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Ahye whips Olympic champ Fraser-Pryce

Michelle-Lee Ahye warmed up for the 2014 Commonwealth Games with the biggest win of her career, at the British Athletics Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meet, in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.

Ahye stopped the clock at 11.01 seconds for gold in the women’s 100 metres dash, the Trinidad and Tobago sprinter forcing Jamaica’s two-time Olympic century champion Shelly-Ann Fraser–Pryce to settle for silver in 11.10.

With the victory, Ahye preserved her 100 per cent record this season in the 100m. Ahye is also perfect in Diamond League races. The 22-year-old athlete won on her Diamond League debut, on July 3, clocking 10.98 to win the Athletissima women’s 100m dash. She followed up with yesterday’s impressive victory.

Fraser-Pryce was not the only big scalp claimed by Ahye in Glasgow. American Carmelita Jeter, the 2011m 100m world champion, finished sixth in 11.33 seconds. Ivory Coast sprinter Murielle Ahoure was third in 11.17, while Jamaicans Kerron Stewart (11.22) and Simone Facey (11.30) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

In June, at the NGC/Sagicor National Open Track & Field Championships, Ahye joined the sub-11 club, clocking 10.85 seconds to win her semi-final heat, bolting to the top of the 2014 world performance list in the process. She produced another scorcher in the championship race, storming to victory in 10.88.

T&T’s Keshorn Walcott finished sixth in the British Athletics Grand Prix men’s javelin event, the reigning Olympic champion landing the spear 79.62 metres.

Thomas Rohler enjoyed the best competition of his career, the German winning with a personal best 86.99m throw. Czech Republic’s 2013 world champion, Vitezslav Vesely produced an 85.23m effort, and had to settle for silver. Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki threw 84.95m to pick up bronze.

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Argentina’s World Cup victory over the Netherlands yesterday puts the South American team one step away from soccer’s ultimate prize. For its uniform supplier, the championship has already been won, whatever the outcome of Sunday’s final in Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina, sponsored by Adidas AG (ADS), triumphed on penalty kicks in Sao Paulo to eliminate a Dutch side outfitted by Nike Inc. (NKE) of the U.S. In the final, it will face fellow Adidas-backed team Germany, which defeated Nike-supported Brazil 7-1 on July 8. The Herzogenaurach, Germany-based company also outfitted the Spanish team that won the last World Cup in 2010.

The prestige of outfitting the victor counts in a closely contested market that has the two adversaries seeking any edge. Nike, the world’s largest sporting-goods supplier, and Germany’s Adidas, which is No. 2, are benefiting from billions of dollars’ worth of soccer shoes, jerseys and other gear sold this year, partly due to the lift supplied by the World Cup.

“Sponsoring the final teams is the grand prize for the apparel brand,” said John Kristick, global chief executive officer of ad buying agency GroupM, part of WPP Plc. (WPP) “There will be an immediate sales lift in the winning country, but these teams are football powerhouses -- where, win or lose, the support for product sales will remain strong,” said Kristick, who has been involved with the World Cup since 1994 and headed an unsuccessful U.S. bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

Replica Jerseys

Adidas shares fell 0.4 percent to 71.81 euros as of the close of trading in Frankfurt, one of the best performing stocks in the benchmark DAX Index, which slid 1.5 percent. Nike dropped 1.4 percent to $77.63 at 11:34 a.m. in New York.

The World Cup “certainly creates a brand-halo effect,” Tom Ramsden, Adidas’s marketing director for soccer, said before yesterday’s game. “That halo effect then does translate into an increase in sales. I believe you’ll see a growth in sales and visibility and brand exposure in all markets.”

Argentina’s fleet-footed Lionel Messi has been at the center of Adidas’s World Cup advertising efforts, while Germany sports the Bavarian company’s gear from head to toe, including its distinctive black, white and orange cleats.

Adidas has soccer intertwined with its history dating back to World Cups in the 1950s, and this year it’s again the tournament sponsor and match ball supplier. The company has said soccer sales will surpass 2 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in 2014 and has sold more than 8 million replica World Cup jerseys -- including 2 million with Germany’s stripes and eagle.

‘Most Visible’

Germany’s stars, including attacker Thomas Mueller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, have sparked excitement around the team, and more than 500,000 Germany jerseys will be sold outside Europe this year, compared with about 300,000 in 2010, the year of the last World Cup in South Africa, Adidas has said.

“The victory of the German national team already ensures that Adidas will be the most visible brand by far in the World Cup final,” CEO Herbert Hainer said in a statement yesterday after Germany’s dismantling of Brazil. “Adidas is the clear number one in football globally.”

Nike, which started making soccer cleats in 1994, has nearly matched Adidas’s share in the German company’s flagship sport. The company reported June 27 its soccer sales for the fiscal year ended in May jumped 18 percent to $2.3 billion.

At the tournament’s start, Nike sponsored 10 teams featuring the Netherlands, Brazil, the U.S. and France, to Adidas’s nine, including Argentina, Germany, Colombia and Spain.

Nike Message

Nike’s top star, Cristiano Ronaldo, was part of the Portuguese team eliminated last month in the first stage of play. And Brazil’s Neymar, another Nike talisman, had to be carried off the field during the team’s July 4 match against Colombia, which preceded its meltdown versus Germany.

Nike won’t stop communicating its soccer message just because its teams didn’t make the final, spokesman Charlie Brooks said by e-mail.

“As a football brand, it’s not about one match, it’s about every match, and the World Cup for us has been about the incredible brand energy and business benefit throughout the months leading up to it and the month of the tournament itself, not just the final,” Brooks said.

Adidas says it’s agnostic about Sunday’s result. Whether the company’s heritage team, Germany, or frontman Messi’s squad prevails, the brand is getting a lift.

“We look forward to an exciting final on Sunday and are keeping fingers crossed for both our teams,” spokeswoman Katja Schreiber said by e-mail.

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T in the Park comes to Falkirk

Trinidad and Tobago 7's prepare for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

This Saturday will see a different T in the Park and for the rugby enthusiast it will be the only show in town.

The park is Falkirk Rugby Club.

The T is the national Trinidad and Tobago 7’s rugby team who are using Falkirk Rugby facilities in their preparation for the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Falkirk Rugby are honoured to have the opportunity to learn from the Trinidad and Tobago players and coaches. There will be a skills session for both squads followed by a semi contact game between Trinidad and Tobago versus Falkirk.

It is not every day that you have the chance to see a national team up close and personal so no matter which club you support or whether you are a player or supporter, whether you are young or old, Falkirk Rugby would like to invite you to come down on Saturday for 1pm and see these fantastic athletes in action.

Keep checking the Falkirk Rugby website for any updates.

#jointhejourney

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Scotland's most famous resident, Nessie the Loch Ness Monster, is set to welcome around 6,500 athletes and team officials at the Glasgow 2014 Athletes' Village when it officially opens its doors on Sunday (July 13).

A sculpture of the mythical beast has been unveiled in the heart of the Athletes' Village in Glasgow's East End, located near Celtic Park, which will stage the Opening Ceremony on July 23 and Games venues the Emirates Arena and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Created by sculptor Stuart Clark, the work of art incorporates a bench and will form the centrepiece of the Village which will host athletes from all 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

The three metre high and nine metre long sculpture is made from Caithness Stone, Scots Elm, grey stone from the North-East of Scotland and Clashach Sandstone from Moray.

The Loch Ness Monster has been one of Scotland's most famous attractions with reports of a mythical creature inhabiting Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands going back centuries.

"I was honoured to be asked to work with Glasgow 2014 and to produce this sculpture," said Clark, who has inscribed the monster's Gaelic name "Each Uisge" or "water horse".

"The Loch Ness Monster is recognised globally as an icon of this country and in this work I wanted to represent the nation's mythology, creativity, ancient history, as well as to highlight the grit and determination shown by all the Commonwealth athletes.

"It is a beast that has inspired our people since before the first written word.

"I hope it inspires all the athletes in the Village."

Glasgow 2014 Head of Village Operations, Tony Sainsbury added: "The monster sculpture is a fantastic addition to the Village representing as it does Scottish folklore.

"Nessie follows in the tradition of sculptures in recent Athletes' Villages and it is sure to become the photo, selfie and upload hit of our Village."

The Village is operational 24 hours a day and has been designed to  give athletes the perfect surroundings to relax as they build up to their competitions, according to Games organisers.

It is divided up into four residential areas called Castle, Clan, Loch and Mountain and also has a temporary 2,000-seat, 24-hour dining hall and gym, a medical facility, a retail zone and a recreational space.

Following the Games, due to end with the Closing Ceremony at Hampden Park on August 3, work will begin on transforming the Athletes' Village site into 700 residential properties as well as a 120-bed care home for the elderly.

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WC players happy to be paid but...

Players from Trinidad and Tobago’s 2006 World Cup football team have indicated an intention to pursue a legal battle against the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), despite Government on Monday agreeing to pay a final US $1.3 million settlement owed to them by the local governing body for football.

Yesterday, the Express polled a wide range of persons in the local fraternity for comment on the issue, including former players and administrators, over several generations. However, only  a few were willing to speak on record.

It was unanimously agreed that the matter should now end in the interest of football. And it was suggested that the former Soca Warriors be careful they do not end up being looked upon as a “greedy” bunch. However, that notion was dismissed by former Soca Warriors defender and players’ representative Brent Sancho.

Among the few willing to speak on record were Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee president Brian Lewis and Jamaal Shabazz, the former Trinidad and Tobago men’s and women’s teams national coach.

Sancho presented the players’ view.

Sancho said that as a group of 13 players, they still had to discuss the next move forward. But, he added they wanted to know how the funds raised for the 2006 World Cup were spent.

“ I don’t think some people understand what we are trying to do. Our getting paid has nothing to do with the litigation process against the Federation,” Sancho declared. “We are on a quest to find out where the money went.”

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee president Lewis said his understanding is that the final US $1.3 million settlement reached would have been an integrated effort of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) , Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and  probably the Minister of Sport. He congratulated all concerned, but hoped that in the interest of development and young footballers, the sport should be allowed to move on.

“I think an opportunity has been presented here by the Prime Minister and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, and I say this with respect to all the parties concerned,” Lewis said.

“It is timely in that the current World Cup is about to end and qualifying for a new one is expected to begin in the near future.”

Lewis said qualifying for the World Cup in 2006 should have been the take-off point for Trinidad and Tobago as a football nation. Instead, he suggested the fact that T&T did not factor in 2010 and 2014 should be of greater concern.

“I feel it important that the matter is now put to rest. I would expect that this chapter in the history of Trinidad and Tobago Football as it relates to 2006 to now be closed, ” Lewis added. “It is an important opportunity to move football forward.”

Shabazz voiced similar sentiments.

“I am persona non grata with the TTFA, so anything I say regarding this matter has the tendency to heavily tainted,” the former T&T and Guyana national coach said.

“I am happy that the players received their money. But, I feel the opportunity is there to move on to the work ahead.”

However, Sancho insisted that it was important to determine where TT $200 million in funds raised during the 2006 World Cup campaign went.

“We owe it to every single Trinidad and Tobagonian to unearth where that money gone and try to recoup it,” Sancho said. “Despite financial remuneration we are going to stick to our pursuit. We owe it to football, we owe it to the developmental players.

“We are not saying that we are going to bankrupt anyone. I think the TTFA is doing a good enough job of that themselves,” Sancho added. “We said we are going to explore those avenues to unearth those monies that we said are missing.

“Now if  it means we have to go down a certain road inclusive of closing (them) down, then we have to. If it doesn’t, then we don’t,” Sancho added. “But we all know that we have to go after the person that is culpable for the money that is missing.”

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Trinidad and Tobago track star Jehue Gordon just missed out on gold in the men’s 400 metres hurdles, at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial meet, in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday.

Gordon clocked 49.89 seconds to seize silver, the reigning world champion producing the same time as the winner, Great Britain’s 2011 World Championship gold medallist Dai Greene. The 2013 World Championship bronze medallist, Emir Bekric also bagged bronze yesterday, the Serbian hurdler getting home in 50.04.

The Hungary outing was Gordon’s second in Europe this season. Last Thursday, the 22-year-old athlete finished sixth at the Athletissima IAAF Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 49.29 seconds--his fastest 2014 run to date.

T&T’s Keston Bledman finished fifth in the Istvan Gyulai Memorial men’s 100m dash in 10.54 seconds.

Evergreen St Kitts and Nevis sprinter, Kim Collins was the class of the field, the 38-year-old winning in 10.31 seconds. The 2003 world champion forced 23-year-old Qatar sprinter Femi Ogunode to settle for the runner-up spot in 10.35. Great Britain’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (10.41) and South African Akani Simbini (10.50) were third and fourth, respectively, while sixth spot went to Jamaica’s Michael Frater (10.60).

T&T quartermiler Jarrin Solomon produced a 46.03 seconds run to finish sixth in the men’s 400m. Veteran Chris Brown emerged victorious, the 35-year-old Bahamian completing his lap of the track in 45.21 seconds. Briton Michael Bingham (45.49) finished second, ahead of American Torrin Lawrence (45.65) and South African Wayde van Niekerk (45.71).

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A truce has been declared, and with a mere civil retraction for hurtful things said by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), former women’s national team coach Marlon Charles will begin working with American Randy Waldrum to qualify the Soca Princess for the Canada 2015 FIFA Women World Cup.

Charles has in essence agreed to take up the position of Waldrum’s first assistant, but is still hurt by recent developments, including not being informed about women’s team issues, including his demotion.

Last week, the TTFA issued a release indicating it had sacked long-serving former national coach Charles, having brought in former USA Under-23 and legendary women’s college coach Waldrum to head the women’s programme.

“After one month of programme review, concerns raised by players about the direction of the coaching and programme, and under the recommendations of a newly installed Technical Development Committee chairman, the TTFA has decided to relieve Marlon Charles of his present position and install former US U-23 and Notre Dame Coach, Randy Waldrum, as the head coach for the senior women’s team,” the TTFA release stated last week.

However, on Sunday, Waldrum and Charles were seated side by side and plotting strategy as the T&T senior women beat a young Venezuelan team 5-0 at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Also watching on Sunday were TTFA president and Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee, and his general secretary Sheldon Phillips.

When asked to confirm their partnership, both parties replied positively and indicated they were desirous of rekindling the relationship they had on the 2008 T&T Women’s National Under-17 team when Charles was Waldrum’s assistant. Meanwhile, Charles still has to have his “minor issue” worked out with the TTFA, but assures that he would work with Waldrum.

”My situation was never about the coach, because we are friends. So working together is not a problem,” Charles declared. “The relationship between both of us is not an issue. Everything was about what I was standing up for.”

Meanwhile, Waldrum had a good first impression of the senior women.

“My first impression is positive. I think there’s a lot of talent. I think they got some good organisation,” Waldrum said of the side after seeing T&T dominate the match. “There’s enough to work with”.

“Obviously, they need some time together. You can tell they have not been together in a while with the fitness level and some of the pressing collectively, but I have a very positive first impression,” Waldrum added.

Waldrum added that the best players will be given a chance to make the team but that the situation was not similar to 2008, when he desperately had to search for talent to make up the Under-17 side.

“The last time I came here we had three months and when I saw the group we had we needed to find some players from outside. The last time the players had not been playing very long and the level was not very high.” Waldrum said. “I think it’s different now because these players have been playing since a young age. We might have a couple in Europe that would be good to get back, but I think the talent is here.”

Waldrum said because of the short time, he will have to depend on Charles and the technical staff to determine what players to carry to Houston for a one-month training camp ahead of the Women’s Caribbean Cup, the first leg of World Cup qualifying to be held from August 19-26 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Charles added that he was glad Venezuela sent a young team because it gave the Soca Princess a chance to find their legs after playing a first international in a couple of years.

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Edmonton's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games has received a boost after it was named Tracktown Canada following the news it has been chosen to host the 2015 and 2016 Canadian Track and Field Championships.

The 2016 edition will also include the official trials to select Canada's team for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson presented an official proclamation making the city Tracktown Canada

"Edmonton has a rich and successful history in hosting athletic events both nationally and internationally," said Iveson.

"The declaration of Edmonton as TrackTown Canada clearly demonstrates our commitment to continuing to advance athletics in our city and country and instilling our city as a centre of excellence in athletics."

Edmonton has previously held the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the 1983 Summer Universiade, the 2001 International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships and the 2005 World Masters Games.

During the next few years it is also due to the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, as well as the annual Edmonton International TrackClassic.

"The Government of Alberta is proud to support the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Edmonton," said Alberta Culture Minister Heather Klimchuk.

"Not only will we have the chance to cheer these athletes on, it's a great opportunity to showcase the incredible spirit of culture and sport that make our capital city and province such wonderful places to live and visit."

Jerry Bouma, chairman of the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, that rechristening the city TrackTown Canada would help bring focus on its commitment to the sport.

"For Edmonton and its long history with athletics [and major events], this is about building on our storied past and continuing to inspire an exciting future," he said.

Edmonton announced plans in March to bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and it will face competition from Durban.

The Commonwealth Games Federation is due to select the host city at its Annual Meeting in Auckland on September 2, 2015.

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Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has appealed to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to come to the aid of former president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Oliver Camps, who he claims is in debt and stands to lose his home.

In a release yesterday, following Government’s $1.3 million payout to the 2006 Soca Warriors, Warner called on the Prime Minister to intervene and save Camps’ home. Camps was president at the time of T&T’s World Cup qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

“If the Prime Minister really wants to demonstrate that this is truly benevolence and not public relations to lift the flagging image of her Minister of Sport, then I wish to advise her to go further and save the home of Oliver Camps,” he stated.

“This group of footballers who played three matches in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and who never scored a goal nor win a match there and who now stand to benefit from the Prime Minister’s benevolent gesture received $20 million dollars from the Patrick Manning administration, $7 million from FIFA, $4 million from the TTFF, $6 million from Jack Warner through the courts of Trinidad and Tobago and now $1.3 million USD from the People’s Partnership Government; a total sum of close to $50 million dollars and this excludes gifts from private organisations like Clico and others,” claimed Warner.

He stated Camps too was in need of financial help.

Camps, he stated, served football with distinction for over 50 years as Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) president and team manager and was the “most successful football manager ever”, taking the Soca Warriors to the 2006 Germany World Cup.

Warner stated that Camps signed a promissory note of US$480,000  on behalf of the TTFF in order to procure the services of Wim Risenberg as coach of the national team.

“The TTFF has been unable to raise the money and now Al Roberts’ firm - father of the Minister of Sport, is now moving to levy on this senior citizen,” stated Warner.

“Mr. Camps’ home Madam Prime Minister is now threatened.  If he cannot raise the money he will lose it by September 2014, if not before. In this regard I am therefore asking the Prime Minister to be as benevolent to Mr. Camps as she has been to these footballers and save the home of this senior citizen,” stated Warner.

On the money Government will be paying the Soca Warriors, Warner wished the team members well and stated that he hoped this would  finally bring closure to the matter.

“It is my sincere wish that this is the end of this story and that the furniture and the archival material, which the TTFA lost when this team of footballers levied on the TTFF, will now be returned to it,” he added.

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Michelle-Lee Ahye continued her fine run of form this season with victory at yesterday’s Montreuil Meeting.

Ahye shrugged off wet conditions, a 1.5 metres per second headwind and a poor start to win the women’s 100 metres dash, the Trinidad and Tobago sprinter crossing the line in 11.32 seconds. Jamaican Carrie Russell finished second in 11.41, while third spot went to Ivory Coast athlete Marie-Josee Ta Lou (11.58).

Ahye has been on fire in 2014, and is currently the world leader in the century at 10.85 seconds--a clocking she produced in the semi-final round at the NGC/Sagicor National Open Track & Field Championships, last month. The 22-year-old athlete won easily in the final, stopping the clock at 10.88.

Last Thursday, Ahye celebrated her IAAF Diamond League debut with victory in 10.98 seconds in the Athletissima women’s 100m in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Ahye is unbeaten in the 100m event this season.

Running in the rain at the Montreuil Meeting, T&T track star Richard “Torpedo” Thompson clocked 10.16 seconds to seize silver in the men’s 100m, behind American Tyson Gay, the winner in 10.04, and ahead of Norway’s Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (10.23).

And in the women’s shot put, T&T’s Cleopatra Borel threw the iron ball 18.60 metres to earn silver. American Michelle Carter topped the field with a big 19.25m effort, while bronze was bagged by Belarus thrower Alena Kopets (18.14m).

At Sunday’s Meeting Città di Padova, in Italy, T&T sprinter Keston Bledman got to the line in 10.45 seconds to finish third in the men’s 100m event. Jamaican Andrew Fisher got home first in 10.35, forcing Qatar’s Samuel Francis (10.44) to settle for the runner-up spot.

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An emotional Brent Sancho said yesterday that over the past eight years members of the Soca Warriors team faced humiliation and some of their careers ended as they waited for monies owed to them.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that US$1.3 million would be paid to the Soca Warriors - the balance owed to them by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Some of the players were present at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s yesterday- Sancho, Cyd Gray, David Atiba Charles, Anthony Wolfe, Stern John, Cornell Glen and Aurtis Whitley.

The other six players who will be receiving money are out of the country.

“It’s been eight years, 2,924 days, 70,176 hours. I am overwhelmed.  On behalf of those of us who  have been fighting a long, tough legal battle to get our just due  payment for our efforts at the FIFA World Cup, Germany 2006, this moment means more than any of us can describe,” he said.

He said when the Soca Warriors team returned in June 2006 from Germany, they were heroes, loved by all.

“We didn’t expect asking for what we were promised to be met with eight years of humiliation, torment, black listing and even some cases, career loss,” he said.

He praised the Government and Prime Minister and expressed gratitude for finally acknowledging their pleas.

“And what a time for it to happen. Here we are on the eve of World Cup 2014, Brazil and when our own memories of that time return mixed with the emotions of our unsettled payments, we can truly celebrate and pay tribute to those who have chosen to honour us,” he said.

He noted that the Government  had no legal obligation to settle assist the Soca Warriors but now the country can breathe a collective sigh of relief.

“Those who played their hearts out have asked me to convey  their sincere appreciation.We will all follow the events in Brazil this week with an unfettered spirit and only great memories of the time the Trinidad and Tobago anthem played on the football field in Germany. Thank you all for the recognition. Each one of us, humbly accepts this  gift from the nation.  We feel acknowledged and deeply grateful,” said Sancho.

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The 45-athlete contingent, which racked up third-highest medal count, including 10 gold, five silver and seven bronze, at last weekend’s Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Track and Field Championships, in Mexico, is expected to return home today.

 

T&T athletes completed the three-day competition with an improved gold medal haul compared to 2012’s eight. Jonathan Farinha and Aaliyah Telesford were both double-gold medal earners, with the former having won the Boys’ Under-20 100m dash, before leading the 4x100m team to relay gold. Farinha also placed second in the 200m event in 20.82 seconds, behind Zharnel Hughes, who broke the championship record in 20.33 seconds. Telesford similarly won Girls’ U-20 100m final before she, Zakiya Denoon, Kayelle Clarke and Akila McShine claimed the division’s 4x100m relay title. On Sunday, the final day of competition, Machel Cedenio (45.28 seconds) successfully defended his 400m title just three months after he won gold at the Carifta Games in Martinique. He was five-hundredths of a second off his national junior record breaking run (45.23), which he clocked at the Cayman Invitational, which was also a junior world leading time.

 

Shakeil Waithe (javelin, 70.39m) was the other gold medal winner in the Boys’ U-20 division. Portious Warren was the only gold medalist in the Girls’ Under-20 division. For T&T’ Boys’ U-18 team, Andwuelle Wright dominated the long jump event as he also defended his title with a 7.15m leap, an improvement from his 7.07m effort two years ago.

 

That division also saw T&T produce two relay teams earn gold. David Winchester, Akanni Hislop, Corey Stewart and Xavier Mulugata took the spotlight with their gold in the 4x100m relay, while Kobe John, Terry Frederick, Jacob St Clair and Kashief King did the same in the U-18 4x400m. T&T’s U-20 boys’ 4x400m team, led by Farinha and including Ohdel James, Asa Guevara and Breon Mullins won bronze with a 3:13.73 effort. Guevara and Cedenio were part of the U-18 team which won the 4x400m relay event at the last CAC Junior Championships.

 

Denoon, who helped her team to relay glory also finished with two silver medals from the girls’s U-20 100m (11.47) and 200m (23.63) events. Clarke finished behind her in the 200m, clocking 23.71m. McShine then claimed bronze in same division’s 100m hurdles in 14.05 seconds.

 

Among the boys’ U-18 other medalists, Hislop finished third in both the 100m (10.63) and 200m (21.27) races, while Ian West amassed 5,888 points to take bronze in the decathlon. Not much separated West and Mexico’s Jafett Juarez, who broke the championship record with 5,945 points.

 

Only one silver and one bronze came from T&T’s U-18 girls, through Jeminise Parris (13.70 seconds) and Chelsea James (16m), in the 100m hurdles and shot put events, respectively.

 

The efforts of T&T’s athletes saw this country finish behind only Mexico (100 medals) and Jamaica (42 medals), which supplied 147 and 54 athletes, respectively. In total, 85 events were contested. Following the return of T&T’s athletes, a number of them will turn their focus to the IAAF World Junior Championships, in Oregon, USA, which runs from July 22-27.

 

 

Results:

 

Medals standings
1 Mexico 100 (36 gold, 43 silver, 21 bronze)
2 Jamaica 43 (15, 17, 11)
3 T&T 22 (10, 5, 7)
4 Bahamas 20 (7, 8, 5)
5 Puerto Rico 20 (6, 5, 9)

 

Select Results

 

 

Boys Under-18
4x400m relay
1. T&T (Kobe John, Terry Frederick, Jacon St Clair, Kashief King), 3:13.93
2. Bahamas 3:14.70
3. Jamaica 3:16.27

 

Decathlon
1. Jafet Juarez (Mexico) 5945
2. Jose Hernandez (Puerto Rico) 5912
3. Ian West (T&T) 5888

 

Boys Under-20

 

400m finals
1. Machel Cedenio (T&T), 45.28
2. Twayne Crooks (Jamaica), 46.50
3. Warren Hazel (St Kitts), 46.72

 

Javelin
1. Shakeil Waithe (T&T), 70.39
2. Denzel Prat (Bahamas), 66.18
3. Orlando Thomas (Jamaica), 63.89

 

 

110m hurdles finals (+1.0)
1. Marvin Williams (Jamaica), 13.52
2. Reubin Walters (T&T), 13.59
3. Ricardo Torres (Puerto Rico), 13.76,
4. Aaron Lewis (T&T), 13.85

 

4x400m finals
1. Jamaica, 3:11.20
2. Puerto Rico, 3:12.70
3. T&T (Ohdel James, Nathan Farinha, Asa Guevera, Breon Mullings), 3:13.73

 

Decathlon
1. Felipe Ruiz (Mexico), 6440
2. Franciso Olguin (Mexico), 6244
3. Ronald Ramirez (Guatemala), 6072
4. Kevin Roberts (T&T), 5821
5. Victor Isaac (T&T), 5694

 

Girls Under-20

 

Javelin
1. Danna Corral (Mexico), 42.78m
2. Isheka Binns (Jamaica), 42.21m
3. Yulisha De la Rosa (Dominican Republic), 39.68m
4. Chuntal Mohan (T&T), 38.89m​

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National sport organisations and the Olympic Committee have to seriously consider adopting a joint approach to sports marketing. An integrated and collective approach is necessary if the intractable issues that are systemic are to be effectively and efficiently addressed.

 

Local sport is staring into the abyss. There are so many things taking away time, energy and focus from the strategy and execution of the core business of sport.

 

We live in a global environment and local sport is competing not only for money and capital, but also attention.

 

So many issues take up management and executive time.

 

Instead of focusing on improving technology and processes, attention is dispersed to things that may be urgent but not necessarily important.

 

Focusing on developing a comprehensive plan for the sustainable development is a real problem given the need for firefighting and problem solving.

 

But regardless of how hard it may be, fundraising and sponsorship is the major priority for all national sport organisations.

 

A comprehensive plan that manages and coordinates long term marketing from a strategic perspective is urgent and important.

 

Most sport organisations are experiencing negative economic conditions, institutional failure and significant instability.

 

It is against this background that it should be obvious that cooperation between national sport organisations has strategic benefits.

 

Rivalry between sport organisations is unhelpful.

 

Recently I was trying to come up with a list of the most marketable athletes and sports in T&T. I am still working on it.

 

How many people involved in T&T sport understand the economics of the industry and the key issues in the marketing of sport?

 

The importance and commercial significance of sport as an industry is placing a demand on national sport organisations to apply and develop an appreciation of marketing theory.

 

National sport organisations must take their destiny, brands, assets and future into their own hands.

 

Too often discussions about what’s wrong with sport points to the direction of government and government agencies.

 

Moving forward it’s time for sport organisations to change the narrative and conversations.

 

How can the links between the sport, hospitality, entertainment, tourism and cultural sectors be made and sustained to the benefit of all stakeholders?

 

It’s not that sport marketing isn’t a big thing, it is that the main beneficiaries are foreign brands.

 

The local market is clearly saying to everyone involved in T&T sport foreign is better.

 

Instead of sitting in a corner and lamenting about the situation, we need to take a close look and ask what do all concerned within local sport have to do better.

 

How do national sport organisations including the Olympic Committee amplify their voices from a marketing perspective and get the brand message out there?

 

What is the end goal? When T&T sport approaches corporate T&T what will make the decision to spend revenue and invest a financially sensible one?

 

Is T&T sport good for the brand? Is T&T sport something to be proud of?

 

Financial sustainability for T&T sport is a top priority.

 

It comes down to marketing. Market, market, market some more otherwise sooner rather than later oblivion is a certain outcome. Marketing, brand building, brand relationship building, sponsorship, fund raising—whatever spin you but on it, the bottom and top line is national sport organisations need to become marketers.

 

 

Questions that national sport organisations can come together to address include:

 

What do we do best?

 

Where is the room for improvement?

 

What is our core service?

 

How can we strive for continuous improvement?

 

How do we get better every day?

 

How can we improve the overall experience for sport stakeholders?

 

How can we make sport, national sport organisations and athletes more marketable?

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Kashief King anchors B U18 4x400m to victory

Kashief King anchors T&T to victory in the boys under 18 4x400m finals on the final day of action of the 20th CAC Junior Track and Field Championships in Morelia, Mexico on Sunday (July 6).

 

Ian West-bronze in B U 18 decathlon

Bronze medallist Ian West in action in the 1500m of the boys under 18 decathlon on the final day of action of the 20th CAC Junior Track and Field Championships in Morelia, Mexico on Sunday (July 6).

 

Shakeil Waithe

Gold medallist Shakeil Waithe in action in the boys under 20 javelin on the final day of action of the 20th CAC Junior Track and Field Championships in Morelia, Mexico on Sunday (July 6).

 

Shakeil Waithe-B U 20 javelin gold.

Shakeil Waithe stands on top of the podium after winning the boys under 20 javelin on the final day of action of the 20th CAC Junior Track and Field Championships in Morelia, Mexico on Sunday (July 6). Waithe beat Denzel Pratt of Bahamas (right) into second and Orlando Thomas of Jamaica (left for the gold).

THE NATIONAL men and women hockey teams will leave for Scotland on Tuesday to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The women’s squad, co-captained by Alanna Lewis and Patricia Wright-Alexis, comprises a host of youth players with seniors Lewis and Wright-Alexis, long serving custodian Petal Derry, Candice Ashton, Kwylan Jaggessar and Brittney Hingh among the few with more than 25 caps under their belt. But make no mistake, where this team falls short in experience they make up for it with speed and energy.

TT, ranked 31st in the world, are grouped in Pool A with New Zealand (fourth), South Africa (11th), India (13th) and Canada (22nd), while Pool B consists of defending champions Australia (second), England (sixth), Scotland (16th), Malaysia (21st) and Wales (32nd).

The men’s squad, coming off of an historic bronze medal at the 2013 Pan American Cup will be led once again by skipper Darren Cowie.

Six players from the bronze medal earning team will not be making the trip due to various reasons including vice-captain Dwain Quan Chan, Kwasi Emmanuel, Kiel Murray, Christopher Scipio, Cogie Butler and Wayne Legerton.

Despite these absences coach Glenn Francis can still call on the experience of Trinidad and Tobago’s most capped player, Kwandwane Browne and 2013 Player of the Year Mickell Pierre.

TT, ranked 29th in the world, are grouped in Pool B with England (fifth), New Zealand (sixth), Malaysia (13th) and Canada (16th) while Pool A consists of defending champions Australia (first), India (ninth), South Africa (12th), Scotland (25th) and Wales (31st).

Both the men and women teams are expected to play a number of warm-up matches prior to the tournament’s start date on July 24.

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10-gold T&T third on medal table

Machel Cedenio emerged as the star of the show as Trinidad and Tobago captured three gold medals on the third and final day of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Track and Field Championships, in Morelia, Mexico, yesterday.
Cedenio crushed his rivals in the men’s 400 metres event, stopping the clock at 45.28 seconds for a huge margin of victory on silver medallist Twayne Crooks, the Jamaican completing his lap of the track in 46.50. Bronze went to St Kitts and Nevis quartermiler Warren Hazel (46.72).
Cedenio, the 2014 world junior leader at 45.23 seconds, is the favourite for gold at the July 22-27 World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Shakeil Waithe is also preparing for the World Juniors meet, and, like Cedenio, warmed up with a comfortable victory on the final day of the CAC Juniors.
Waithe hurled the spear 70.39 metres to strike gold in the boys’ under-20 javelin. Denzel Pratt was a distant second, the Bahamian securing silver with a 66.18m effort. Jamaican Orlando Thomas (63.89m) earned bronze. Waithe is seventh on the 2014 world junior performance list at 72.75m.
The third T&T gold in Morelia yesterday came from the boys’ under-18 4x400m combination of Kobe John, Terry Frederick, Jacob St Clair and Kashief King. The T&T quartet returned a time of three minutes, 13.93 seconds for victory in the event, ahead of Bahamas (3:14.70) and Jamaica (3:16.27).
T&T's Ruebin Walters clocked 13.59 seconds to earn silver in the boys’ under-20 110m hurdles. Jamaican Marvin Williams was golden in 13.52, while bronze went to Puerto Rico’s Ricardo Torres (13.76). Another T&T athlete, Aaron Lewis was fourth in 13.85 seconds.
T&T’s Ian West accumulated 5,888 points to bag bronze in the boys’ under-18 decathlon. Mexican Jafett Juarez earned 5,945 points for gold in the ten-discipline event, while silver was seized by Puerto Rico’s Jose Hernandez (5,912).
Ohdel James, Nathan Farinha, Asa Guevara and Breon Mullings teamed up for bronze in the boys’ under-20 4x400m relay, the T&T quartet producing a 3:13.73 clocking. Jamaica got gold in 3:11.20, forcing Puerto Rico to settle for silver (3:12.10).
T&T finished third on the 2014 CAC Juniors medal table with 10 gold medals, five silver and seven bronze. Mexico were runaway winners with 36 gold medals, 43 silver and 21 bronze, while second spot went to Jamaica with 15 gold medals, 17 silver and 11 bronze.

FINAL MEDAL TABLE

Gold Silver Bronze Total
Mexico 36 43 21 100
Jamaica 15 17 11 43
Trinidad & Tobago 10 5 7 22
Bahamas 7 8 5 20
Puerto Rico 6 5 9 20
Barbados 3 2 3 8
Bermuda 2 0 2 4
Anguilla 2 0 0 2
Suriname 1 1 0 2
Guatemala 1 0 3 4
Grenada 1 0 1 2
Cayman Islands 1 0 0 1
El Salvador 0 3 6 9
Antigua & Barbuda 0 1 1 2
Costa Rica 0 1 1 2
Dominican Republic 0 0 6 6
Guyana 0 0 2 2
Panama 0 0 1 1
St Kitts & Nevis 0 0 1 1

Lalonde Gordon grabbed gold in the men's 200 metres event at the Leon Buyle Memorial meet in Oordegem, Belgium, on Saturday.
The double Olympic bronze medallist clocked 20.58 seconds to claim top spot in the half-lap race, ahead of Australian Jarrod Geddes (20.68) and Iran's Reza Ghasemi (20.90).
At the Edmonton International Track Classic, in Alberta, Canada, yesterday, T&T's Renny Quow returned a time of 45.67 seconds to finish fourth in the men's 400m event.
Reigning world champion LaShawn Merritt was a comfortable winner of the one-lap race, getting home in 44.30 seconds for a comfortable cushion on fellow-American Josh Mance, the runner-up in 45.02.
Dominican Republic's Luguelin Santos bagged bronze in 45.04. Merritt's 44.30 clocking was a new meet record.
Mikel Thomas finished fifth in the men's 110m hurdles, the T&T athlete clocking 13.80 seconds.
Shane Brathwaite led a one-two finish for Barbados, getting to the line in 13.43 seconds to edge his namesake and compatriot Ryan Brathwaite (13.44) into second spot. American Aleec Harris (13.45) was third.
Justin Gatlin had things all his own way in the men's 100m dash. The American sprinter won in 10.05 seconds,v equalling the meet record established by Jamaican Yohan Blake in 2012. Two other Americans, Charles Silmon (10.21) and Dentarius Locke (10.25) were second and third, respectively.

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Gordon Tietjens has named a strong squad for the All Blacks 7s attempt to win another Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow this summer

The New Zealand Commonwealth Games Sevens team selected for the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has been announced today.

Two additional players will be named as reserves at the end of this week’s training in Mt Maunganui and will travel with the team to the Netherlands for a pre-Games training camp. They will return home if not required.

The team departs for the Netherlands on Monday 14 July. The tournament begins on Saturday 26 July at Ibrox Stadium when New Zealand will play Canada, Scotland and Barbados in pool play.

Gordon Tietjens said the team was a good blend of experience and young talent, and features the return of Pita Ahki who played in the World Cup winning team last year and Declan O’Donnell.

“It’s a strong squad and the majority of the players played in the World Series and played exceptionally well. Pita Ahki is a very good sevens player and excelled for the Blues this year and performed very well in the recent trials. Declan has come back from two shoulder operations and he was simply outstanding a few years ago. He has come back and trained very hard and is very fit. He has those x factors; good feet, good acceleration, is big and strong and gives me great cover out wide.”

The team will be aiming for a fifth successive Commonwealth Games gold medal and features three players who won gold in Delhi – DJ Forbes, Sherwin Stowers and Tim Mikkelson.

“There is some experience there in a team which will be well led by DJ Forbes. You need those players and among them there are new younger players at their Commonwealth Games who will feel the pressure and it is different pressure at a Games.

“To win, it’s all about consistency. It’s being accurate when you need to be, strong defense and dominating possession. If we can play consistently well, and having a strong bench will help, then that plays a big hand in being successful.

“Winning a gold medal at a Commonwealth Games is very special. There is nothing better than seeing a player being presented with a gold medal and listening to the anthem. I am confident if these guys can perform to the best of their ability and be on top of their game we can go very well.”

Kereyn Smith, CEO New Zealand Olympic Committee welcomed the naming of the side. “The defence of New Zealand’s Commonwealth Sevens title at Glasgow will be a momentous occasion. It will take place at the historic Ibrox Stadium, home of the famous Rangers Club and, taking place the first weekend of the Games, will have Kiwis hooked.

“We welcome the players to the team and look forward to seeing them take on the best in the world at Glasgow.”

All Blacks Sevens squad for Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

The team is:

Pita Ahki (North Harbour)

Scott Curry (Manawatu)

Sam Dickson (Canterbury)

DJ Forbes, captain (Counties Manukau)

Bryce Heem (Tasman)

Akira Ioane (Auckland)

Gillies Kaka (Hawke’s Bay)

Ben Lam (Auckland)

Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)

Declan O’Donnell (Waikato)

Sherwin Stowers (Counties Manukau)

Joe Webber (Waikato)

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Australia Sevens coach Geraint John names strong squad for tilt at gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this month

The Australian Commonwealth Games Association is pleased to announce the Australian Men’s Rugby Sevens squad nominated by the Australian Rugby Union for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this month.

Australia’s Men’s Sevens team won silver four years ago at the Delhi Commonwealth Games and will be looking to go one better this year.

The side has been bolstered by the return of Liam Gill and Sean McMahon, who both have a background in Rugby Sevens.

Australia and Queensland Reds player Liam Gill was a member of the 2010 Sevens side that picked up a silver medal in Delhi, while Australian Under 20s captain and Melbourne Rebels player Sean McMahon was a regular on the Sevens World Series circuit as recently as last year.

The 12-man squad also includes a number of Sevens stalwarts, including the in-form Cameron Clark who was recently picked in the 2013/14 International Rugby Board Sevens Dream Team.

Captain Ed Jenkins, the most experienced campaigner in the Men’s Sevens squad, will lead a team featuring nine Commonwealth Games debutants.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association CEO Perry Crosswhite AM said: “We welcome the appointment of the Rugby Sevens team, which completes our Glasgow team selection.

“Australia went very close in Delhi and we hope this team can perform as well, or better, in Glasgow.”

Head Coach of the Australian Men’s Sevens team Geraint John said the squad had been training well and he was confident they could deliver a strong result in Glasgow.

“This is an excellent opportunity to build on a fantastic end of season performance in London, where Australia finished runners up at the final tournament of the 2013/14 Sevens World Series.”

“In this Commonwealth Games squad, I think we have an extremely talented group of players with the right mix of experience and youth. I’m looking forward to seeing what the team can produce in Glasgow,” he said.

This will be Geraint John’s first tournament as Head Coach of the Men’s Sevens team after joining Australian Rugby on 23 June.




*Commonwealth Games debutSixteen countries will compete in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games - Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, England, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Wales.

Australia has been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Sri Lanka and Uganda.

Australian Men’s Sevens squad for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games:

Ed Jenkins. Club: Sydney University, NSW. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW

Jesse Parahi*. Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW

Tom Cusack*. Club: Canberra Royals, ACT. Place of Birth: Canberra, ACT

Sean McMahon*. Club: Endeavour Hills, VIC. Place of Birth: Brisbane, QLD

Sam Myers*. Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW. Place of Birth: Forbes, NSW

Liam Gill. Club: Sunnybank, QLD. Place of Birth: Melbourne, VIC

Con Foley*. Club: University of Queensland, QLD. Place of Birth: Brisbane, QLD

Tom Lucas*. Club: Sunnybank, QLD. Place of Birth: Rockhampton, QLD

James Stannard. Club: Souths, QLD. Place of Birth: Brisbane, QLD

Cameron Clark*. Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW. Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand

Pama Fou*. Club: Souths, QLD. Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand

Greg Jeloudev*. Club: Sydney University, NSW. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW

*Commonwealth Games debut

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5th July- Port. of. Spain
The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) and Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association(TTCGA) will provide medical expenses coverage for Trinidad and Tobago(TTO) athletes participating in the Commonwealth Games .
The landmark announcement of the medical expenses coverage was made  yesterday at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Send Off function  hosted by the TTOC/TTCGA and its corporate partners Bptt, Guardian Group, Scotia Bank, Lisa Communications and Adidas at the Queens Park Oval, President's Box West.
The Send Off was well attended by  athletes who will begin heading to Scotland next week for a pre Games training camp.  Glasgow 2014 Chef de Mission Dr. Ian Hypolite  was presented with the relevant document by Ms Rodelle Phillips of the Guardian Group.
The coverage is for the duration of the Glasgow 2014 Games  and  the TTCGA Pre Games Training Camp.