boston, USA on January 29.

The 22-year-old  Commonwealth Games 400m semi-finalist jumped up four spots on the standings after lying at number 12 last week following his win in 21.23 at the Metro Coaches Invitational New York, USA on January 7. Gordon’s fellow CAC Games bronze medallist Zwede Hewitt helped his Baylor University 4x 400 relay team to third place in the world rankings. The reigning national 400m champion and his team-mates clocked 3:07:88 to finish second at the Razorback Invitational meet held at Fayetteville, Arkansas on January 29.  Commonwealth Games women’s triple jump silver medallist Ayana Alexander is listed at 17th in the women’s triple jump standing.

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

Cardiff has begun the process to decide whether it should bid to bring the Commonwealth Games back to the Welsh capital, 68 years after it last staged them.

The city has opened discussions with the Welsh Government about launching a campaign to bid for the 2026 Games with the Millennium Stadium as the centrepiece.

Meetings have been held with Wales' Government Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones and is hoping to get the backing of the Welsh Assembly to stage the event for the first time since 1958.

"Cardiff has always had an ambition to host the Commonwealth Games, since the late 1990s we've been talking about it,"Steve Morris, the sports development manager for Cardiff Council, told the Western Mail.

"We originally talked about bidding for the 2014 Games, then 2022, but we wanted to bide our time and get it right."

The plans include installing an athletics track in the Millennium Stadium, the home of the Welsh rugby team.

The idea of a bid from Cardiff has become a more realistic prospect following a fact-finding trip to last year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

"Obviously Delhi had its problems, especially with the Athletes' Village, and I learned a lot from my trip there," said Morris.

"It gave us some ideas for how to do some things, and how not to do other things.

"One interesting idea was having dedicated Commonwealth lanes on major roads - like the M4.

"This would allow quick access for competitors to the venues."

Cardiff_programme_from_1958When Cardiff hosted the Games in 1958 1,122 athletes from 35 countries took part in ten sports.

In Delhi 6,081 athletes from 71 countries took part in 17 sports.

Chris Jenkins, executive director of the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales, said keeping the costs down is important.

"We've got a lot of venues in Cardiff and around South Wales we can modify and use in any bid," he said.

"It's important to remember the bid process is very long and complicated.

"I think we're well placed, though, and there's been a lot of work done in the last six months to lay the groundwork for a strong bid.

"Whether it's 2022 or 2026 doesn't matter, I'd urge people not to get hung up on the date.

"The important thing is we don't end up with a load of white elephants like Athens did after the [2004] Olympics with stadiums and venues they can't use for any other purpose."

A potential problem for Cardiff's bid, however, could be that Birmingham is also considering a bid - but for 2022.

It is unlikely that the Commonwealth Games Federation would award the Games to two cities in Britain back-to-back, especially as Glasgow is already hosting 2014.

But Lynn Davies, the 1968 Olympic long jump champion who is arguably Wales' best-ever athlete and is now the President of UK Athletics, is backing the proposed bid from Cardiff.

"When you look at what Wales has staged in the last decade, with the FA Cup finals, the Rugby World Cup and the Ryder Cup, I think Cardiff really is a sport city," he told the Western Mail.

"Why not capitalise on it and show the rest of the world what Cardiff and Wales has got?"

Source: www.sportbusiness.com

The UK's High Court requested advice from the ECJ on two similar cases – a civil case between the FA Premier League and QC Leisure, which supplied the decoder card, and a criminal case against pub owner Karen Murphy. “The exclusivity agreement relating to transmission of football matches is contrary to European Union law,” Kokott said in her opinion. “There is...no specific right to charge different prices for a work in each member state.”

Frank Dunne, acting editor of TV Sports Markets, said the opinion would have come as “a major shock to the Premier League and to all sports rights-holders”. He added: “The extent to which the league's arguments have been rejected is startling - they have lost on virtually every significant point of law.”

Dunne continued: “I don't think that it follows that the only alternative to the present system of territorial licensing is a switch to a monolithic pan-European broadcasting market. I would expect that in the next round of Premier League rights deals from 2013-14, the league would still hope to be able to conclude deals with different broadcasters across the continent.”

He added: “However, if the league can no longer guarantee any broadcaster absolute exclusivity in its own market, will the value of the rights fall? The impact in the UK is that BSkyB will now probably be forced to reduce prices for its pub services and many UK pubs will definitely look to take cheaper services from abroad. But the defections may not be that great as there is a lot of attractive sports content on Sky - from rugby league to cricket - that will not be offered by European pay-television companies.”

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA) will educate 300 student- athletes, physical education teachers and coaches in Tobago, during their first anti-doping seminar at Rovanel’s Resort Hotel, Crown Point, Tobago, today.

As part of a nationwide education and awareness campaign, the ministry will focus on secondary school athletes, with the campaign slogan — “Be the Best…Naturally!”

The promising athletes will be educated on the health risks and career consequences of doping in sport, as well as the testing process and legal implications of such offences, according to the World Anti-Doping Code.

In 2007, Trinidad and Tobago consented to the UNESCO International Convention on Doping in Sport and as such, has certain responsibilities to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Among the responsibilities is the formation of a National Anti-Doping Organisation, which the MSYA plans to introduce after the necessary legislation is proposed in Parliament, and adopted as law.

Two leading sporting organiations, the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE), have partnered with the ministry to deliver the six part educational series.

To reinforce their message, former and current national athletes will be involved to serve as Athlete Ambassadors. They will interact with students and share their knowledge, experience and personal views on doping in sport.

Athlete Ambassadors at today’s event, are former sprinter Hydiane Harper- Simmons and 800 metre runner Sheridan Kirk.

The next seminar, for students in the Port-of-Spain District, is scheduled for February 8, from 9am at the Woodbrook Youth Facility.

Source : BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) 

Turks & Caicos Islands is now out of the race against time to be a host for this year’s CARIFTA Games. Turks & Caicos was one of the last frontiers for officials of the North American, Central American & Caribbean (NACAC) Track & Field Association, under whose auspices the games are staged, to find a host for the region’s marquee junior meet, which is scheduled for April 22 to 24.

But officials in Providenciales have also joined the list of those turning down the chance to stage the Games, placing it in further jeopardy of being cancelled for the first time in its 40-year history.

“We were actively pursued by NACAC president Teddy McCook to host the CARIFTA Games 2011,” Rita Gardiner, a spokesperson for the Turks & Caicos Amateur Athletic Association, told a local TV station on Tuesday.

“This was just two weeks ago, and since then, we have held a few meetings to see if it was possible.”
She added: “But we have not had a response from the Government, and (Tuesday) was the final day to give NACAC a positive response.

“So I reluctantly called and informed them that we did not think it would be possible. Right now, we will not be able to host the CARIFTA Games.”

The staging of the Games had been thrown into a state of chaos, when St Kitts withdrew from their commitment to host the event because of financial and logistical reasons.
NACAC have been frantically trying to find a replacement over the last three months, and indications are they may now turn to the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in a desperate bid to save the Games.

“We couldn’t hold out anymore,” said Gardiner about the Turks & Caicos decision. “It’s two months away from CARIFTA. Whichever country is going to host the Games, there must be prepared to do some work.

“I do not think that TCI can do it right now seeing our economic state, and the state of the national stadium.”

She said: “We would have needed to put some work into the stadium and the track. I believe all of the stakeholders would have been willing to come together and do it, but I do not think we need that pressure, since it would be too much pressure right now, and there are some other pressing issues.”

Jamaica turned down the request to stage the event because of its proximity to its International Invitational meet, which officials in Kingston stated would have stretched its human and financial resources.

Bahamas was also a strong contender, but also side-stepped the Games because of the failure to get a financial guarantee from NACAC.

Trinidad & Tobago was also being considered, but Ephraim Serrette, president of track & field body in the two-island republic, indicated they would have needed more notice to successfully stage the Games.

Last week, Grenada Minister of Sport, Patrick Simmons, urged regional governments to grant assistance where possible to ensure the staging of the Games, a key event on the development calendar of the sport in the region.
 

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

In preparation for the South Caribbean Archery Championships set for May, the Trinidad and Tobago Target Archery Federation (TTTAF) hosted it’s first ever judge training seminar on January 29 and 30 at the 3M headquarters, Belmont. The seminar was an attempt to raise the standard and depth of local officiating in time for the tournament, highly experienced and travelled International Archery Federation (FITA) judge Tom Green was flown in from the United States to head the two day seminar. Green shared his expertise as head of the judges committee.

The TTTAF also aims at certifying successful candidates with the intention of sharing their judging expertise at other regional tournaments in the future. Three participants received the National Archery Judge certificates, while nine participants from the seminar were given the National Archery Judge Candidate certificates. Holders of either certificate will be required to recertify after two years. Candidates may upgrade to the position of judge after the two years. The South Caribbean Championships takes place from May 28 to 30 at the Michael P Mac Kenzie Archery Range, Chaguaramas.

Awardees of the National Archery Judge certificates were: David King, Ron Beynon and Joanne Yates Boopsingh. Awardees of the National Archery Judge Candidates certificates were: Dunbar Roopnarine, Lisa Floyd, Richard Dick, Miguel Rosales, Darrel Seucharan, Gregory Quesnel, Eunice Dick, Nazimine Roopnarine and Avald Ali.

Southern Games will be staged on April 9 and 10 with international cycling and athletics at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, starting at 2 pm on both days. Cyclists Criterium will be held on Thursday  April 7 in front Awardy’s Hardware, Southern Main Road, Marabella, from 7 pm.

Heats for track athletes will take place on March 13 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, starting at 9 am. Officials are to report one hour earlier. The launch of the games will be held on March 10 at Petrotrin Sports Club, Guaracara Park, Pointe a Pierre, at 5 pm. Entry forms for cyclists and athletes can be collected at Petrotrin Sports Club, Pointe-a-Pierre, or call 778-7032 or 658-4380. All entries close on February 20.

Triple Commonwealth Games medallist, Roger Daniel shot his way to two gold medals and the top shooter prize for the second time at the 2011 Canadian Airgun Grand Prix. The event was held at the Doubletree International Hotel in Toronto, Canada from January 21-23. Daniel won the Men’s Open Air Pistol finals with a total of 1251.2 points. In the preliminary rounds, his scores were 574, 577 and 100.2.
The T&T Olympic Committee’s 2010 “Sportsman of the Year” beat the Canadian pair of Allan Harding (1235.2) and Mark Haynes (1234.5).

Last year’s Central American and Caribbean Games champion then took the Masters 60-Shot Air pistol event shooting his way to the top with 1,151 points. The two-time Olympian (2004 and 2008) relegated Harding (1,138) and Haynes (1,135) to the minor positions again. In 2005, Daniel also won double gold and captured the top shooter award. T&T’s Marsha Bullen-Jones copped a bronze in the Women’s Masters 40-Shot Air Pistol event with a score of 669 points to capture her first international medal.  She was beaten for the top spot by Canadian duo of Filiz Cakmak (733) and Yanka Vasileva (725). Daniel’s fellow Commonwealth medallist, Rhodney Allen was seventh in the Masters’ Open 60 air pistol behind his compatriot with 1,109 points.

Daniel, a Defence Force Corporal, capped out an outstanding month taking two gold and the overall shooter honour at the Hell Open in Trondheim, Norway, on January 15. Speaking on his return home, Daniel said he was elated as he had to adjust to lighting. “ I feel great. In the beginning I had great difficulty with the lighting which worried me a bit. But in the end I got the highest score.” He explained that he experienced different conditions in Norway. “The transition was a challenge for me as Canada was much colder than Norway.” Daniel now has his eyes set on the 2011 ISSF World Cup in Sydney, Australia, from March 21-April 1 in and Changwon South Korea (April 7-15).

Results

Air Pistol-Men’s Open finals

Pos    Name                                Country    Rd 1    Rd 2    Final    Total
1    Roger Daniel                               T&T     574    577    100.2     1251.2
2    Allan Harding                        Canada        571    567    97.2       1235.2
3    Mark Haynes                         Canada       570     563    99.5      1234.5
4    Kenneth Snyder                          USA     563     554    94.7      1210.7

60 Shot Air Pistol-Men’s Masters Finals

Pos    Name                                Country     R1       R2         Total
1     Roger Daniel                              T&T     574    577        1151
2     Allan Harding                        Canada    571    567           1138
3    Mark Haynes                          Canada    570    565          1135
7    Rhondey Allen                            T&T    561    548         1109

40 Shot Air Pistol-Women’s Masters Finals

Pos    Name                                Country     R1    R2             Total
1     Filiz Cakmak                          Canada    369    364          733
2    YankaVasileva                        Canada    360    365          725
3    M Bullen-Jones                            T&T    360    339          669

Overall Shooter: Roger Daniel T&T

Founder of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Primary and Secondary School Water Polo Leagues, Ryan Smith has been selected on the Water Polo Technical Committee of la Confederacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Natacion (CCCAN).

Smith was unanimously approved by the water polo committee and council of the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT). He now joins chairman Eugenio Martinez of Cuba, Manuel de Jesus of Puerto Rico and Florentino Alonzo of Dominican Republic.

Newly elected CCCAN president for 2011-2014, Barbadian Errol Clarke, welcomed Smith to the committee and assured that his experience would be a great asset.

Clarke said, “This appointment is made in recognition of your contribution generally to this discipline in your country.”

The CCCAN president suggested that Smith be guided by the goals of the newly elected executives. Clarke and the Federation’s committee intends to develop a database of all CCCAN players and improve the discipline amongst them, where they can consistently stand on the medal podium of all international and Olympic competitions.

Smith has served TT water polo for over a decade. He is the current manager of the Queen’s Royal College team and founder and manager of Royhil Seals Water Polo Club.

The local expert was also former public relations officer of ASATT, executive member at Royhil and Tiger Sharks Water Polo Club and served as manager of various national teams including CCCAN, CARIFTA and Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships.

Internationally, Smith is a certified Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) referee for water polo and has officiated at CARIFTA, CCCAN, Pan Am Junior Water Polo Championships and the CAC Games.

Perceptions create reality. Reality is the result of perception and is therefore subjective and subject to revision—the words of Deepak Chopra. According to Chopra it is possible to change reality by changing perceptions. Last Friday, the Digicel TT Pro League competition came to an end. It ended on a triumphant note for Neal and Massy/National Lotteries Control Board Morvant/Laventille Caledonia AIA as they finished in second position. Chopra’s words coming to life and taking on new meaning.
The sports business industry in T&T is still very much in its infancy, some will say it is non-existent, an argument that ought not to be dismissed entirely out of hand. But it is all about perception isn’t it?

To succeed in professional sport, financial support is a must. Facilities, in an ideal scenario, should be owned by the club. This ownership or near total access will allow the facility to become the centre of the social, business and cultural life of the club, allowing for the development of sustainable revenue streams that can be derived from conferences, banqueting etc 365 days a year. Without a sound commercial structure in place, a club involved in professional sport will find itself in the deep end, in a leaking boat without life jackets and oars. It is a huge challenge to effectively and efficiently activate sponsorship relations between the sports brand and the sponsor. Building brand partnerships and brand experiences become difficult but not impossible.

However, sport sponsorship relations are like a marriage, it is for the long haul, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse. A bigger picture that gets lost especially in the local marketplace. There is a perception among sponsorship prospects that the local sport product in T&T cannot provide genuine brand awareness and positioning opportunities. As such sponsors who do associate with sport do not consider themselves sponsors of a sport but more in the realm of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The support is not for sport per se but for youth or community development, education even but not sport.

T&T sport is not considered capable of bringing to the table measurable strategic marketing deliverables. Why is this so? Why is the brand value and brand proposition that sport brings to the table sold short? If Caledonia AIA is used as an example what is it that has caused Neal and Massy to display loyalty to the club? Is it that Neal and Massy and National Lotteries Control Board understand that in Caledonia AIA, they have a powerful platform for putting back into society through sport? Or is it that there are brand attributes that align? The ambition of Caledonia AIA to be one of the top football clubs in the Americas may be seen by some as farfetched—a whimsical fantasy.

Is it that those who question the club’s aspirations cannot see past their perceptions and interpretations? Nothing good can come out of East Port-of-Spain but gun crime headlines? Caledonia AIA represents a community that is perceived as disadvantaged, a community where high risk lifestyles rule the day. But in striving to be one of the best it has transcended the status quo. The Digicel Pro League is a vehicle for its clubs to aim for higher heights. Pro League clubs and footballers have visions, dreams and values that go beyond old stereotypes. The league is just one example. Its brand values are the same as any responsible corporate entity. As Chopra so elegantly states change perceptions and it is possible to change realities. T&T sport possesses powerful brand attributes. Local sport brands are undervalued assets. Stakeholders who sit around the table need to start respecting, nurturing and activating a different reality.

NOTE: 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.

Trinidad and Tobago sailor, Andrew Lewis has qualified for the Pan American Games which will be held later this year in Mexico.

Lewis sealed his place in the Pan American Games with a solid performance at the Rolex Miami OCR which was held last week. The TT sailor was one of four competitors competing for a place in the Pan American Games and enhanced his chances after advancing past the first round. He eventually finished 37th from 104 competitors, but it was enough to clinch qualification for the Pan American Games. His performance in Miami also saw him move up the world rankings from 684 to 340.

Lewis has shifted to focus to securing qualification for the Olympic Games to be held in London next year. The TT sailor will compete at the next qualification tournament in Perth, Australia.

In order to assure his Olympic place, Lewis will have to earn the requisite number of points this year. He must compete in a host of Regattas that make up the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) circuit and place in the top ten, to gain the qualifying standard. Lewis, 21, a recipient of the Emerging Nations Programme scholarship has been vigorously training in Australia to seal Olympic Qualification. The ENP is based in Perth, Australia, and it allows athletes from emerging nations, who are deemed Olympic prospects by the organisers, to train and compete in ideal conditions in Australia.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

LENN Hypolite captured Trinidad and Tobago’s first ever gold medal at the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships on Monday.

He won the Men’s Welterweight Division at the 5th Commonwealth Championships in Chennai, India, beating Dale Rhodie of Scotland in the final by three points to one.

The final was delayed by three hours but Hypolite had already made himself known to the international community following his impressive performances in the earlier rounds.

On the way to the ring, Rhodie’s coach could be heard instructing him “Watch out for the back kick.”

This kick became popular after Hypolite used it effectively to defeat his counterpart in the semi-finals Kumar Kundu of Bangladesh 8-4.

The lengthy break ahead of the start of the final helped Hypolite, the 2008 Pan American silver medallist to recuperate following a tough semi-final encounter.

TT’s other entrant Avin Maharaj was beaten by Vanlairuata of India on the second day of the championships.

Maharaj made slow start but found rhythm in the second round, but was trailing by one point. In the third and final round Maharaj received a kick to the head which took him out of the contest.

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

Beatrice Allen, the Acting President of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) facing theft charges, has been offered support by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

They have warned that Government in Banjul that Gambia face the risk of suspension from international competition, including next year's Olympics in London, if they are suspected of interfering in the affairs of the GNOC.

Allen, 60, who is also a member of the IOC, is one of three GNOC officials, along with treasurer Ousman Wadda and accounting officer Muhammed Janneh, who have been accused of embezzling $1,500 (£950) from the organisation.

Their arrests coincided with a row over elections scheduled for February 12 to pick a new President of the GNOC to replace Langtombong Tamba, who they have to replace after being sentenced to death following his conviction last year for treason, conspiracy to murder and participating in an act to overthrow the democratically elected Government in 2006.

Pere Miro, the Director of NOC Relations at the IOC, has now written to Allen to re-emphasise that the elections must be overseen by her.

"We have been informed of the difficulties that you personally and your NOC are currently facing," Miro wrote in a letter seen by insidethegames.

"It is our understanding that a legal procedure is ongoing, however, knowing that elections within your NOC are scheduled on 12th February 2011, we would like to reiterate that:

"(i) The IOC will not tolerate any outside interference in this election process and/or in the NOC's internal affairs and operations.

"(ii) The election process must be conducted exclusively under the jurisdiction of your NOC and in particular under your leadership, as NOC Acting President, according to the process that was established by your NOC and with the list of voting members endorsed by your NOC in accordance with your NOC Constitution and the Olympic Charter.

"Should this process not be conducted as planned by your NOC and endorsed by the IOC, the IOC (i) would not be in a position to recognise the outcomes and results of the General Assembly and (ii) would be forced to take appropriate action for the protection of your NOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter and in particular Rule 28.9 which states:

"Apart from the measures and sanctions provided in the case of infringement of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Executive Board may take any appropriate decisions for the protection of the Olympic Movement in the country of an NOC, including suspension of or withdrawal of recognition from such NOC if the constitution, law or other regulations in force in the country concerned, or any act by any governmental or other body causes the activity of the NOC or the making or expression of its will to be hampered." We hope that everyone will understand the gravity of the situation and will strictly respect the jurisdiction of your NOC and the principles mentioned above which are based on your NOC Constitution and the Olympic Charter."

The IOC have demonstrated recently that they do not fear taking action against countries they accuse of Government interference.

Earlier this month they suspended Gambia's West African neighbours following a row over the 2009 elections.

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

Australia's Sports Minister Mark Arbib has announced a $2.5 million (£1.5 million) funding boost for a number of sports where they will be competing against Britain for medals at next year's Olympics in London, including cycling, rowing and sailing.

Money will be redirected from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) to launch a new initiative - the Green and Gold Project - that is designed to try to regain Australia's place among the top five Olympic nations at London 2012.

They slipped out of the top four to sixth at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, their lowest position since Barcelona in 1992 as a British team, strengthened by extra National Lottery funding as a result of London being awarded the Games, finished above them for the first time since 1988.

"There's no doubt that it is a modest sum but it will be targeted to those sports, we think, can make a difference in London," Arbib said at the Australian Paralympic Committee President's lunch in Sydney.

"The 'Green and Gold' project is designed to turn potential fourth, fifth, and six results into medals and turning bronze medals into silver and gold.

"I am an unapologetic supporter of elite sport."

He has brought together the ASC, Australian Institute of Sport and Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to oversee the project and urged them to use the knowledge gained in elite sport over the last 30 years to help make a difference.

A new head coach forums is to be set up under the chairmanship of Britain's former head swimming coach Bill Sweetenham to try to ensure Australia gain revenge over Britain.

Britain won 19 gold medals compared to Australia's 14 in Beijing, leading to plenty of gloating from the Poms, including The Sun hiring a lorry to drive around London with a banner asking "Where the Bloody Hell Were You", mocking a campaign that had been launched at the time by the Australian tourist authorities.

Greece has been stripped of the 2013 Mediterranean Games because of financial problems and delays in getting the facilities ready, the International Committee for the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) have announced.

"I can confirm that the decision has been made to move the 2013 Mediterranean Games from Greece," said ICMG President Amar Addadi.

A vote of 12 to 1 at the ICMG meeting in Paris led to the country being stripped of the Games it was awarded four years ago.

"We have not decided as yet on the new venue but there are several alternatives which we have as back-up and the decision will be announced in due course," Addadi said.

Pescara, the Italian venue for the 2009 Games, has been suggested as one possible alternative for the multisport event which has been held every four years since 1951 and involves 23 countries.

The cities of Volos and Larissa in central Greece were awarded the event in 2007 but the Government's decision to withdraw 190 million euros ($252 million) of funding for accommodation during the country's economic crisis cast doubt on Greece's ability to host the event.

The Greek Organising Committee proposed housing 7,000 athletes and officials in university accommodation and luxury cruise liners at the port of Volos after losing the funding but officials rejected the plan.

The Government also failed to supply the ICMG with the guarantees it had been waiting for since last year, which was a major worry for the committee.

The Greek Government claimed that they could still have staged a memorable Games if they had been allowed the opportunity.

"They wanted certain luxuries which had to be cut," a spokesman said.

"We had said that the Games would take place the way that we wanted."

It would have been the first time Greece had held the event since Athens in 1991.

"This is a slap for Greece, as it constitutes a blow to the prestige and the significance of the country in the sporting world," said Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Kapralos.

"This was something we could have avoided by returning the Games ourselves last year when we had the chance.

Isidoros_Kouvelos_speakingThe only member of the ICMG executive committee to vote against Greece losing the games was Isidoros Kouvelos (pictured), the Greek general secretary of the ICMG and head of the Bidding Committee that earned Volos and Larissa the games four years ago.

"I am particularly disappointed, as we did our best in 2007 to get the Games," he said.

"The inertia and lack of communication between the Government and the ICMG cost us dearly in this case."

Only last week Greece's Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Giorgos Nikitiadis presented a Parliamentary Committee with a draft law for the preparation of the Games, stating that "the aim is to host the Games adequately at the lowest possible cost, to upgrade the region of Thessaly through infrastructure projects, to highlight selected areas as tourism destinations and to develop sports education in local communities.

"This is a great chance for the development and the promotion of Thessaly."

There was anger in Volos and Larissa at the decision - mainly directed at the Government.

"There is serious political responsibility for the delays, the time lost since undertaking the games, the Government's decision to go back on contractual commitments and the consequences this decision entails," Volos Mayor Panos Skotiniotis said.

"Without ever believing in the unrealistic expectations created, it was our view that the event was a considerable opportunity for our city and Thessaly in general."

His counterpart in Larissa was also upset.

"The people of Larissa and Thessaly feel betrayed," stated Larissa Mayor Constantinos Tzanakoulis.

"It is clear that the Government and the Finance Ministry had for some time now decided to avoid the hosting of the Games, ignoring all alternative solutions submitted by the Organising Committee and the two town Councils."

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

Story by: Duncan Mackay

British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

Nigeria have joined Britain and Japan in choosing Loughborough University as its base for a pre-Games training camp before next year's Olympics in London.

Engineer Sani Ndanusa, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), announced that they had chosen Sebastian Coe and Paula Radcliffe's former university as its base following a meeting in Abuja.

Ndanusa is a graduate of Loughborough.

He obtained an MSc in Waste and Water Engineering there before returning to Nigeria where he worked for the Niger State Water Board and then entered politics, serving as his country's Minister of Youths, Sports and Social Development for two years.

Britain announced last April that they planned to base the majority of its team there in the weeks leading up to London and that it would be the location for its kitting out process, meaning that nearly all competitors chosen for the Olympics will have to pass through it to receive their uniforms for the Games.

Japan had already identified Loughborough as the ideal place for its team to prepare before London and had signed a deal as long ago as May 2009 to train there.

Loughborough claims to have the largest campus of any European university equipped with world-class performance facilities across a multi-range of sports and plans further improvements in the run-up to London 2012.

The University also claims to have the best integrated sports development environment in the world and is home to some of the country's leading coaches, sports scientists and support staff.

It is able to offer training for 22 of the possible 26 sports and disciplines that will be on the London 2012 programme.

"Our number one priority is to ensure that Nigerian athletes have the best possible preparation environment," said Ndanusa.

"We are confident that Loughborough University's excellence in the field of sport will be of huge benefit to Team Nigeria's aspiration of performing creditably at the Games.

"The co-location of major teams will create a unique environment, with Loughborough likely to have the highest concentration of Olympic activity."

Nigeria were represented in ten sports at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, sending a total of 52 individual competitors plus two football teams.

They won four medals, a silver in the men's football, and three bronze.

Nigeria is hoping to end a 16-year wait in London for another Olympic gold medal since they won they celebrated their first champions in Atlanta in 1996 when Chioma Ajunwa won the women's long jump and the men's football team, including Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, beat Argentina in the final.

The Trinidad and Tobago Taekwondo Association will begin their Campaign at the 5th Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships in Chennai, India, today. Avin Maharaj, the country's  Flyweight, Champion will be opening his account against Vanlairuata of India. Avin has been training in Washington with  the top IOC Coach, Master Patrice Remark, who is expected to revisit Trinidad and Tobago at the end of the month. The country's National Coach, Mr. Colin Mofford, is expected to join Master Patrice at his Dojang shortly and so could not make the trip.

Lenn Hypolite, the country's other entrant at these Games will begin Competition tomorrow in the Welterweight Division against Ewan Harrison of Scotland. The two Athletes will be coached by Master Sung Chul Whang, who along with former TT Olympian, Chinedum Osuji, currently trains both Lenn and Dorian Alexander in New York. Alexander for personal reasons had to withdraw from the outing at the last minute.

The country's National Coach, Mr. Colin Mofford, is expected to join Master Patrice at his Dojang for a few weeks and so could not make the trip.

Mr. Anthony Ferguson, the TTTA's and Caribbean Taekwondo Federation's President has been appointed to the Arbitration Board for these Championships. He expressed great optimism at the Country's chances here. Ferguson explained that in this pen-ultimate year of the London Olympics, it was important that the country's hopefuls be afforded the opportunity to compete with Athletes from those parts of the world where the most Olympic and World Medals are drawn.

Mr. Ferguson also commented on the power of Sports. He said that generally when asked from he came and responded, Trinidad and Tobago, he would draw a blank. However when he added Brian Lara's country, there would always be an appreciative and welcoming smile. Some he said even mentioned Ato Boldon and he for good measure would add Dwight Yorke.