Watch the Ceremony Here!
Trinbago2023 Magazine
Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games

UPCOMING GAMES

UPCOMING GAMES

T&T OLYMPIC TEAM TTO PARTNERS

The Worldwide Olympic Partners

Team TTO on Facebook

Team TTO on Twitter

Couldn't resolve host 'api.twitter.com'

TeamTTO on Instagram

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

Dwain Chambers. Photo: google images.UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has backed the United States' attempt to have the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) controversial eligibility rule that will stop defending 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt from running at London 2012 scrapped, even though it would open the way for British drugs cheats like Dwain Chambers (pictured) to compete at the Olympics.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and IOC have asked the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) to determine the validity of IOC Rule 45, which bars any athlete receiving a doping sanction of greater than six months from competing at the next Olympic Games.

The rule, adopted in 2008, has been criticised as creating a second penalty for athletes who have served their doping suspension.

"I have gone on record previously stating that UK Anti-Doping does not believe that additional eligibility rules provide athletes who are charged with an anti-doping rule violation with any incentive to assist in the fight against doping in sport," Andy Parkinson, the chief executive of UKAD, told insidethegames.

"With London 2012 around the corner, we are very encouraged by this positive development and will watch these proceedings before the CAS with interest."

If the CAS decides in favour of the USOC then it will leave the way for British competitors like Dwain Chambers and David Millar to challenge the British Olympic Association's (BOA) by-law which prevents any athlete with a doping ban from representing Team GB at the Olympics.

Parkinson has previously criticised the rule, claiming that it confuses the situation and impedes the work of organisations like UKAD because there is no incentive for athletes banned for taking drugs to cooperate with them.

Chambers, who tested positive for a cocktail of banned drugs in 2003 and was suspended for two years, tried unsuccessfully to get the ban lifted before the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when he took the BOA to the High Court.

"At the least any decision will provide clarity around this area and the timing will ensure that this international issue will be resolved well in advance of the 2012 Games," Parkinson said.

"The World Anti-Doping Code, agreed at an international level, encourages athletes to provide substantial assistance which can be grounds for a reduction in the sanction period.

"All Anti-Doping Organisations need the ability to offer athletes the motivation to share information with their relevant authorities, therefore assisting to catch those who are involved in the supply of performance enhancing substances."

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

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

From left, T&T’s Emile Abraham, two-time British National Road Champion Jeremy Hunt and Tour de France Green Jersey winner Baden Cooke of Australia share a light moment at Mike’s Bikes on Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook yesterday. The trio will be seen in action at the Beacon T&T Cycling Festival at the Queen’s Park Savannah tonight. Photo: Anthony Harris.Two-time British National Road Race Champion Jeremy Hunt and World Cup Kilo Champion Ben Kersten of Australia will join Tour de France Green Jersey winner Baden Cook and over 100 others in the Beacon T&T Cycling Festival at the Queen’s Park Savannah tonight. As opposed to years gone by, the festival has been scaled down to just one night during which the main event will be a 14-lap Road Race at 8.45 pm.

Some of the top locals signed up to compete include Emile Abraham and brothers Joshua and Adam Alexander, who will be fancying their chances of winning the $10,000 first prize in the absence of last year’s winner Walter Perez of Argentina. The night will also feature a Sprint Race, for which multiple USA National and Pan American champion Giddeon Massie is expected to be the favourite, and Two Lap races for Ladies, Juveniles and Over 50 Veterans.

Beacon Insurance Company Limited has invested $300,000 in the event, while other sponsors include Kiss Baking Company Limited, the Trini Posse, Blue Waters and TGIFridays. The $45,000 in overall cash prizes will mark the largest  pot for a single local cycling event. The races will be punctuated by several entertainment segments including a parade of Carnival bands as well as musical performances by JW & Blaze and Iwer George.

SCHEDULE

7 pm—Close off Road Memorial—Cipriani Boulevard
7.30 pm—National Anthem by Pangelics Steel Orchestra
7.35 pm—Opening Prayer
7.36 pm—MC’s Welcome and Introduction of Sprinters who proceed to Cipriani Blvd. (Pangelics to play)
7.40 pm—Start of Ladies 2 Laps
7.41 pm—Start of Juveniles 2 Laps
7.42 pm—Start of  Veteran 50+ 2 Laps
7.45 pm—Start of Sprint
8 pm—Finish of Categories (Ladies, Juveniles, Vets 50+)
8.05 pm—Parade of the Carnival Bands
8.30 pm—Introduction of Cyclists  Main Event (Siparia Rhythm Section to play)
8.43 pm—Remarks Mr Gerald Hadeed & Honorable Anil Roberts
8.45 pm—Drop Flag / Start of Race
9.20 pm—Race Ends
9.25 pm—JW & Blaze
9.35 pm—Prize Giving (Top Three Main Event)
9.45 pm—Iwer George
10 pm—End of Event

Source: www.cananews.net

Stephen AmesLONDON—Stephen Ames gained three places in the Official World Golf Rankings following his 36th place finish in the US$5.7 million The Heritage last Sunday. The T&T-born golfer, who had one of his better outings in some time, moved up to 144th, halting his recent downward slide. Playing his first tournament in nearly a month, Ames finished three-under 281 after a last round 72 at the Harbour Town Golf Links.

The tournament was won by American Brandt Snedeker who beat England’s Luke Donald in a playoff after they finished 12-under at the end of the final round. England’s Lee Westwood was the only change to the top 10 as he reclaimed the number one spot after winning the Indonesian Open on the Asian Tour.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who missed the cut at the recent Masters, slipped to number two. (CMC)

Selected positions
World Golf Rankings
1. Lee Westwood (ENG) 7.65
2. Martin Kaymer (GER) 7.52
3. Luke Donald (ENG) 7.37
4. Phil Mickelson (USA) 6.52
5. Graeme McDowell (IRE) 5.84
6. Tiger Woods (USA) 5.72
7. Rory McIlroy (IRE) 5.64
8. Paul Casey (ENG) 5.59
9. Steve Stricker (USA) 5.48
10. Matt Kuchar (USA) 5.21
144. Stephen Ames (CAN) 1.118

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story by: Rachael Thompson-King

Machel Cedenio, right and Theon Lewis, both draped in the T&T flag show off their medals won on day one of the Carifta Games in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Saturday. Cedenio won gold in 47.38 seconds and Lewis got the silver (48.14) in the Boys Under-17 400 metres event. Photo: www.guardian.co.tt.T&T may have dropped overall in the medal count but a number of athletes certainly left their mark at the Carifta Games track in the Reggae Land. The 40th edition of the premier youth track and field event in the Caribbean was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica over the Easter weekend. Machel Cedenio, Nicholas Landeau and brothers Keshorn and Elton Walcott stood high above the rest, indicating that great things can be expected in the future. Cedenio was responsible for three of T&T’s 29 medals, two gold in the Under-17 200 (21.43 seconds) and 400 metres (47.38), and silver in the 4x100 (39.91).

The relay team also included Jonathan Holder, Moriba Morain and Ayodelle Taffe. What made his achievements even more special was that he improved on his personal best times in both catergories.
“I did two personal best which was really good,” said Cedenio, referring to the 200m and 400m races.
Overall, T&T returned early Tuesday morning with seven gold, 13 silver and nine bronze—to place fourth behind Jamaica which dominated with 66 medals—33 gold, 22 silver and 12 bronze. Bahamas was second with 31 (nine gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze) while Barbados had 27—nine gold, eight silver and 10 bronze, to hold the third spot.

There was a long wait at the end of the Games before the final medal count was released as there was a protest in the 4x400m event that saw Bahamas which clocked a time of three minutes, 07.14 seconds, disqualified, resulting in the then second placed T&T (3:08.96) being upgraded to first place. T&T relay team of Jareem Richards, Hendrix Foncette, Deon Lendore and Darvin Sandy was later reverted to silver after Bahamas appealed the disqualification and was successful. Jamaica (3:09.41), too, went back down to third. Cedenio made his debut at the competition, last year, when he was part of the U-20 4x400m quartet that included the 2010 Austin Sealy award winner, Jehue Gordon, which won gold.

Cedenio feels he still has work to do to perfect his technique in both the one-lap event and 200m. “I don’t really have a good start in the 200m but I finish well. It’s reverse for the 400m where I am better at the start than the finish,” he said. Whatever his strategy, it brought him success and in an impressive fashion, particularly in the 200m final. That finale had one of the more enticing ends when Cedenio punished Jamaican Jevaughn Minzie for his premature celebration. He snuck through to take victory in 21-43 seconds.

The six-footer has no plans of settling and will look to remedy any of his shortcomings on the track.
He said, “I am looking to do greater things, come end of the year, train hard and stay focus.” A similer intention of Elton Walcott, who won T&T’s final gold medal in the Boys U-20 Triple Jump event on Monday. Elton, who won with a leap of 15.98 metres, beating Lathone Minns (15.24) of Bahamas and Martinique’s Jean-Noel Cretinoir (14.34), appreciated the win but felt he could have done better.
“I am happy I won but I was a bit disappointed I didn’t get over the 16 metres mark,” said Elton, who was competing in his final Carifta event.

“I won this event four times first at the U-17 level and maintained it for three more years in the U-20 level which is very good.” His younger brother, 18-year-old Keshorn smashed a 24-year-old record, en route to winning the Boys’ U-20 javelin. In the opening round, he hoisted the spear 67.81 metres to erase the 65.52m standard established by Martinique’s Jean Rene Ceykan in 1987. And then, in round three, Walcott produced a monster throw of 72.04m, improving on the new Carifta mark and breaking his 69.01m national junior (under-20) record. Landeau also had a special tour, capturing gold in both the Boys’ U-17 1,500 and 3,000.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

By Jacquelin Magnay

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has been asked to rule whether athletes who have been banned for more than six months for doping offences can compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The United States Olympic Committee has contested the IOC’s current Olympic Games ban for drugs offenders in the court, wanting to support defending Olympic 400m champion La Shawn Merritt to compete in London.

Merritt is serving a 21-month ban for taking a sex enhancement product which contained an illegal steroid hormone called DHEA. His ban expires in time for him to compete at the US Olympic trials.

CAS will determine the validity of the IOC rule, which bans athletes serving any drugs suspension of longer than six months from the next Olympic Games.

However, its determination will not help Britain’s star sprinter and world indoor 60m champion Dwain Chambers. Chambers is banned from Olympic competition because of the British Olympic Associations imposes a strict life time ban from the Games for any athlete convicted of a doping charge.

Chambers challenged that rule in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics but was unsuccessful.

The US Olympic Committee’s court action is the second time in recent months that the IOC faces a CAS hearing, although the British Olympic Association’s action to determine the profits of the London 2012 Olympic Games was withdrawn and settled. The US however, have presented a joint front with the IOC in this particular matter, with both bodies issuing simultaneous press releases.

“In the interest of ensuring that all eligible athletes are able to compete in their respective Olympic qualification process, and to establish a degree of certainty as we head toward the Olympic Games in London, the USOC and the IOC have agreed to place the question of the regulation before the CAS,” USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun said.

The IOC Director General, Christophe De Kepper, said a ruling by CAS would eliminate any confusion ahead of next year’s Olympics.

“This arbitration will provide certainty in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games,” he said.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Dwight Yorke. Photo : www.guardian.co.ttDwight Yorke has been linked to the head coach position for Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory.The ex-Manchester United, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Sunderland and Sydney striker, is understood to be one of a large number of contenders for the vacant Victory coaching position, unfilled since Ernie Merrick’s dismissal in mid-March. Yorke has made it clear in the UK that he is interested in pursuing a coaching career, and with his wealth of experience at the highest levels of both the club and international games—he led T&T to the World Cup in Germany in 2006—he has a profile few, if any, potential rivals for the Victory position could match.

Yorke is taking his coaching badges and has already had stints as assistant coach with Sunderland and the T&T senior team. He has completed his level B certificate, and has already had experience as part of a Premier League management team, stepping in as assistant coach to Ricky Sbragia at Sunderland after Roy Keane’s departure from the club in December 2008. Interestingly, his former United teammate Keane was wrongly linked with the Victory post in a flood of rumours, subsequently denied, earlier this month.

Unlike most big-name foreigners touted for a position in the Australian game, Yorke would understand the complexities of coaching and building a squad in a league which operates under greater restrictions—a tight salary cap, limits on the number of non-Australian players, mandates on the total of young players that must be included in the playing squad—than virtually any other in the world.

In his time with Sydney, Yorke provided plenty of glamour and glitz but made a huge contribution on the field too, winning the Joe Marston Medal for best on ground in the inaugural A-League grand final win over the Central Coast Mariners. Victory is staying tight-lipped over its coaching process, with chairman Anthony Di Pietro yesterday refusing to rule Yorke out or in. “We are keeping our supporters informed of the process and did so with a statement on our Web site before Easter. We have had some 70 applicants, many of a very high calibre, and until we make a decision I will not comment on who has applied or who is on the shortlist,” he said.

Definitely in the frame is caretaker boss Mehmet Durakovic, who, along with assistant Kevin Muscat, has made a fine start to his period in charge. Durakovic took over some 48 hours before the Asian Champions League match against Jeju United, so the 2-1 home loss there should not be sheeted home to him. In the two games he has had time to prepare the club for, Victory has drawn with Tianjin Teda, the group leader, in China and beaten it at home to give itself a long shot at qualification for the knockout phase.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Dylan CarterMarlins’ swimmer Dylan Carter was the lone gold medal winner for T&T, his sixth overall on the penultimate night of competition at the 26th Carifta Swimming Championship being held at the Aquatic Centre, Wildey, Barbados, on Monday night. Trinidad and Tobago is facing an uphill task to complete a hat-trick of wins as Guadeloupe pulled away with the lead at the end of the third day. Guadeloupe is now 59.5 points ahead of T&T’s 501.5 with 561. On the penultimate night, Carter won T&T’s only gold on the night in the 13-14 male 100m freestyle in 53.68 seconds. He just missed the Carifta record of 53.64 of Joshua Romany.  In the 15-17 male 100m freestyle, Joshua Romany won silver in 51.95 seconds. This swim was faster than the 2005 Carifta record on 52.05 of Shaune Fraser. It was also just off the national record of Caryle Blondell of 51.82 seconds.

Jabari Baptiste was the silver medallist in 13-14 male 200 IM in 2:17.70. Gwillym Watkins won bronze in the 11-12 male 200m Individual Medley in the 2:32.93. 15-17 male Ross Phillips won bronze in 2:14.03.
In the 50m breaststroke, 13-14 male Jeron O’Brien placed third in 32.10. Jonathan Cabral won bronze in the 15-17 male 50m breaststroke in 31.09. The combination of Stefan Sharpe, Jonathan Gillette, Ross Phillips and Joshua Romany won bronze 15-17 male 4 x 200m freestyle relay in 8:25.52. T&T had its share of injuries and illnesses during the course of the meet. 13-14 female Chadae Thompson swum for the first time on Monday morning after two days of illness. Carter sustained an injury to his hand just before 13-14 male 4 x 200m freestyle relay.

The team placed fourth in the relay after winning two consecutive gold medals in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay. Tariq Lashley, Sangeeta Maharaj, Jonathan Gillette, Jewel Mulrain, Bryanna Duncan, Rejan Chin, Aaron Acres, Syriah David, Kimberlee John Williams and Kadeja Phillip were the other finalists on the night. With one more day of competition to go, T&T amassed 36 medals consisting of 9 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze. Yesterday was the final day of competition where the 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and the 4 x 50m freestyle.

Latest points standing
1 Guadeloupe         561
2 T&&                   501.50
3 Bahamas             457
4 Jamaica               421
5 Barbados           408

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story by: Rachael Thompson-King

T&T’s 4x400m relay team Darvin Sandy, from left, Deon Lendore, Hendrix Foncette and Jareem Richards after racing to the silver medal.  Photo: www.guardian.co.tt.T&T concluded the 40th Carifta Games in Montego Bay, Jamaica with a tally of 29 medals, a significant drop from last year’s historic haul of 40. Then the local unit had won 12 gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze.
“Under the conditions, like the fact that other countries are stepping up, T&T gave a good performance,” said Ali St Louis, head coach of the T&T team. “Keshorn Walcott record-breaking performance of 72.04 was outstanding. Machel Cedenio did tremendously. He won the 200m and 400m and helped the team to the 4x100m and 4x400m silver. That was a tremendous performance. “Landeau, who doubled up in the 3,000 and 1,500, was tremendous and Walcott’s brother Elton who also won the triple jump even better.”

T&T’s other gold medals were won by Shervorne Walcott in the Boy’s U-17 Discus. Walcott also won silver in the Shot Put event. In those two events, Kenejah Williams walked away with silver and bronze, respectively. None of T&T girls reached the top of the podium but two had double silvers, including Michelle-Lee Ahye, who was unable to defend her 100m title. She then teamed up with Breanna Gomes, Gabriela Cumberbatch and Kai Selvon to get another silver medal in the 4x100m relay final.

Cumberbatch also anchored the 4x400m relay team of Kernesha Spann, Chelsi Campbell and Merissa Gale, to seal her second silver. “All in all, all of them went out there and did their best. It is a young team and they will get better.” Bahamian Anthonique Strachan copped the Austin Sealy award for the most outstanding athlete at the Games, producing a sprint double in the 100m, clocking 11.38 seconds and 23.17 in the 200 to highlight the Bahamas’ 31-medal tally. Strachan tied Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown’s 2001 games record of 22.93 set back in the preliminary rounds.

Final 2011 Medal Table

Team           Gold    Silver    Bronze    
Jamaica           32    22    12     66
Bahamas           9    11    11     31
Barbados           9    8     10     27
T&T                  7    13    9      29
Guadeloupe       3    1     2        6
Turks/Caicos       2    0     0        2
Grenada             1    2    3        6
St Kitts/Nevis      1    0    2        3
French Guyana    1    0    1        2
Martinique           0    1    2       3
Bermuda             0    3    3       6
Dominica             0    2    2       4
St Lucia               0    2    2       4
Cayman Islands      1    0    0       1
Suriname              0    1    0       1
Netherlands          0    0    3       3
Antigua & Barbuda 0    0    2      2
US Virgin Island      0    1    0      1

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Trinidad and Tobago played another fine game against Morocco on Monday to register their second victory at the third FINA Men's Water Polo Development Trophy in Dammam, Saudi Arabia .

After a loss in their opening game against Iran, followed by a win over Tunisia, T&T beat Morocco 13-2.

The game started in aggressive fashion with Morocco putting in the first goal within the first minute. But the Trinidad and Tobago Polo Warriors stuck to their strategy and scored five goals in succession over the final seven minutes on every possession, the first quarter ending 5-1 in favour of the red, white and black.

The second quarter was tight with no goals being scored, but Trinidad and Tobago were able to up their numbers by three more goals and Morocco by just one to end the third quarter with the score at 8-2.

In the fourth quarter, the Warriors put the game away by adding five more goals, with the score at the end in favour of Trinidad and Tobago by 13-2.

The goal-scorers for T&T were: Chris George 3, Matthew George 1, Matthaus Otero 1, Christopher Forte 3, Michael Deane 1, Delano Otero 2, Christian Flook 1, Stuart Gillette 1.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By: Nigel Simon

Joshua Romany. Photo courtesy: tcimweb.comJoshua Romany, Dylan Carter and the 13-14 boys’ 4x100m medley relay quartet established new records on the second day of the 26th Carifta A Swimming Championships at the Aquatic Centre in Wildey, Barbados. Romany started the record breaking in the sixth race of the final session when he won the 15-17 boys’ 200m freestyle in one minute, 53.35 seconds to erase the 2000 record of 1:57.57 held by Damian Alleyne. The swim by Romany also eclipsed the 1999 record of T&T’s Nicholas Bovell of 1:54.25. Romany also went on to get silver in the 100m backstroke in 1:00.57, while compatriot Stefan Sharpe got bronze in 1:01.40. Carter established a new Carifta and T&T record in the 13-14 boys’ 100m backstroke.

A double gold-medal winner on Saturday’s opening night of finals, Carter stopped the clock on 59.63 seconds to surpass the 2009 record of Laurent Geran of 1:00.69 for gold with teammate Jabari Baptiste (1:04.55) getting bronze. The previous national record stood at 59.81 and was established in August 2001. A member of Marlins’ club, Carter splashed to his fourth individual gold of the meet in the 200m freestyle in 1:57.55, with Baptiste, second in 2:00.71. Baptiste added another silver in the 400m individual medley in 4:58.12. Baptiste and Carter later combined with Jeron O’Brien and Johnathan Gonzales in the 4x100m medley relay for gold in a record time of 4:12.25 to better the previous record of 4:12.45 which was set by Guadeloupe in 2009.

Kristin Julien, who established a new Carifta and national record in the 13-14 girls’ 50m backstroke on Saturday, added a bronze in the 50m butterfly in 30.11, and silver in the 100m backstroke in 1:09.96.
US-based Kimberlee John-Williams secured silver in the 15-17 girls’ 100m backstroke in 1:07.34.
Also picking up silver on the night was the 15-17 boys’ medley team of Stefan Sharpe, Ross Phillips, Joshua Romany and Jonathan Cabral who missed gold by 0.41 seconds when they ended in 4:02.24.
The 4x100m medley relay team for 11-12 boys’ quartet of Revash Ramtahal, Gwillym Watkins, Tariq Lashley and Aaron Acres won bronze in a time of 5:02.17 as well as the 15-17 girls’ combination of John-Williams, Rejan Chin, Kadeja Phillip and Simone Maundy in 4:40.68. Other individual finalists for T&T on the night were Phillips, Cabral, Lashley, Watkins, Acres, Amira Pilgrim, Jonathan Gillette, Bryanna Duncan and Christopher Greene, however they failed to medal.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By: Brian Lewis

TnT Hasely Crawford, 1976 100m Olympic gold medallist. Photo: www.sporting-heroes.net.I have some serious doubts about T&T’s continued success in the international sport arena, more than 20 years after Hasely Crawford’s 1976 100m Olympic gold medal at the Montreal Olympic Games. T&T’s recent Olympic history has not been an empty handed one, however. In 2006, T&T qualified for the Fifa World Cup final. Our boxers have captured World titles; in 1979, our netballers were joint World champions. Prior to 1976, T&T sportsmen mounted the Olympic podium one more than one occasion— achievements that many take for granted. While we have won numerous regional, continental and age grade titles and medals, the specific focus is on World and Olympic level. The inability to bridge the gap between continental, regional and age-grade achievements is part of the problem as we seem unable over the years to build on those successes. Why? Is it arrogance or ignorance?

Achieving sustainable and consistent progress and success demands a tireless work ethic, creativity, innovation and unwavering perspiration. It’s not talent, potential or ability. You can have all those things in spades but if discipline, commitment, dedication and determination are a mere figment of the imagination, success is just a mirage. The overarching reality is that  to challenge for the first prize requires sticking to the basics—the willingness to ethically prepare and do what is necessary; the acceptance that success is a process... you have to creep before you walk. There must be a solid foundation in place. The loss or the win is never the whole story. To get the right answers you have to look at the entire journey.  The Olympic Games comes once every four years for most people. For the Olympian it is a journey that is endured every day for four years. The same can be said for World championships and World Cups. The timeline may change from four to two years and in some cases annually. The principle remains the same. The journey is traveled daily. It is what is done every second, every minute, every hour of the day.

National level sportsmen and women must have the discipline to prepare and to keep pushing themselves past their comfort zone.  To be successful in elite and international sport you have to think sport, sleep sport, drink sport, and eat sport. When a national training squad can complain to a NSO that they don’t want to play a practice or trial game because it is Easter weekend and the players have other plans, you can comfortably say “Houston, we have a problem”. Sports administrators must face and accept the challenges that present themselves and in doings so focus on the cause not the effects:
When our sportsmen and women cannot find a gym to lift weights or sporting facilities within close proximity to where they live, or when sport is not seen as an integral aspect of a child’s education, we have fundamental issues and problems to address.

Armchair experts, armchair critics, armchair supporters and armchair participants are in abundant supply. What’s needed are more children, communities, schools, adults and families playing and enjoying sports rather than talking about or watching sports. The successes we enjoy at this time and are likely to enjoy between now and 2012 would have come about because of work done and efforts made from as far back as 1995. That’s history. In fact some of what worked then is no longer relevant. If we are to continue to enjoy success beyond 2012, it is time to come out of our comfort zone, sooner rather than later. Listen! Get off your high horse, this is not about top down, it is about down up. It’s not about you or me—it’s more about what we are not doing rather than what we are doing.

Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the T&T Olympic Committee http// www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the T&TOC.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story by: Nicholas Clarke

Njisane Phillip.CAC Games gold medallist Njisane Phillip was named “Most Outstanding International Cyclist” for the second year in a row as the curtain came down on the T&T Cycling Federation’s Easter Grand Prix at Skinner Park, San Fernando on Sunday night.

On the final night of competition, the 20-year-old Siparia native, picked up gold medals in the Men’s International Eight-Lap and Two-Lap races to carry his overall tally to eight, including the Flying 200m, 500m, Seven-Lap and Keirin on Friday and the Match Sprint and 30-Lap on Saturday.

In other results, Scotland’s Kayleigh Broman won the corresponding Ladies’ award, having won the Eight-Lap, Two-Lap, Four-Lap, Unknown, Elimination and 500m events. Arima Wheelers was named the Most Outstanding Club while Guyanese Warren McKay (Elite 1) and American Phillip Elbaz (Elite 2) and locals Keron Bramble (Elite 3) and Quincy Alexander (Juniors) won their respective categories.

Sunday’s Results

International Men’s Unknown
1. Giddeon Massie (USA)
2. Njisane Phillip (T&T)
3. Adam Alexander (T&T)

International & Invitation 30 Laps
1. Marlo Rodman (Jamaica)
2. Andreas Graf (Austria)
3. Giddeon Massie (USA)

International Men’s Seven Laps
1. Adam Alexander (T&T)
2. Njisane Phillip (T&T)
3. Dario Pagliarcci (Argentina)

International Men’s Two Laps
1. Njisane Phillip (T&T)
2. Adam Alexander (T&T)
3. Giddeon Massie (USA)

International Men’s Eight Laps
1. Njisane Phillip (T&T)
2. Adam Alexander (T&T)
3. Haseem McLean (T&T)

International Men’s Elimination
1. Dario Pagliarcci (Argentina)
2. Duban Figueredo (Columbia)
3. Mads Anderson (Denmark)

International & Invitational 40 Laps
1. Dario Pagliarcci (Argentina)
2. Njisane Phillip (T&T)
3. Giddeon Massie (USA)

International Ladies’ Eight Laps
1. Kayleigh Broman (Scotland)
2. Shelby Reynolds (USA)
3. Paula Veloza (Columbia)

International Ladies’ Two Laps
1. Kayleigh Broman (Scotland)
2. Denese Francis (T&T)
3. Shelby Reynolds (USA)

International Ladies’ Match Sprint:
1. Paula Veloza (Columbia)
2. Kayleigh Brogan (Scotland)
3. Jodi Goodridge (T&T)

International Ladies’ Unknown
1. Kayleigh Broman (Scotland)
2. Shelby Reynolds (USA)
3. Paula Veloza (Columbia)

International Ladies’ Elimination
1. Kayleigh Broman (Scotland)
2. Shelby Reynolds (USA)
3. Dahlia Palmer (Jamaica)

International Ladies’ 500m
1. Kayleigh Broman (Scotland)
2. Deidre Mayers (Barbados)
3. Denese Francis (T&T)

Source: www.odt.co.nz

Story by: by Steve Hepburn

Murray Roulston. Photo courtesy: www.odt.co.nzMurray Roulston has boots and has travelled - everywhere.

The former Highlanders and Hurricanes assistant coach and Otago rugby director of coaching is back home in Mosgiel after spending most of the past few years overseeing rugby in Trinidad and Tobago. He had earlier spent time in Japan and Romania, coaching a game he loves.

The Caribbean outpost was his latest home, as he spread the gospel of the game among the 1.3 million population, and he was likely to return there in the next few weeks.

Roulston (57) said the nation had a lot of naturally gifted athletes but that did not always equate to good rugby players.

"One of the biggest problems we face is at secondary school level they only play touch. And that creates some real bad habits for rugby players. They are not allowed to play contact rugby at secondary school," he said.

"They have about 11 to 12 clubs but not all of them are organised properly. There are just a few things that need to be done before I go back."

Roulston said the people were friendly and very laid back which was sometimes a hindrance.

A new government had been elected last year and Roulston was waiting to hear whether it would back the things he wanted. Roulston, who is based in the capital, Port of Spain, said rugby was about the fifth or sixth-ranked sport in the country. Cricket, athletics and football were the most popular sports though rugby was becoming more widely recognised.

Delon and Steffon Armitage, who have both been part of the England set-up, were born in Trinidad though not many ex-pats played the game.

"The whole rugby infrastructure had to be changed. The guys were great playing among themselves but as soon as they came up against another opposition they backed off.

"The thing is I went to Romania and there were different cultures within the country. You can't change those cultures but you can change the rugby culture.
"Rugby is good for young people because it creates camaraderie, teamwork and the physical contact. It makes them better people."

He gained the job through former Otago coach Lee Smith, who is Oceania IRB regional development manager.
Roulston said the job was all-enveloping as he had become everything from the chief executive of the national body to the coach of the national team.

The national side was ranked 46 in the world, although he hoped to get it below 40.

"It would probably be equivalent in talent to a side here like North Otago, Mid Canterbury."

The side plays in a tournament involving other nations in the Caribbean and will take on Guyana next month.
Roulston, who played and coached Mid Canterbury before coaching stints with the Wanganui and Otago unions, was the assistant coach at the Hurricanes from 2003-07 and was the Highlanders assistant coach in 2008.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story by: Nicholas Clarke

Newly appointed national cycling coach Desmond Dickie is confident that he can lead T&T’s riders to success, since he is one of the top coaches in the world. The Trinidadian, who signed a seven-month contract with the T&T Cycling Federation last month, has held several high profile positions during his 30-year career, including stints as the National Track Coach for the Canadian Cycling Association, USA Cycling and Hong Kong. His latest assignment will involve preparing T&T’s senior team for the upcoming Pan American Games in Columbia in May, which will serve as a qualifier for the 2012 Olympics in London. Speaking to the Guardian recently, he revealed his plans to move the sport forward.

“I hope I can develop a fraternity of riders who are competitive at world level,” he said. “I think I am one of the better coaches in the world and I’m fortunate enough to have had the experience of coaching riders who have won events at the World Championships, Olympic Games, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games.” The road to the Olympics will be difficult for T&T, Dickie pointed out, since its cyclists had missed the chance to earn qualification points during the 2010/2011 World Cup season:

“We will have to try and find avenues that we can go and compete in to achieve UCI points that will get us back in the same brackets as those guys from Canada, America, Columbia and Venezuela. We have an opportunity at the Pan American Championships and that’s a start.”In order to improve the standard of the sport in T&T, Dickie feels it will be necessary to contruct a new modern facility; something the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts has promised to do by the end of the year.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Akeem Stewart. Photo: www.guardian.co.ttDiscus thrower Akeem Stewart secured T&T’s first medal at the Carifta Games, yesterday in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This was at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall. The burly 18-year-old throw of 51.50 metres earned him silver in the Boys Under-20 Discus event in the morning session on the opening day of the 40th edition of the event. “I am very happy about my performance,” said a soft-spoken Stewart. “It is the second time I am competing at the Games and it feels good to get a silver medal.” He finished behind Jamaican Travis Smirkle, who tossed the discus 62.84m. Third was Kellon Alexis of Grenada (50.60). In another final in the early session of day one, T&T’s Cherisse Murray and Shaunna Downey placed fifth and seventh, respectively in the Girls Under-20 Shot Put. Murray’s best attempt was her second at 12.69m, while Downey’s fourth toss of 11.10m was her furthest.

It was a similar faith for T&T’s two high jumpers as neither Meriah Freeman nor Ayanna Glasgow made it among the top three positions in the Girls U-17 event. Freeman gave a better showing though, leaping 1.65m to place fourth. Glasgow was out early with a jump of 1.55m. T&T athletes showed promise in the Boys U-17 400m with Machel Cedenio winning his preliminary heat and recording the fastest qualifying time of 48.80 seconds. Theon Lewis lined up in the second heat and ran second with a time of 49.11, to have the third fastest time overall heading into the final which was scheduled to run late yesterday in the evening session. Kadisha Francois, the lone local competitor in the Girls version of the race ran 1:00.19, to hold 13 spot, not good enough to advance to the next round.

Both T&T quartemilers Dominique Williams and Chelsi Campbell progressed to the Girls U-20 final as the fastest losers. Each finished fourth in their respective races with Williams clocking 56.27 in the first heat and Campbell getting in with a time of 57.22 in the other. It was a good morning for T&T’s boys in the U-20 group with both Deon Lendore and Jareem Richards qualifying comfortably for the one-lap finale which was also slated to run late yesterday. Lendore cruised into the final after placing second in heat two with a time of 47.94 while Richards got in as the one of the fastest losers with 48.71. Following the opening ceremony which included a parade of the participating countries, T&T sprinters were to take to the track in their respective 100m heats. Ayodele Taffe and Jamol James were to contest in the U-20, Michelle Lee Ahye and Breanna Gomes in the U-20 Girls, Jonathon Farinha and Nicholas Douglas in the U-17 boys and the for the girls, Zakiya Denoon and Aaliyah Teleford.

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

April 20 - Visits to cities bidding for the Olympics and Paralympics by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members should be reintroduced, the son of former President Juan Antonio Samaranch claimed today.

Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, whose father died a year ago tomorrow, has claimed that it is time to re-examine the controversial rule which prevents IOC members from travelling to cities campaign for the Games specifically to inspect their bid.

The rule was introduced by Samaranch's father in 2001 following the Salt Lake City bribery scandal in which ten IOC members were expelled or forced to resign after it emerged that they had accepted favours to vote for the American city.

It was believed that acceptance of expensive gifts by IOC members was morally dubious and it would be harder for them to receive anything that might sway their judgement if they were prevented from travelling to cities to meet bid officials.

A new system was introduced by the IOC which saw the creation of an Evaluation Commission, made up of a group of handpicked members and independent experts, who visit all the bidding cities and produce a report which is sent to the rest of the IOC to study.

But Samaranch Junior, a vice-president of the International Modern Pentathlon Union, claims that the system is unfair and outdated.

"By 2011, reform done in 2000 should be subjected to review," the 51-year-old Spaniard told the German news agency dpa in an interview published today.

"The issue of visits to cities is something that needs to be re-regulated."

IOC members now have an opportunity to hear the bidding city's presentations at a special meeting held in Lausanne in the build-up to the final vote.

This was introduced for the first time before the vote two years ago for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, which was won by Rio de Janeiro.

The three cities bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics - Annecy, Munich and Pyeongchang - are due to give presentations in Lausanne on May 18.

Samaranch, who joined the IOC in 2001, admitted that this is "very big step forward" but that he still wants visits to be allowed, even if they are heavily regulated.

"In many cases it is still difficult to vote, to get an idea without having physically seen the facilities and the country," he told dpa.

"We are in a different world [to 1999], with a lot more information and transparency.

"There is a way to do it.

"Visits can be done in such a way that they are not personal, freely-chosen visits, so that there is every guarantee for it to be a normal process."

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Clayton Clarke

T&T’s 65-member national Junior Carifta team departs Piarco tonight for this year’s Carifta Track and Field Championships carded for Montego Bay, Jamaica, this weekend. The contingent is expected to touch down at the Sangsters International Airport in the Jamaican resort city early tomorrow morning.
The 40th edition of the Carifta Games get underway on Saturday and will run until Monday. The young athletes will be looking to surpass last year’s record haul of 40 medals in the Cayman Islands. The team held its final meeting and training session yesterday and National Association for Athletic Administration (NAAA) president Ephraime Serrette is confident that the team will do well. “I think we have a solid team based on the selection and performance at the Carifta trials and even at the Southern Games,” he said. “We have three US-based athletes coming into the squad, hurdler Danielle Davis, sprinter Kai Selvon, who has  already run 23.38, in the 200 metres and high jumper Jeanelle Ovid.”

Serrette added that the team has been in training at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. “Our throwers and jumpers remained in our national programme since selection. We have mandated all to meet at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Wednesdays where the track athletes have been working on the relays while the others follow the programmes submitted by their club coaches.” Serrette is optimistic that the team can match its 2010 performance and is basing his expectations on the results of trials from the major competing countries including powerhouse Jamaica. The former national sprinter is however concerned about the chances of the Under-20 girls. Serette is hoping the support of the parents and fans, who are travelling to Montego Bay, to motivate the young Soca athletes so they can perform at their best.
He is confident that T&T can continue to make inroads on the Jamaicans, who have been dominating the regional premiere junior meet from its inception 40 years ago. “The Jamaican medal haul has been getting smaller in recent years. With the added support our athletes can win more medals.”

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Wayne Legerton, pictured left, sits with Kwan Brown, TT Hockey captain. Photo: zimbio.com.T&T international Wayne Legerton was among the goals once more as he netted another double for Hattem to edge QZ 4-3 in the Holland Field Hockey Premier Division on Sunday. The goals by the 26-year-old Legerton, who plays locally for 2010 national double-crowned champion Petrotrin, carried his season tally to 24 of his team’s 55 goals scored so far from 16 matches. With the win, Hattem joined third-placed team Eelde on 31 points, but the latter has a match in hand. Eelde was also in winners’ row, 4-2 over Leusden while the top two clubs won handsomely. Table-leaders Huizen, with 46 points from 16, slammed HCM 7-0 while second-placed Tempo ‘41 crushed Ede 8-2 to improve to 37 points. Legerton and his Rabbits teammates will return to action on Saturday when they tackle fifth-placed Shinty followed by a meeting with cellar-placed club Ede on May 1.

Wynne helps Dragons reach playoffs

National senior women’s hockey team standout, Blair Wynne, helped her Belgian club, KHC Dragons to reach the playoffs after a 3-0 win over Leopold on Saturday. Going into the final regular season match, the Dragons (27 points) needed a win or a draw to make it to the playoffs. This was because the Dragons had a better goal-difference than fifth-placed Braxgatta (25 pts), should both teams end with the same number of points. Wynne and her teammates also had a chance to claim a playoff spot last week against KHC Gantoise but went under, 3-0. Braxgatta also needed a win to increase their chances but failed.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story by: Nicholas Clarke

Jehue Gordon. Photo: zimbio.comWorld Junior 400m Hurdles champion Jehue Gordon says that he has managed to excel in his school work despite having to balance the demands of being a world class athlete while pursuing a degree at the same time.
Gordon, a first year student at the University of the West Indies, was speaking during the second day of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs’ Symposium for Secondary School Leaders at the Cascadia Hotel in St Ann’s yesterday. While fielding questions from the audience, the 19-year-old revealed that the last eight months had been the most challenging period of his life. “It’s a lot of work as compared to Form Six or Form Five and a lot more time is required because as an athlete, you need to get a certain amount of hours of sleep to be rested properly to perform in the next day at training and at University you have to be up studying at one, two and three in the morning to make sure that you don’t fail,” he said, adding, “I’ve been coping with it and I’m getting As and Bs so far.”

Gordon said his success had been the result of having a strong support system of family and friends to guide him through hard times. “There’s times when injury comes around and things are just going really slow and at that point you start to feel cynical. There are also people who will always be saying bad things about you on your way to the top. The trick is to just keep working hard and pushing yourself and have the right base of support around you to keep yourself grounded.”

He also advised the students not to be discouraged by failure, since it was a necessary part of the learning process.“Failing for me is like another stepping stone in life. All champions will not win forever and to lose is a learning experience. You just have to go out there and learn from your mistakes and realise that there is something that has obstructed you from being successful.” The day’s other speakers included reigning Calypso Monarch Karene Asche and former West Indies fast bowler Tony Gray, who each treated the crowd to singing performances. The symposium will continue today with lectures by Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, Olympic bronze medallist George Bovell and First Citizens Junior Sportsman of the Year Christian Homer.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Brain Lewis

Team is also an acronym for “together everyone achieves more”. It’s a philosophy and mantra to live by, yet if you listen to most commentators or critics within and without sports in T&T, the blame game is the biggest game in town. This is not to say that criticism is not at times justified, however, the blame game while it does well for the ego, it achieves little else. Even though there are individuals, who thrive and prosper in the adversarial and contentious system that now seems to be the primary approach to addressing all things and issues facing our country, it is a case of short termism. Tough rhetoric is good for selling papers but in the main, it’s outright ineffective. But again in the adversarial system it can act like a whip. So for those who believe that corporal punishment and a good tap behind the head never killed anyone, no harm done.

Inherent in any National Sport Organisation (NSOs) or national sport system should be the understanding that team and teamwork are essential. That is why it is always disturbing when sport leaders, fall into the trap of maximum leadership. A mode of operating that is unconstitutional, as constitutions do not express the office of president as an executive presidency. Such a practice is not in accord with good governance principles in any event, nor does it foster transparency and genuine accountability. It is a leadership style that bears examination and should be challenged. It is in this respect that individuals elected as executive committee members have to accept full responsibility. If one were to closely examine why many NSOs run into problems and controversies it is down to this one issue.

Now the usual excuse is that executive members are incompetent or lack the knowledge and skill. Then how and why, and on what basis were they elected in the first place. In many instances this is manifestly untrue-on the contrary there are very competent executive members. It cannot be healthy for any organisation that by virtue of force of personality, access to resources, knowledge—a one man or one woman show-should flourish. The problems and challenges facing modern sport in T&T cannot be solved from the lens of one individual or perspective. One would be willing to accept that maybe in an earlier time due to the operational environment it was, perhaps, necessary for the maximum leader style of governance to be adopted.

It is arguable but it seemed to have worked. We are however in different times-in an environment that is complex, fast changing, multi-dimensional and diverse. No one person will have all the answers. NSOs are membership federations, affiliated to international federations or governing bodies. A fundamental fact, those who hold positions on executive committees are democratically elected by the legitimate membership. There is a clearly defined structure outlined by the International Federation responsible for a particular sport. The autonomy and independence of a NSO is expressed, unambiguously so at that. This autonomy is a responsibility and a privilege, not a right. The twin pillars remain the letter and spirit of the law.

If taken at face value solving some of the pressing problems should be easy-just apply common sense, goodwill and teamwork. I often wonder why once elected into office some seem to forget the pledge made to stakeholders- which is to do things better, more transparently and to put the best interest of the athletes and participants first, second and last.

Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee-http// www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the T&TOC.