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

jul.31.2008

By Clifford Coonan , www.independent.co.uk

With 10 days to go until the Beijing Olympics opens, the smog simply refuses to lift and the Games organisers are preparing emergency measures to clear the air ahead of the big day.

The traffic on the streets of Beijing is noticeably lighter, and many of the big steelworks and coal-fired power stations have been silenced. But the capital was still enveloped yesterday in a haze that restricted visibility to a couple of hundred yards.

For years the authorities have been trying to clear the yellow-tinged smog masking the city, including a recent batch of measures as a quick-fix solution. "We will implement an emergency plan 48 hours in advance if the air quality deteriorates," Li Xin, a senior engineer with the environmental bureau, told the China Daily newspaper.

It is only a week since the government introduced an odd-even number plate system which bars more than one million of Beijing's 1.3 million passenger cars from the streets. Now the government is considering banning 90 per cent of private cars and closing more factories as a last-ditch attempt clear the skies before the games start on 8 August. Beijing has already spent 120bn yuan (?8.9bn) on tackling the pollution, to no avail.

The authorities say the haze was normal for Beijing for a balmy late July and had nothing to do with pollution. "The air quality in Beijing during the Olympic Games will not affect the health of athletes," said Du Shaozhong, deputy director of Beijing's Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, the man charged with soothing fears that the Games may be a smoggy event.

Athletes planning to bring respirators were only adding unnecessarily to their baggage weight, said Mr Du, who emphasised that the figures showed the air quality was improving: "A blue sky doesn't mean the air quality is good. If you take a shower, you can't see clearly because of the steam, but it doesn't mean it's pollution."

"We can guarantee a good environment for athletes. The International Olympic Committee and its medical commission have concluded that good air quality is fully guaranteed," Mr Du added.

However, with some athletes already training in Beijing and elsewhere in China, and others due to arrive in the coming days, the government's assurances are unlikely to assuage fears that China's promise of a "Green Games" is dead in the water.

The Olympic gold-medallist and world record holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia has pulled out of the Beijing marathon because he suffers from asthma and believes that the pollution threatens his health.

The environmentalist group Greenpeace released a report saying that Beijing's air quality was still well short of international guidelines and that levels of particulates in the air were twice as high as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

It is still not clear exactly how bad the air has to be for an event to be cancelled, and it is forbidden to bring in measuring equipment for any independent measurement of air quality.

Jacques Rogge, the head of the International Olympic Committee, has warned that poor air quality during the Games could result in the suspension of endurance races such as long-distance cycling and the marathon.

jul.31.2008

By Matt Slater (www.bbc.co.uk)

A member of Jamaica's athletics team for the Beijing Games has tested positive for a banned substance, the island's Olympic boss has confirmed.

Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) chief Mike Fennell said the test occurred at the national trials on 27-29 June.

Fennell has refused to identify the athlete but insisted that it was "not a big name".

"That said, it is still a major blow for us and we take this very seriously," he said.

"I have instructed that the athlete in question be withdrawn from the team. He will not compete at the Olympics."

The test was conducted by an anti-doping unit working in conjunction with world athletics' governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), in the Jamaican capital, Kingston.

Fennell told BBC Sport he had received verbal confirmation of the positive test from the Monaco-based IAAF but was waiting to see it "in black and white" before he released a press statement to the local media.

"Every member of our team [for the Beijing Olympics] has been selected because of their performances on the track, so we're really disappointed that somebody has gone down this path," he added.

The Caribbean island, which has a long and proud tradition of punching above its weight on the track, has emerged as an athletics superpower in recent years.

This season has already witnessed Usain Bolt take the world 100m record from compatriot Asafa Powell, and both men are expected to lead a potent Jamaican medal challenge when the Games begin in China on 8 August.

But the timing of this positive test will cause embarrassment in Jamaica as the country's anti-doping efforts have been under scrutiny for some time.

Despite repeated promises over the last five years, Jamaica still has not set up a fully operational anti-doping agency of its own. It has also opted out of the Caribbean-wide regional anti-doping organisation which has been set up and championed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

This has meant the Jamaican authorities have been forced to rely on the IAAF to police their track stars.

It is perhaps ironic then that news of this test broke two days after the Jamaican senate finally passed the legislation needed to set up the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission.

During the debate last week, senator Don Wehby praised the country's athletes for their performances and rebuked "misguided and poorly informed commentators" who have criticised Jamaica for not doing enough in the fight against drugs in sport.

jul.31.2008

Trinidad and Tobago will very soon have anti -doping legislation in place as the TTOC has been working with the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and is confident that the vital legislative tool in the fight for drug -free sport in T&T will happen by the end of the year.

The National Olympic Committee can confirm that T&T is a member of the Caribbean-wide regional anti-doping organisation which has been set up and championed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The TTOC has had full support from the authorities in progressing the anti-doping agenda locally and regionally.

TTOC officials were responding to the news that a Jamaican Olympian had tested positive even though Jamaica's Senate had recently passed anti-doping legislation.

The TTOC anti-doping programme includes education and awareness .Athletes representing the TTOC are also required to sign a code of conduct  agreement .

ago.04.2008

ago.04.2008

ago.07.2008

Beijing-Friday ,August 8th

Participating in the Opening Ceremony of the summer Olympic games is one that all Olympic team members eagerly anticipated and treasure.However  for various reasons not everyone is able to take part but carrying  the National flag is considered a privilege and honour.

The Beijing Summer Olympics  is no exception although air quality concerns have seen a number of nations opt to set up training camps outside the Chinese capital.

The T&T track and field team ,for example, is currently in South Korea and will miss the opening festival.

TTOC officials told ttoc.org that the limit on officials participating in the opening-based on a ratio of athletes to officials-has been lifted by the organisers for some of the countries .

T&T have benefited in an effort to ensure a "decent looking representation "says chef de mission Michael Valentine.

He however declined to confirm who will carry the T&T flag pointing out that internally there are still some aspects to be worked out.

Past TTOC protocol suggests that George Bovell 111 ,The only Olympic medalist in the Beijing team is the athlete to be given the honour.However in past games the ace swimmer opted out from the opening ceremony as his first event is normally a day or two after.The choice it would appear is up to the Athens bronze medalist.

Next in line in terms of Olympic credentials would be shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown.

The TTOC athletes and officials in the Olympic Village are:
Athletes:
George Bovell II
Cleopatra Borel-Brown
Roger Daniel
Nicholas Bovell
Sharntell Mc Lean
Richard Thompson
Dexter St Louis
Ato Modibo
Reny Quow

Officials ,team mangers and medical staff:
Michael Valentine
Wendell Labastide
Terry Ali
George Bovell II
Reeza Burke
Ian Sharpe
June Durham
Asha De Freitas
Andre Ferguson
Rheann Chung
Karielle De Bique

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ago.07.2008

Dario Clement and Safyia Beckford,T&T's two representatives at the Beijing Olympic Youth Camp are settled in and having a great time.The two youngsters ,members of the T&T Olympic youth camp,arrived in the Chinese capital earlier this week.

They are among 500 young people from around the world ,all aged between 16 and 18 years,the group includes for the first time in Olympic youth camp history participants with disabilities.the theme of the 2008 camp is "Youth Creating the Future".the camp aims at spreading the Olympic spirit.

Clement and Beckford will be among the 91,000 present in the Bird's Nest for tonight's eagerly anticipated opening of the Games of the 29th Olympiad.

The youth campers will be taught Chinese martial arts,calligraphy and otter traditional Chinese arts.they will also visit the Olympic Village and competition venues.

The Beijing Olympic Youth Camp is based at Beijing 01 Middle School,19 kilometres away from the Olympic Green.

ago.08.2008

Beijing-August 8th-4.30pm(4.30am TT Time)

George Bovell 111 will carry the flag and lead the T&T team at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics.Bevel said it is an hon our and privilege to be asked to do so.

With the opening just under four hours away.The excitement is building.The athletes and officials have already started leaving the Olympic Village for the Bird's Nest.

ago.08.2008

An army of 2,008 drummers pounded out the countdown to the Games.

Twenty-nine "footprints of fire" shot into the sky and "marched" through the city to Tiananmen Square in a fantastic display of pyrotechnics.

Eighty world leaders including US President George W Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were among the 91,000 people in the audience.

The show, choreographed by China's most successful film director, Zhang Yimou, was a celebration of ancient Chinese history.

A record 204 national teams paraded through the stadium - not in the traditional alphabetical order but based on the number of strokes it takes to write their names in Chinese.

The T&T team led by George Bovell 111 had their brief moment centerstage in a ceremony described as "awesome" by TTOC president Larry Romany.

China came to a standstill for the ceremony, as there has been tremendous support for the Games from the Chinese public, many of whom see it as the most exciting event of their lifetime.

Although the opening of the 29th Olympiad lasted four hours,Romany said from what he saw most of those present were kept spell bound and attentive for the duration.

"I must congratulate China on a fantastic opening ceremony.There were little hiccups.All aspects were met.It is a great start.The hard part comes now"

Romany said that hosting a successful games requires more than a spectacular opening but the national Olympic chief is confident that China will build on their great start.

"With the competition getting started .Logistics and organization will be paramount" added Romany.

ago.09.2008

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is deeply saddened to learn of a tragic incident which occurred earlier today involving two relatives of a coach for the United States Olympic Men's Indoor Volleyball Team.

ago.10.2008

ago.11.2008

Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou has been excluded from the Beijing Games after the International Olympic Committee refused to accredit her.

Thanou, 33, had been named in Greece's Olympic squad for the 100m.

The IOC has blocked her participation because of her controversial withdrawal from the 2004 Games in Athens.

An IOC spokesperson said the decision was meant "to send a firm signal...that this case has brought the Olympic movement very much into disrepute".

Thanou has threatened to sue the IOC and president Jacques Rogge if she is not allowed to compete in Beijing.

The sprinter and compatriot Kostas Kenteris each missed a drugs test on the eve of the 2004 Games.

It was the third time they had missed a test, resulting in a two-year suspension from competition.

The pair claimed they had been involved in a motorcycle accident on their way to the Olympic Village in Athens to be drugs tested.

They still face criminal charges of perjury and falsifying evidence in Greece relating to the accident.

The IOC argued it had the right to exclude Thanou after she surrendered her accreditation at the Athens Olympics.

A disciplinary commission had been set up in Athens to investigate the circumstances of the athletes' withdrawal.

Thanou and Kenteris turned up to simply surrender their Olympic accreditation, which meant the IOC no longer had jurisdiction over the case.

However, the IOC did decide "that any participation of Kenteris and Thanou... at any further edition of the Olympic Games shall be subject to a new procedure in front of the IOC".

Rogge said last month: "When Thanou handed over her accreditation, she was no more an Olympic athlete.

"We said at the time that we would review the eligibility of Thanou for Beijing. So if the Greek Olympic Committee enters Thanou in Beijing, we will study the eligibility. We have the right to do that."

Thanou's lawyer, Gregory Ioannidis, said that the IOC's decision was based on "lack of legal arguments and the discrimination".

And the athlete is likely to continue to be a thorn in the side of the IOC.

She has threatened to take legal action if she is not handed Marion Jones' 100m gold from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Jones was stripped of her Sydney medals after admitting she had been doping at the time and Thanou finished second in the 100m.

ago.11.2008

Beijing-Monday 11 August 2008-

Darrel Brown and Marc Burns arrived in the Beijing Olympic Village yesterday .Brown and Burns quickly settled in and along with fellow sprinter Richard Thompson shared thoughts and experiences during a light hearted exchange with quadruple Olympic medalist Ato Boldon.

Boldon in Beijing as a commentator with NBC paid his countrymen a visit also  present during the Trini lime was quarter miler Ato Modibo and Reny Quow.

ago.11.2008

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com by Kwame Laurence

The third, Darrel Brown, has a 2008 best of 10.02 seconds - produced in May at the Doha Super Grand Prix, in Qatar. And while that clocking puts the 23-year-old sprinter in 19th spot on this year's IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) performance list, he is optimistic of occupying one of the eight lanes in Saturday's Beijing 2008 century final.

Shortly after checking into the Olympic Village, yesterday, Brown listed his Beijing goals.

"To reach the final," he told the Express, "that's the main goal; try to medal; and in the 4x1, to try to go for the gold."

Brown's compatriots, Richard Thompson (9.93) and Marc Burns (9.97), are sixth and tenth, respectively, on the 2008 IAAF performance list.

ago.11.2008

Trinidadians have high hopes for medals and Olympic glory firmly. And they have placed these hopes high on the shoulders of local athletes competing in the games in Beijing, China.

Several persons enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon on the Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain, yesterday said they were confident that the local athletes will bring home gold from each event they participate in.

“It is our turn, we deserve it. Our athletes have trained hard and although we could live with silver or bronze, we are fighting for gold,” Nigel Cordner, of Diego Martin, said.

Included in the TT team are swimmer, George Bovell III and a 30-member team consisting of track and field athletes, three swimmers, a shooter and a table tennis player.

Sharon Clarke said two gold medals will suffice with one coming from the sport of swimming. “I have some faith in them (local athletes) if we keep praying for their success. I just wish for the best,” she said.

“With sports anything could happen,” said her companion, who gave his name as, Ismail, “You could be the best athlete or competing against the best athlete but anything could happen.”

Dionne Sinnerine believes in Bovell though, expressing confidence that the swimmer’s chances at gold were very good. Bovell will make his first appearance on the Beijing stage tomorrow during the 50m and 100m freestyle preliminaries.

“Our boys may not stand a chance against Jamaica in track and field although we may have some hope in the four by 100 metres event. I wish all the athletes the best of luck.”

Her daughter, Denise expressed similar sentiments. “They will do their best. I wish them the best of luck as well.”

ago.12.2008

• Education
• Life skills
• Career management

Education: about the “second challenge”
The Education part of the programme stresses the importance combining sport with studies in order to be prepared for the “second challenge”, meaning the transition after one’s sports career to another kind of activity, a change of focus from sports performance to a more standard job. “Successful job integration unquestionably starts with education,” says IOC member Sergey Bubka, Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission, the future participants of the project.

Life Skills: “overall success in life”
The life-skill training includes information, practical tools and guides on subjects such as health, nutrition, finance, media training, time management, public speaking and goal setting. ”Athletes should be able to develop their athletic skills, and at the same time, develop their social and professional skills,” says Bubka.

Career management: or how to find or develop a job
The third element is concentrating on career management training, in collaboration with Adecco, the IOC and various National Olympic Committees. It should allow the athletes to acquire support and advice, including information on drafting a curriculum vitae, job hunting and job interview techniques. This programme may also help with job placement and career development.

Questionnaire
The launch during the Beijing Games allows the IOC to make athletes aware of this programme. It also wants to encourage them to participate. Olympians and experienced athletes - on elite level - are asked to fill in the attached questionnaire. The analysis of all the answers will allow the IOC to assess the main expectations of the athletes for this project. “The Athletes’ Programme depends very much on your involvement, so get active, share your needs with us: give us your best!“ concludes IOC President Jacques Rogge

ago.14.2008

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) is reminding the local business community,media houses and advertising agencies that the unauthorized (expressed or implied) use of the Olympic rings,symbols ,letters and images is prohibited.

The TTOC's endeavours to foster greater awareness about the matter included written communication and meetings with local advertising agencies and media houses.

The National Olympic Committee is therefore confident and satisfied that no one can legitimately claim to be unaware of the legal prohibitions.

The Olympic Games are the exclusive property of the IOC which owns all rights and data relating to the organisation,broadcasting,recording,representation,reproduction,access and dissemination in any form and by any means or mechanism whatsoever.

The IOC shall determine the conditions of access to and the conditions of any use of data relating to the Olympic Games .

The Olympic symbol,flag,motto,identifications (including but not limited to Olympic Games and Games of the Olympiad) designations,emblems,flames and torches are referred to as Olympic properties.All rights to any and all Olympic properties and the use of these rights belong exclusively to the IOC.

In accord with the Olympic Charter the IOC can take all appropriate steps to obtain the legal protection for itself ,on both a national and international basis,of the rights over the Olympic Games and over any Olympic property.

In this regard each National Olympic Committee is responsible to the IOC for the protection ,in its country ,of the Olympic properties of the IOC .