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

ene.03.2009

Saturday 3 January-Port.of.Spain

Beijing Olympic silver medalist Marc Burns took time out on yesterday afternoon to visit Movietowne at Invaders Bay,Port.of.Spain to assist the Local Organizing Committee(LOC) of the 2009 Caribbean Games with a promotional activity .

Movietowne is a popular destination for families and on Friday the charismatic Burns proved a drawing card for autograph seekers both old and young.

Burns said he is happy to do whatever he can to assist in making the inaugural Caribbean Games a success.

TTOC president Larry Romany visited Movietwone and spoke with Burns and the staff of the LOC at the Caribbean Games booth where information on the games was on display.

Romany said with the Games just six months away both the LOC and the TTOC would "take night to make day" to ensure that T&T delivers on its commitment to the Caribbean Olympic movement.

" I have said it before and will say it again.The TTOC considers it a privilege and honour to be entrusted as host NOC with the first ever Caribbean Games."

Romany acknowledges ,however,that there are new challenges to surmount in the face of the current global economic crisis, but the TTOC head remains confident that the collective support of the Caribbean NOCs,governments ,athletes and public will prove the decisive factor.

" In the 1960s, the West Indian Federation came apart .In 2009 history will not repeat itself.The Caribbean will prove to the world that we have matured as a people and gone past insularity and self -serving agendas .The Caribbean Games will be a symbol of that maturity and shared responsibility." said Romany

ene.26.2009

IOC president Jacques Rogge is meeting with European Union sports commissioner Jan Figel today to discuss, among other topics, stopping European governments interfering in the affairs of NOCs.

The Around the Rings website reports that promoting and protecting the autonomy of the Olympic and sports movement has become an issue of increasing importance for the IOC in recent years.

Around the Rings describes the meeting as an attempt to step up lobbying on sports issues at the European Parliament.

The full agenda for the meeting lists topics for discussion as: the specificity and autonomy of sport, financing of sport and betting, the application of EU competition law and of free movement principles in the field of sport, and the fight against doping.

Around the Rings quotes IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau as saying, “The aim of the meeting is to follow up on the action points specified in the recent European Council Declaration on Sport, which was presented in the conclusions of the French presidency of the EU mid-December.

“In the declaration, the heads of states call on the European Commission to strengthen its dialogue with the IOC, besides underlining the values of sport and its specific characteristics above its economic dimension.”

Also present at the meeting will be Denis Oswald, president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations; Rene Fasel, president of the Association of International Olympic Winter Federations; FIFA president Sepp Blatter; and Patrick Baumann, representing the General Association of International Sports Federations.

feb.19.2009

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) Mental Skills Training workshop carded for Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March at the Courtyard Marriot in Port -of- Spain is aimed at improving the mental fitness of sportsmen and women who will be selected to represent T&T in games under the auspices of the TTOC.

"Twelve years ago we [TTOC] decided to focus on the issue of physical fitness,while we are not where we would like to be.Significant progress has been made.It is now accepted that TTOC fitness standards and criteria must be met.We now need to raise the awareness and build capacity amongst our coaches in respect of mental fitness" said Larry Romany, the TTOC president.

"Mental skills training and Sport psychology are part and parcel of international sport .The countries that include it in their programmes have found that it helps and can be the difference between winning and losing" added Romany.

Spencer Wood, the president of Icebox Athlete LLC will facilitate the TTOC workshop.

Based in the USA ,Wood is an internationally renowned speaker and dynamic trainer of athletes and coaches in the areas of cutting-edge Mental Skills & Toughness Training; and Athletic Speed, Agility, & Quickness training. He has worked with numerous state and national championship teams and athletes including the University of Kansas , the University of Illinois , the University of Louisiana , and Rutgers University .

Wood has also worked with the British Olympic Bobsleigh team and a number of American athletes involved in professional football,basketball,baseball and hockey.

For Registration information on the TTOC Mental Skills Training Workshop contact the TTOC Office -6251285 or contact@ttoc.org

feb.19.2009

Rugby bosses have upped the ante in their mission for the sport to gain re-inclusion into the Olympic Games.

The International Rugby Board has submitted its response to the International Olympic Committee's 2016 programme review questionnaire - outlining the IRB’s proposal for rugby's return to sport’s largest event.

mar.04.2009

mar.05.2009

mar.05.2009

The International Rugby Players' Association (IRPA) today confirmed its full support of Rugby's campaign for Olympic Games re-inclusion.

The global body, which represents the world's top players, has pledged its backing ahead of this weekend’s Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai - a tournament that will see 480 of the world's best men's and women's players competing for the ultimate prize in Sevens Rugby.

"The IRPA is fully committed to the International Rugby Board's (IRB) vision to see Rugby re-included in the Olympic Games and our players have been unanimous in their support. All of them are saying ‘we’ll be there’ if Rugby Sevens is selected," said IRPA Chairman Damian Hopley, who won Rugby World Cup Sevens 1993 with England.

"Olympic inclusion would mark an important milestone for our Game and would enable Rugby and its leading principles of camaraderie, fair play, respect and teamwork to inspire a growing number of young people around the world. We also believe that it is important that all athletes are given an opportunity to fulfill their dreams and compete at the highest level possible and there is no greater global sporting stage to achieve this than the Olympic Games."

"Participating at the Games would be a unique experience for our players who would be proud to compete for the right to be called Olympians. We will be working closely with the IRB in the coming months leading up to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Session in Copenhagen to ensure that the support of our top players for the campaign is felt across the Olympic Movement," added Hopley.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "We already work closely with IRPA and are heartened by this tremendous show of support from the sport’s top players for our Olympic campaign."

"Our organisations share common goals of continuing to grow the game globally and always providing the best platform for our players to perform at the highest level. We both firmly believe that the Olympic Games are integral to achieving these and we will continue to work together to deliver on our vision.”

This announcement further strengthens the bond between IRPA and the IRB, who signed an historic agreement in 2007 with the aim of working together to develop a positive and unified approach to issues of importance to players and the Sport such as player welfare, while recognising the unique spirit, structure and ethos of the Game of Rugby Union.

IRPA’s backing follows public support from some of the world’s top players, including Bryan Habana, Agustin Pichot, Lawrence Dallaglio, women’s international Anastassiya Khamova and the world’s top referees.

“I have spoken with many of my fellow top players and each one agrees that competing at the Olympic Games would be an amazing experience. We would all be there and would be proud to call ourselves ‘Olympians’,” said Rugby World Cup 2007 winner Habana.

IRPA Board member and Argentina Sevens star Santiago Gomez Cora added: “The inclusion of Rugby Sevens at the Olympic Games would provide a massive boost to the growth of Rugby worldwide. Participation on the world’s greatest sporting stage is a dream for all players and it would provide the chance to smaller nations to win an Olympic medal.”

For further information:

Dominic Rumbles, IRB Head of Communications, +353 (0) 86-852-0826 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +353 (0) 86-852-0826      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, email: dominic.rumbles@irb.com

mar.06.2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today the resignation of Jim Scherr as the organization's Chief Executive Officer, effective March 31, 2009.

Also today, the U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors appointed Stephanie Streeter, a member of the organization's Board of Directors and the former Chairman, President and CEO of Banta Corporation, as Interim Chief Executive Officer.

Streeter will begin her duties immediately and will work with Scherr during the transition in March.

"The U.S. Olympic Committee is a decidedly stronger and more effective organization today than it was six years ago, and that is due in large part to the leadership Jim Scherr has provided," said USOC Chairman Larry Probst . "Jim guided our organization through a period of unprecedented challenge and change, and did so with an unwavering commitment to enabling America's athletes to succeed on the field of play. We are indebted to Jim for his outstanding service to the U.S. Olympic Movement, and wish him the very best for continued success.

"As we prepare now to meet a very different series of challenges and opportunities, we are extremely fortunate to draw upon the expertise and talent that Stephanie Streeter brings," added Probst. "Working from the strong foundation Jim has built, and with the dedicated staff at the USOC, Stephanie will make certain the organization is well-positioned to respond to the challenges that are immediately before us and enjoy continued success as we begin a new quadrennium."

Scherr first joined the USOC in November 2000 as Senior Managing Director for Sport Resources following a highly successful tenure as Executive Director of USA Wrestling from 1990-2000. In March 2003, he was asked to lead the day-to-day operations of the USOC as Interim Chief Executive Officer, and had the "interim" title removed in April 2005.

Highlights of Scherr's tenure as Chief Executive Officer include:

The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team winning 110 medals and leading the overall medal count for the fourth consecutive time at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The 110 medals are the most ever for Team USA in a full participation Olympic Games.
The 2006 U.S. Olympic Team winning 25 medals and finishing second in the overall medal count for the second consecutive time at the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games. The 25 medals are the most ever for Team USA in an Olympic Winter Games outside the United States.

In 2003-2004, guiding the organization through the most comprehensive reorganization of its governance and management structures in history, culminating with sweeping changes to the USOC Constitution and Bylaws and the appointment of a new, 11-person Board of Directors in May 2004.

Doubling the amount of direct financial support provided by the USOC to America's Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, along with an expansion of the high performance services offered by the USOC to athletes and coaches.
Fiscal management that enabled the USOC to not draw upon a line of credit for the first time in at least two decades during the 2005-2008 quadrennium.

A renewed commitment to International Relations through increased engagement and partnership with the international sport community.

A commitment to drug-free competition that enabled the USOC and the United States Anti-Doping Agency to make significant strides in the fight against doping in sport, including the creation of the Partnership for Clean Competition.
"It has been an honor to serve the USOC in this capacity and to lead such a talented team that believes deeply in the mission of the organization," said Scherr. "Working together, we have accomplished things that may have seemed impossible six years ago. And in so doing, we have ensured that the future remains equally bright for the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, as well as young people whose lives will be bettered by the opportunity to participate in sport.

"As I depart the organization, I do so with gratitude for this opportunity, and I remain committed to doing all I can in support of America's athletes, the National Governing Bodies and the USOC."

Streeter brings a wealth of executive leadership and business management experience to the USOC. As Chairman, President and CEO of Banta Corporation, she led an organization with more than 8,000 employees worldwide and $1.6 billion in annual revenue.

Streeter joined Banta in January 2001 as President and Chief Operating Officer, and was named CEO in October 2002 and Chairman in April 2004. During her tenure, Banta had industry leading financial performance and the stock price more than doubled. She successfully guided Banta through its acquisition by RR Donnelley, which was completed in January 2007.

Previously, Streeter was Group Vice President for Worldwide Office Products at Avery Dennison, where she led a team of 6,500 employees with 41 operations in 27 countries. She was also COO for idealab, an internet incubator and holding company. Prior to joining Avery Dennison, Streeter held management positions with Decision Data Computer Corporation and Xerox Corporation.

An accomplished athlete, Streeter was a four year starter on the Stanford University women's basketball team and captain her junior and senior seasons. She graduated from Stanford University in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in political science.

Streeter, 51, was named to the USOC Board of Directors in May 2004. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Chicago 2016, the Green Bay Packers, Goodyear, Kohl's Corporation and Catalyst, the leading professional women's research and advisory organization.

"As a member of the Board of Directors, I have had the opportunity to work with our talented staff and admire the passion and commitment they bring to the organization," said Streeter. "As the USOC begins a new chapter in its history, I look forward to working with our team to build upon the tremendous momentum and success Jim helped establish during the past six years."

The USOC will continue moving forward with the search for a new Chief of Sport Performance and Director of Government Relations.

mar.18.2009

Jonah Lomu has become the latest international Rugby star to throw his weight behind Rugby’s campaign for Olympic Games re-inclusion.

mar.21.2009

The United States Olympic Committee is heading for a showdown with the International Olympic Committee next week over its longstanding revenue-sharing deal, a dispute that will unfold as Chicago tries to persuade the I.O.C. to let it host the 2016 Summer Games.

An official at the I.O.C. suggested Wednesday that the current money-sharing contract could be scrapped if the U.S.O.C. did not agree to a smaller percentage of money when officials meet next week in Denver. The official, Denis Oswald, an I.O.C. executive board member and part of a three-person team formed to negotiate with the U.S.O.C., told The Associated Press that the U.S.O.C. must agree to a newly calculated division of television rights fees and top-level sponsorship money.
“If there is no agreement, then we would possibly terminate the contract and completely renegotiate another one,” Oswald said of the current open-ended agreement that gives the U.S.O.C. 12.75 percent of television rights fees and 20 percent of the global sponsorship revenue.

“It is not possible to have a contract that has no end,” he said. “We feel, and our American lawyers agree, that if we give sufficient notice, we can terminate it. We cannot be bound for life.”

U.S.O.C. officials were busy Wednesday as the organization laid off 54 staff members (13 percent of the organization’s workforce) and made others cuts to reduce its 2009 operating budget. Still, the spokesman Darryl Seibel said the U.S.O.C. was willing to negotiate.

“As has been the case for more than two years, we remain ready and willing to sit down and discuss how to resolve this in a manner that is productive for all members of the Olympic family,” Seibel said. “Rhetoric is not going to get it done.”

In his final speech as chairman of the organization last fall, Peter Ueberroth vowed to keep the distribution of funds exactly the way it stands. The United States, he said, pumps more money into the I.O.C. than any other Olympic committee because its television package is the biggest and many American companies are global sponsors. Ueberroth, an honorary president of the U.S.O.C., remains deeply engaged in the revenue negotiations.

The discussion with the I.O.C. promises to be heated. The 204 other national Olympic committees receive the same percentage of money from top-level sponsors as the U.S.O.C. does, but they share it. Some I.O.C. members, national Olympic committees and international sports federations have complained about that imbalance, saying the U.S.O.C. receives much more than its fair share. One I.O.C. member called the United States’ slice of the revenue immoral.

The debate comes at a delicate time for the U.S.O.C., with Chicago trying to land the Games by impressing the I.O.C. The vote on the 2016 Summer Games is set for this fall. An I.O.C. evaluation commission will visit Chicago in early April to check the city’s bid.

The commission will visit each city vying for the 2016 Games, including Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro. Chicago is the first stop. The I.O.C. will determine a winner in a vote scheduled for Oct. 2.

Officials from the Chicago bid said Wednesday that the revenue-sharing flap would not hinder their chances.

“We see this as an issue between the I.O.C. and the U.S.O.C., and we are confident that they will reach a resolution,” Patrick Sandusky, a spokesman for the bid, said. “We are staying focused on showcasing to the I.O.C. that Chicago would be the best possible host for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

mar.27.2009

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) secretary Louise Martin, will visit Trinidad from April 2-5 as part of the CGF’s commitment to assist in the success of the inaugural Caribbean Games which will be hosted here in July.

The primary objective of her visit is to audit the protocol policies and procedures established by the 2009 Caribbean Games Local Organizing Committee protocol sub-committee .

Martin,the driving force behind Glasgow's successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games commands a huge degree of respect as a sport administrator in the UK and the wider Commonwealth.

She was elected the Hon Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation for a third term at the General Assembly in 2007. The first woman to hold a post on the CGF Executive, she was also the first woman Chairman of the Scottish Commonwealth Games Council, and was awarded the CBE for services to the Commonwealth Games in 2003.She competed in the Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia where she made the swimming finals in 100m and 200m backstroke.

Since retiring from competitive sport Martin has held various positions in a number of sporting areas. She represented Scotland in the 2012 Olympic Bid Regional Group .Having led Scotland’s Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid. She is now Vice Chair of the Organising Committee for the Games and was appointed Chair of sportscotland in May 2008.

Several other members of the international sporting community have also extended their assistance to the TTOC with regard to the Caribbean Games including the Canadian Olympic Committee which is aiding in international accreditation as well as in facilitating protocols for volunteer procedures and operations. The Brazilian Olympic Committee at the request of the TTOC recently sent a two man delegation to review aspects of the Caribbean Games plan.

"The support of our International Olympic and Commonwealth Games colleagues is key to the fulfillment of the inaugural event mandate of adhering to international standards.Whether it’s procedure or infrastructure, we are committed to achieving world level standards at the Caribbean Games 2009,” said Larry Romany, president, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), “this is the inaugural edition of these Games which will be held every four years. These standards must be set as a model for the future,” Romany explained.

The TTOC has expressed an interest in bidding to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2009 Caribbean Games will be a litmus test for the TTOC.

mar.28.2009

DENVER -- Olympic officials have agreed to a system to help resolve their contentious revenue-sharing agreement with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, said Friday the USOC has agreed to negotiate a deal to pay a greater portion of some costs of running the Olympic Games. Such a concession could be worth more than $10 million.

In exchange, talks on the core part of the deal -- the USOC's 20 percent share of sponsorship money and 12.75 percent of TV revenue -- will be delayed until 2013, and nothing would change until 2020.

Rogge also said the IOC executive board will meet to discuss the seven sports trying to get into the 2016 Games and recommend two of them to the IOC membership, which will vote on the matter in October in Denmark.

In the latest in the ongoing dispute, a group of Olympic leaders recommended this week that the IOC terminate the contract, saying the USOC takes too big a chunk of the money.

Rogge said it was a priority to meet with new USOC chairman Larry Probst upon his arrival in Denver from Lausanne, Switzerland.

"The meeting was very constructive. That led to the joint agreement we're having today," Rogge said.

U.S. companies provide the lion's share of the Olympic movement's money through TV and advertising revenue. For instance, U.S. companies paid $894 million to televise the Beijing Games last year, compared to about $443.5 million from the European Broadcasting Union.

But the IOC counters the gap between the amount the USOC and the rest of the countries receive has grown too large as the total amount of money has increased nearly tenfold since the agreement was signed in 1996.

To alleviate some of that, the USOC will offset some of the expenses of the Olympics, such as the costs for anti-doping programs, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Olympic coordination commission.

Currently, those costs are split into thirds, paid by: the IOC; the 35 Olympic federations; and the 205 national Olympic committees.

Rogge said everyone agreed that the USOC should carry more than½05 of the expense.

"Given that they will receive more revenue in the future, they will contribute more than I would say the rank and file Olympic committees," Rogge said. "How much is to be debated. How much is to be discussed."

One of the USOC's key negotiators, Bob Ctvrtlik, called the agreement "a new era of cooperation and friendship between the USOC and the IOC."

And one of the most outspoken IOC critics of the USOC, Hein Verbruggen, also lauded the deal.

"We've always said we just wanted to get them to the table, talking seriously," he said. "We've said, `We need you guys at the table. It takes some heat off Chicago."

Indeed, much has been made about the feud and how it might affect Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics, though leaders from both sides have steadfastly insisted there was no link.

"We never felt there was strong linkage," Ctvrtlik said. "But in a room where one or two votes can make a difference, we'd rather have this issue behind us."

The seven sports trying to get into the 2016 Games are baseball, softball, golf, rugby sevens, roller speedskating, squash and karate. Baseball and softball are hoping for reinstatement after being left out of the 2012 Games in London.

The two sports that will be recommended for the full IOC membership to vote on will be selected at the IOC's executive board meeting in Berlin on Aug. 13 on the eve of the world track and field championships.

"I hope that no one is superstitious," Rogge said.