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

TRINIDAD AND Tobago’s full contingent for the 28th CARIFTA Swimming Championships will be leaving this week for Jamaica to compete at the annual meet, scheduled to run from March 30 to April 3.

The water polo delegation leaves today while the swimming teams will leave on Friday.

The water polo team, under coach Alan Too A Foo with Sheldon Bhanwanie as manager, comprises Adam Alexis, Joseph Herrera, David West, Kryztien Sharpe, Massimiliano Di Cola, Kiev Alleyne, Keegan Forde, Liam Smith, Keanan Charles, Luke Gillette, Ethan Elliott, Liam Howell and Andrew Gillette.

Neal Marcano, manager of the swimming teams, said he is wholly confident of the squads’ prospects as they have strengths from both local and foreign-based swimmers in all of the age groups. Some of the major swimmers on the TT rosters include Hannah Chatfield, Kael Yorke, Amira Pilgrim, Tyla Martin, Dylan Carter, Joshua Romany, Jabari Baptiste and Ariel Cape.

Joining the team after local open water qualifications are Jivan Chee Foon, Sachin Sankar, both in the 15-17 age group; Teresa Otero, Shania David (girls 13-14), and Kyle Caracciolo and Christian Marsden (boys 13-14). In the girls 15-17, Theana Hay and Syriah David will also swim in the open water event in addition to their other swimming events.

Coach Edmund Pouchet is also confident in his team and looks forward to a successful meet, ably assisted by Hazel Haynes, Brian Wickham, two-time Olympian Sharntelle McClean and Vincent Tardieu while additional support will come from massage therapist Kevin Mc Intyre, psychologist Nadine Sammy and chaperones Roxanne Marcano, Natasha Lyder George and Jason Wickham.

The Trinidad and Tobago delegation also has referees selected and appointed by CARIFTA’s administration to officiate at its 2013 instalment of the championships. Swimming will be represented by FINA-approved referees Lindsay Gillette and Francis Sampson. Kester Scanterbury will referee in the water polo competition.

The countries expected to participate include Anguilla, Antigua/Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent/Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

FIFA has emerged as a financial winner from the success of the London 2012 football tournament.

Figures contained in the world governing body's 2012 financial report, published last week, suggest a significant financial swing in FIFA's favour compared with the last Olympic football competition.

Then, in Beijing 2008, FIFA recorded just $14.8 million (£9.7 million/€11.4 million) of revenue, received from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), while running up $22 million (£14 million/€17 million) of expenses to leave an apparent deficit of $7.2 million (£4.7 million/€5.6 million).

A $6 million (£4 million/€4.5 million) slice of these expenses was said to be a FIFA contribution to the confederations "for the benefit of the participating teams".

This time around, the situation was reversed, with London 2012-related expenses of $16.4 million (£10.8 million/€12.7 million) incurred, while revenue jumped to $22.4 million (£14.7 million/€17.3 million).

The women's competition - won by the United States, who edged out Japan 2-1 in a Wembley final attended by over 80,000 people - was seen as a particular success.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter, subjected to booing prior to the medal ceremony for the top women's teams, at once hailed London 2012 as "absolutely" the best Olympic football tournament in his time at FIFA, going on 38 years.

New technology can help keep the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) broadcast revenues moving ahead, but not at the astounding rate achieved in the last Olympic quadrennium, culminating with London 2012.

This was the stand-out message of an exclusive interview with Richard Carrión, chairman of the IOC's Finance Commission, conducted in the aftermath of last week's deal with Carlos Slim's América Móvil, which took the sum raised from broadcasting rights covering the 2013-2016 period to more than $4 billion (£2.6 billion/€3.1 billion).

"People are consuming media very differently than 10 years ago," Carrión, a possible candidate to succeed Jacques Rogge as IOC President, told insidethegames.

"There are more and more devices.

"People watching on broadband end up consuming even more of the broadcasts than those who don't use alternative media.

"So I think these technologies will add value.

"That is the unknown out there."

Nonetheless, Carrión - an increasingly prominent banker outside the Movement - acknowledged that, with growth in the United States, much the IOC's most valuable broadcast market, flat in 2013-2016, the remarkable 52 per cent growth rate clocked up in 2009-2012 was not repeatable.

"We are not immune to the global economic realities," Carrión said.

"One of the issues we need to deal with longer term is that broadcast revenues will not grow at the unprecedented rates we have seen [in the quadrennium just ended].

"They will grow at a slower rate."

Other parts of the globe were doing much to compensate for the temporary stalling in the value of US broadcasting rights.

"Europe, Asia and Latin America are growing healthily," he said.

"I think that is going to continue."

Significantly, the IOC's new Latin American partner is a mobile phone company, not a traditional broadcaster.

Carrión describes this sort of "gatekeeper" deal as "the direction things are going in the future".

By David Owen

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

Details of the men's qualifying system to be employed for Rio 2016, when rugby sevens makes its Olympic debut, have been revealed.

A total of 12 countries are due to compete in the tournament, which will mark the return of rugby to the Olympic programme for the first time since Paris 1924, when the full 15-a-side game was played, with the United States emerging as the winners.

There will be three stages of the qualification process, the first is the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Sevens Series, which will be used to qualify four teams from the 2014-2015 series, where the top teams at the end of the series in May 2015 will progress to Rio 2016.

Following that, between June and September of 2015, each of the six IRB regions will have an Olympic qualifications event where there will be one team from each of the six regions that will qualify for the Olympics, bringing up to 10 teams qualified.

The final stage of the process will involve a repechage tournament, it was revealed by Mark Egan, the IRB's head of competition and performance, during the Hong Kong Sevens.

Teams that have not qualified through the World Sevens Series, or their region, based on rankings and a quota system from each of the regions will have an opportunity to get a place at Rio 2016.

In that tournament one or two places may be on offer, depending on whether the IRB decide or note to offer host nation Brazil an automatic qualifying place.

Based on the end of 2011-2012, the last IRB World Seven Series, the teams in the qualifying positions would be New Zealand, Fiji, England and Samoa.

But England compete under a Team GB banner in the Olympics and it remains unclear as to how qualification for Britain would work, as England, Scotland and Wales all compete seperately in the World Sevens Series.

The qualifying system for the women has still to be announced.

By Duncan Mackay

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee secretary general Brian Lewis is throwing his hat into the ring for the Committee's upcoming presidential elections on April 24.

Lewis has served the Olympic Committee since being elected to its executive committee in 1997, and has served as secretary general for the last two terms, or eight years.

Lewis issued a media release on Saturday detailing the reason's for his decisions, which he explained as "not an easy" one, but one made due to his "firm conviction".

Said Lewis: "I have given long and thoughtful consideration to this decision and, after serving on the TTOC executive committee for 17 years, (and) the last eight years as secretary general, I am confident that I possess the requisite vision, attributes, knowledge, integrity, and experience to lead the TTOC and the T&T Olympic movement."

According to Lewis, his experience, enthusiasm and commitment to the philosphy of Olympism and its goals have grown sufficiently for him to lead the TTOC.

"Having worked very closely with my colleagues on the TTOC executive during these years, I have developed the strategic insight and understanding of the issues, challenges and opportunities facing the TTOC and the Olympic movement and, I daresay, I feel well-equipped to lead the team that will take the TTOC forward."

He also pointed to the progress made by the last two TTOC presidents, incumbent Larry Romany—who is completing his maximum second term as TTOC head—and Romany's predecessor, T&T Hockey Board (TTHB) president Douglas Camacho.

Lewis believes T&T sport is currently facing "myriad challenges", and feels his belief in the Olympic ideals can serve him well as TTOC head.

"...I would now like to take the baton and run with it, with a great sense of purpose for the benefit of the TTOC, its members and affiliates, and sport in general in Trinidad and Tobago," the statement read.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

John Amaechi, the British former basketball player who was a director on the London 2012 Diversity Board, has claimed the Olympic legacy has not been completely fulfilled and described some of the rhetoric surrounding it is "a nonsense".

The 42-year-old former NBA player hinted that the London 2012 legacy has not helped all those minority groups it promised to target.

"A lot of the legacy talk is a nonsense and it always was a nonsense and there was never going to be any," Amaechi (pictured top) told insidethegames.

"It was privileged people who believed that young people living on the 13th floor of an estate would somehow have their lives enhanced by being able to see into the bowl of the Olympic Park.

"The legacy was kept wonderfully nebulous, because that way you can't pin anybody down.

"If you look at how it started, the Games were won by pretty brown children in Singapore.

"So the legacy was implicitly what would happen to those pretty brown children - opportunity for advancement, ability to engage in sport, whether sport or sport business - those were all implicit.

"What happened to the volunteers after - that was all implicit.

"And some parts of that have gone through well - what's happened to the volunteers: I think we've funnelled them really well into local businesses who thought 'right we've got somebody who's got great customer service skills and proven customer service skills in a really hectic environment'.

"I mean, can you imagine being the volunteer who's on the tube station at Paddington at rush hour, trying to help people get to where they need to go?

"That person can handle working in a shop, so we've done some great things with it.

"But the big, overall warm, fuzzy part of the legacy is unfulfilled."

Amaechi was keen, however, to praise the elements of the legacy that have had a positive impact on Britain, particularly where businesses and the economy is concerned.

"In terms of the business of the Games, the number of micro, small, medium-sized businesses that got contracts has never before been reached.

"The levels of local people involved in volunteering and ascending to positions of management, the level of training for the volunteers that actually amounted to what would be an NVQ, which was, for many of these volunteers, the first bit of education they ever got.

"The fact that we managed to translate that into a business credential, that all the partners of the Games would recognised.

"So you could go to a firm and say I had this ambassador training and it would translate into something on their books.

"So you can imagine the type of people involved in that was a very broad, diverse base."

Amaechi also believes last year's Olympics and Paralympics helped by offering opportunities to disabled workers and that this even helped to enhance the Games themselves.

"Diversity wise, in terms of disability, for example, a lot of the drivers of our cars were drivers with impairments, not for show, but because it's a role they could execute very well with just a tiny little technological twitch," he said.

"BMW gave us cars that were hand steered and hand driven.

"Problem solved.

"So we had this unique ability to integrate people.

"A driver with no legs?

"Yes.

"And I think it really enhanced the Games."

Amaechi also had some heavy criticism for UK Sport.

When asked for his thoughts on the Olympic funding reprieve for British Basketball, he said it was "completely irrelevant" and had his own ideas of where the financial support should be going.

"UK Sport and what they're doing is completely irrelevant," Amaechi passionately responded.

"Somebody tell me how millions of pounds into winning a medal can in any way be measured and this is my bollocks call with UK Sport.

"These are the guys that talk about 'everything we do is measured', somebody tell me how the emotional high from winning a medal - and what do we win in by the way: shooting things, archery, boats against landlocked countries...one of them is a sport that anybody who's a minority is not going to do, the other two are sports that minorities do and usually get arrested for.

"So none of that is useful.

"How about putting that into what we said we'd put it into - stopping young people from becoming excessively obese, because they are frightened out of sport because of terrible, emotionally illiterate, coaches when they're eight, who make them feel stupid, fat, ignorant, wrong and bad.

"If we did that alone, the benefits would manifest hugely.

"Even just in the NHS."

By Emily Goddard

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Secretary General Brian Lewis, who attended the Securing Sport 2013 conference in Doha Qatar recently, says sport is in danger.

Lewis, who represented the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at the two-day conference hosted by the International Centre for Sport Security(ICSS) believes it was an eye-opener. The information and research papers presented revealed that organised crime, illegal betting, doping, money laundering and corruption were all activities that were placing in danger the core values and ethos of sport.

“Sport as we know it is in danger. Here in TT we can’t be naive. The threat will soon hit our shores if it is not here already,” he explained.

“The TTOC should take the lead and look at ways of raising awareness and education. Knowledge is power and the better informed the national sport organisations, athletes and coaches are, it is the greater our chances of managing the risks.”

Presentations were made by a number of experts in anti-doping, anti-corruption, counterterrorism, public health, organised crime and public policy.

“I am convinced that the conference presenters weren’t crying wolf. The evidence presented was compelling. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. TT sport must take heed. Doing nothing is not an option. It is serious and I am sounding a warning,” he declared.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

Sport Minister Anil Roberts said yesterday that at no point was he ever the subject of an Integrity Commission probe, nor were any charges laid at his feet. At yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing he produced a statement from the commission, saying he was shocked and stunned at T&T Guardian stories.

Roberts said immediately after the first article appeared he contacted his lawyer—his brother Shastri Roberts—who contacted the Commission for clarification. He said the attorney received an e-mail at 3.15pm on Wednesday from the Commission. Roberts read the March 21 letter which stated that he had not been referred to the DPP “in any such form or manner or at all” as was described in the story.

A visibly angry Roberts liberally trashed author of the article Anika Gumbs-Sandiford, editor-in-chief Judy Raymond and Guardian Media Ltd. He said he had sent all three pre-action protocol letters requiring an apology, a front-page retraction and monetary compensation and said he would go to court if this was not obtained. He said all three should be ashamed for letting down the profession in T&T.

Roberts said he never spoke to Gumbs-Sandiford and she “fabricated” a quote in the story attributed to him. Quoting what he said was an international body for journalistic propriety and a journalistic code of ethics, Roberts said making up quotes was one of the greatest sins of the profession. He said he would write to Ansa McAL’s Gerry Brooks and “Mr Sabga” asking if this was the way their journalists operated and if this was the sort of ethics TG reporters are taught to perpetrate on T&T.

He is also sending a pre-action protocol letter over the next week to COP chairman Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, Minister of Public Administration, for her comments in the second story.

Minister Roberts to take several to court including Minister Seepersad-Bachan

Roberts said: “She failed to call me, her COP colleague, when the AG called me about the story, Roodal Moonilal called me, so did Jack Warner, Tim Gopeesingh and Fazal Karim. But my chairman didn’t call me. When I showed her the Integrity Commission’s letter she was the only one to read it twice and questioned the veracity of the contents and went on to mumble and mutter and I told her I hoped she hadn’t made any statements on something she failed to get the facts on.”

Roberts praised COP leader Prakash Ramadhar, who he said hadn’t rushed to judgment. He said he is also taking legal action against Reginald Dumas and Bishnu Ragoonath, who also commented. But he said would accept an apology from both, since he said they were duped into speaking. He is also taking legal action against i95FM, Daryan Marcelle, Andre Baptiste, Ricardo Phillips (former Boxing Board member), and Ian Prescott of the Trinidad Express.

Roberts said he had shown the Prime Minister the Integrity Commission’s letter on Wednesday and she looked pleased and relieved, “but she was saddened a journalist in T&T could be so wicked, malicious and untruthful,” he said.

Saying journalistic ethics were disregarded, he said: “Any journalist worth their salt will know if you had information, at least call the Integrity Commission and ask at least one question. Nobody ask for a whole interview. But one phone call is all it would have taken to ensure all this pain and suffering would not have taken place and T&T would not have been discussing a blatant untruth.

“You call on us to be accountable and attack us, but since you all are such bastions of integrity I call on you journalists to live up to your code of conduct and be accountable to your readers and listeners and each other—tell the truth.” Roberts said he is a no-nonsense person, a man of integrity whom nobody could cast aspersions on talk about corrupt activity or misappropriation of funds.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

In one single motion last Sunday, FM Ryan Harper brought to an abrupt end the troubling legal dispute that had erupted in the T&T Chess Association.

The six-time former national champion gained unanimous support when he moved to rescind the decision taken to change the established criterion by which winners of the first three places of the national championship qualify automatically to represent T&T at the next Olympiad.

As far as DR is aware, that criterion was laid down several years ago at an AGM of the Association and had been observed ever since. The reason for it is obvious; the country must send its best players to the Chess Olympiad, just as it sends its best athletes to the Olympics, and the national championship contest, with its preliminaries and finals, is clearly the most convenient and convincing way to determine the best in-form players.

However, at a special general meeting of the Association on February 24, president Russell Smith introduced a motion which would change that criterion.

He argued that the time lapse between the current national contest which ends in May and the next Olympiad which comes off in Norway in August 2014 would be too long for the players to keep their winning edge. He proposed, instead, that winners of next year’s national championship be selected on the Olympiad team.

The president’s proposal, which meant of course that this year’s national champion and his two runners-up would not be chosen to represent T&T at the Olympiad, provoked strong opposition from FM Mario Merritt, one of the qualifiers for this year’s national finals and certainly a favourite for taking one of the first three places.

The FM who is also a lawyer contended that the motion to change the criteria for Olympic selection half-way during the tournament was not only improper but also deprived him of the legitimate expectation of being selected to play at the coming world games. He had entered the preliminaries, qualified for the finals and looked forward to winning the championship on the basis of the standing criteria.

However, inspite of Merritt’s logical arguments and his threat to take the Association to court over the issue, the proposal was passed by a majority show of hands.

It seemed unfortunate to DR that president Smith could not see and accept the simple reason behind Merritt’s objections. His immediate reaction to Merritt’s protocol letter served on himself and members of his executive was to fire off a lengthy e-mail accusing Merritt of practising “big stick diplomacy” because the FM had refused on three occasions an invitation from the Association to join “a committee to find solutions in the interest of chess.”

Equally as unfortunate is the reaction of several members of the T&TCA executive who are threatening to resign over this contentious episode and the prospect of being taken to court over it.

In an e-mail reply, Smith had to beg youth officer Naresh Bhola and female members of the executive not to resign until after the Pan Am Scholastic Chess Championships which will be held in T&T for the first time during the coming Easter holidays. Smith, in fact, confessed that he too is considering this option since his wife complains that he is “consuming too much time in creating a vision for chess while others destroy.”

When the SGM reconvened last Sunday at the Southern Chess Club’s premises to deal with several matters including proposals for major constitutional change and the Olympiad criteria issue, Merrit again had to forcefully explain his position as Smith asked for time to receive the opinion of his lawyers. Oddly enough, however, the T&TCA president disclosed that he and his executive had met and agreed that the decision should be reversed.

Clearly not prepared to consider Smith’s request for time, FM Harper arose and insisted on moving a motion to rescind the decision taken in the first part of the SGM.

The ex-champion described the decision as “appalling” and blamed the extended time lag on the Association which had shifted dates for the national championship to the first part of the year without consulting the membership.

Harper persisted in his demand and was supported by Andrew Bowles who reminded the meeting of Harper’s democratic right to move his motion which, eventually, was given unanimous approval.

This sorry episode exposes, for one thing, the fragility, indeed lack of commitment, of those five executive members who have submitted resignations over a contention that is largely of the Association’s own making.

This is unfortunate as the sport of chess, still relatively undeveloped in our country, requires strong and dedicated leadership if it is ever to realise its potential in the competitive arena and as a discipline that confers a range of cognitive benefits particularly among young people.

By Carl Jacob

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Madrid Mayor Ana Botella has admitted that Barcelona has a higher profile on the international stage than her city because of the success of the 1992 Olympics and Paralympics, which is proving a powerful factor in the Spanish capital's efforts to bring the Games here in 2020 as the two cities enjoy a long rivalry.

"There there was a before and an after [with Barcelona] and often, when you travel abroad, when you say, 'I'm Spanish', people often know more about Barcelona than they do Madrid," said Botella. 

Botella has played a leading role this week in the visit here of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission, chaired by Britain's Sir Craig Reedie (pictured top), to inspect their bid, which is their third consecutive campaign following failed efforts for 2012 and 2016, which were awarded to London and Rio de Janeiro respectively.

Sir Craig, who played a crucial role in London's bid when they defeated Madrid eight years, offered some encourgament to his hosts when he spoke of how this bid had improved.

"I think what happens in every bidding context is that the cities just get better and better and better," he said at the conclusion of the Evaluation Commission's visit.

"People have seen the experience of Games in different parts of the world and I don't think there is any doubt that this candidature has learned from that.

"They have taken the 2016 concept as a base and it is a better concept now than it was then. "

"Who knows maybe it'll be third time lucky?"

Sir Craig was supported by Gilbert Felli, the IOC's Executive Director for the Olympic Games, as the Commission wrapped up its second visit to three cities, having earlier been to Tokyo.

They are due to fly to Istanbul from here tomorrow, ahead of the start of their four-day inspection, starting on Sunday (March 24).

"The cities always learn from the process of candidacies," said Felli.

"We have seen that with the quality of what has been presented to us here.

"So yes it's an improvement with the process of the candidacy of Madrid."

But Madrid's bid is being undermined by the economic crisis which hit Spain, leading to record unemployment and cuts in public services. 

Being awarded the Olympics and Paralympics is seen as being potentially a major catalyst to help Spain recover from its problems.

"We believe it will help a country from the old continent come out of crisis," said Botella.

Spanish officials have continually tried to emphasise that they do not offer a financial risk because 78 per cent of the facilties are already built and Madrid has one of the best infrastructures in Europe.

But whether that is reflected in the Evaluation report, due to be published on July 3, remains to be seen.

"We have had a very clear statement from the Bid Committee," said Sir Craig.

"They believe the Spanish economy has suffered a very difficult time but that it has stabilised and it will improve.

"I have to tell you if I could predict the future movement of world economies I would not be sitting here.

"We are grateful for their honesty and openness."

The three cities are due to deliver a key presentation on July 4 in Lausanne to IOC members.

That will be the most important date in the cities calendars before the vote at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires on September 7.

Botella is convinced that the fact Madrid have to invest only €1.5 billion (£1.3 billion/$1.9 billion) in major projects between now and 2020 to ensure that it is ready to host the Games is a major factor.

"We have spent a lot on infrastructure but that is something we are already enjoying," she said.

"That is something that is fundamental for any Olympic Games because there are many examples of Olympic Stadiums and infrasturcture that have become white elephants.

"We have a fantastic public transport network and we also have one of the best airports in the world."

Last night Prince Felipe, who had carried the Spanish flag at the Opening Ceremony of Barcelona 1992, where he competed in the sailing, hosted a dinner for the Evaluation Commission, along with Queen Sofia, at Palacio Real de Madrid. 

"I think it's important to convey our confidence in the quality of the project," he said.

"I am very proud of a job well done.

"We can be confident about the serious, reliable and thorough manner in which our experts approached the information sessions.

"The final test is in Buenos Aires in September."

Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee and Madrid 2020, shares the confidence of Prince Felipe and Botella that this is a winning campaign, offering a new model for cities bidding in the future and the Olympic Movement. 

"The last two bids were good projects but we were told the bid has improved," he said.

"We've corrected and tweaked things.

"There is always room for improvements.

"We've listened to the IOC and to our own people.

"We think this bid offers a new opportunity for the Olympic Movement, a new way of perceiving a responsible, sustainable way adapted to the IOC approach.

"When we look at the budgets in the past Madrid now is best tailored to reality - and that's a new avenue.

"We think this is a winning bid and one adapted to the modern age so we think we are in a good position - and you can't say more than that.

"We've seen that cities which put forward stratospherically expensive bids did not get through to the final three.

"Their bids were not in line with the wishes of the IOC and we've heard a lot of statements from high-ranking people to that effect.

"I doubt if, with loads of money, we could have a better bid...all we want to say to the IOC is: 'Trust us, because we will be ready  and our Games will be great Games.'"

FIFA President Sepp Blatter today appeared to end hopes that Qatar could be stripped of its right to host the 2022 World Cup or that the tournament might be moved from its traditional date in the summer to the winter.

Critics of the decision to award the tiny Middle East country the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been claiming that the event cannot be played in the summer because of the searing heat there.

Blatter insisted at the end of a two-day meeting of FIFA's ruling Executive Committee in Zurich that only the local organisers in Qatar could ask for the dates to be changed and so far they had not done that.

"We are not losing control with the World Cup, or 2022," said Blatter.

"Concerning the 2022 World Cup, discussions started at the time when the decision was taken and then people have realised that when playing summer will be difficult because it is very hot.

"But the basic principles of the award of the World Cup were very clear and have not changed in the meantime.

"They are still the same, FIFA's World Cup is a competition with 32 teams and 64 matches, and has to be played in June and July.

"This has never been put into question by the organisers, who have been given the responsibility.

"If there is a move it must come from Qatar, it is not relevant to the FIFA Executive Committee which stands by the decision taken in December 2010."

Blatter admitted that he could not predict what would happen if Qatar did ask for a change of dates, which must come before 2016 when a final tournament timetable must be approved by FIFA.

"I have put a question mark and that's all but I'm not a prophet to say what will happen," he said.

"Let us be where we are and let us work on the World Cup 2014 [in Brazil], there is enough to do for that competition, and then 2018 [in Russia] and then 2022."

By Duncan Mackay

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

New legislation has been passed by the Queensland Parliament to protect the identity of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games from marketing abuse, unauthorised use of branding and illegal product association with the event.

The Commonwealth Games Arrangements (Brand Protection) Amendment Bill will essentially help protect the branding and promotional rights of the official sponsors of the Games.

The new legislation comes as Gold Coast 2018 prepares to unveil the logo for their Commonwealth Games with a special community celebration at Surfers Paradise Beach on April 4.

"The 2018 Games emblem will be launched on April 4 and it is important that we have protection in place for it and other promotional tools as soon as possible," said Australia's Minister for the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey.

"Protection against ambush marketing by way of the unauthorised use of intellectual property is required years before an event such as a Commonwealth Games because emblems, slogans, mascots and the like are launched years before the event.

"There are other issues that will need to be dealt with in legislation prior to the Games, including ticket touting, ambush marketing by way of advertising close to venues, transport and security.

"Most of these issues do not require legislation this far out from the Games and will be dealt with at the appropriate time.

"My department is also in discussions with the Commonwealth Government about complementary national legislation for the Games."

The new legislation bans the unauthorised use of specified references and images where the use is for commercial or promotional purposes, or would suggest a sponsorship-like arrangement with the Games.

It also bans conduct suggesting a sponsorship or affiliation with the Games that does not exist while it gives police the power to confiscate goods or advertising material displaying unauthorised references or images in or close to Games venues and other key sites.

"The Bill is designed to allow as much community ownership and celebration of the Games as possible, while not allowing the use of Games images or references in a way that would dilute the value to sponsors," said Stuckey.

"That could potentially compromise sponsorship revenue, which forms a sizeable chunk of the Games budget.

"The other main part of the overall package will be a suite of options for not-for-profit community uses, including a blanket authorisation that will allow low key use subject only to common sense guidelines.

"This Bill is another important step in our preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, creating a wonderful legacy for the Gold Coast and indeed for all of Queensland."

By Tom Degun

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

As England took to the pitch at the Millennium Stadium last weekend for the Six Nations title decider all eyes were on who would lift the trophy after what had been an extremely memorable tournament.

It was an incredible climax and a fantastic occasion, but on the same day there was something of even greater significance happening on a rugby pitch hundreds of miles away from the excitement in Cardiff.

At a rugby club in London last Saturday Prime Minister David Cameron set out the detail of a new funding package for PE and school sport called the Sport Premium, which will see £150 million ($241 million/€180 million) per year investment into primary schools for the next two years. This considerable investment, which works our around £9,000 ($15,000/€12,000) per year for an average primary school, is extremely welcome news and provides real opportunity to ensure PE and sport are at the heart of school life for all young people.

For me, there are a number of points to the Government's announcement last weekend that are of particular interest. The first is the fact that this funding can only be spent by schools on improving PE and sport and not on other aspects of education. This is a considerable step forward. We should not underestimate what an important move this is - no other funding for schools is ring-fenced in this way, and for me this demonstrates the level of importance that PE and school sport will now have within schools.

Secondly, from September the Government is to undertake a pilot which focuses on improving initial teacher training in PE. Baroness Sue Campbell, who is the chair of the Youth Sport Trust, and I have for some time now talked about the importance of improving primary school teacher training in PE.

Indeed, in our official response to the Government announcement the Baroness highlighted that, "For too long a child's first experience of physical education has been delivered by teachers who lack the confidence and in some cases the competence to deliver PE well."

I wholeheartedly support that statement which is why it is good to see that this has been recognised by the Government, and I hope this new pilot will build on the excellent work the Youth Sport Trust has been doing with Bupa and Matalan in recent years in this area.

The third key point in this announcement is around the involvement of national governing bodies of sport in supporting primary school sport. There is much discussion as to what differences there are between PE and school sport. In my mind I keep it simple - PE is curriculum time activity that focuses on physical literacy, learning and leadership. School sport has a far greater emphasis on coaching, competition and clubs.

Both can complement each other extremely effectively which is why the Youth Sport Trust has agreement from more than 20 NGB's on the number one priority for this investment being primary school Physical Education and teacher training; NGBs acknowledge the fundamental role Physical Education plays in inspiring and equipping young people for future involvement in sport.

It is imperative to get the initial learning and physical literacy right from a very early age so that when young people make the transition through school they understand the importance of sport and enjoy taking part. That way they will actively seek out opportunities to join clubs, compete and benefit from expert coaching.

If there is one note of caution following this announcement then it should go to schools who may not necessarily know how best to maximise this funding. At the Youth Sport Trust we work with hundreds of schools that have a strong understanding of how PE and sport can benefit their pupils right across the curriculum, and that should be applauded.

But there are also many schools who may need guidance in how this money could be used to make the most impact. I firmly believe that the funding should not be used by schools on short term opportunities or quick wins but invested in a way that makes PE and school sport opportunities sustainable. In many cases that means schools investing in their own teaching staff.

Those involved in the delivery of PE and school sport now have a tremendous opportunity to make to make a difference to all their young people and they must grasp this opportunity. If they can put in place a sustainable platform that delivers high quality PE and school sport for the long term - that would be a legacy to be proud of.

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

It just keeps surfacing the word integrity every time sport is mentioned or discussed. What exactly do we mean when we use the word integrity? I am starting to get the feeling that integrity is a dead horse.

In the last few weeks, I have had to work very hard mentally and emotionally to be my usual positive and optimistic self. That it has been very difficult, I can’t or wouldn’t hide. I have been doing a lot of soul searching, trying to make sense of certain things that don’t, at least to my way of thinking, make much sense. So, maybe it’s a good thing I am in Doha, Qatar trying to make sense of this notion of integrity in sport. It certainly seems as if everyone has a different definition of what constitutes integrity. But more and more it seems that integrity as a core value is out of season.

Must we assume the worse and plan accordingly, because it’s going to get worse before there are any discernible signs of improvement. That’s the attitude of many when confronted with what is before them. What’s wrong? Why is it so hard to find a consensus on what’s the right thing to do?

Its frustration left, right and centre. It’s the little things that people do or don’t do that have a major impact on integrity. A waste of time, everywhere you turn, it’s a tale of woe—everybody doing the wrong thing. How do we put a stop to the feeling that doing the right thing is a waste of time?

As frustrated as I may feel from time to time from where I sit, all I see is infinite possibilities. There is no doubt in my mind. In fact I choose to banish doubt. Even though the evidence is becoming stronger daily that we are too far down the descent, I believe there is a solution.

All we need to do is surmount the challenge. What challenge? The big challenge is in reality a simple one, close the gap. What gap? The big distance between what leaders say and what they do. Distance here is a synonym for gap.

We have to stop minding the gap. It’s time to close the gap. Not tomorrow, not at some time in the near or distant future but in the present moment.

Close the gap even if everyone is calling for a different choice or decision. We just have to stand up for what we believe to be the right thing to do.

There is a public commitment to transparency, accountability, integrity and ethical behaviour. We can’t espouse integrity as talk but act diametrically opposite. If permissiveness is good enough for some then maybe it should be the same for everyone else. That’s rather cynical isn’t it?

Sometimes it looks like the gap is closing and then other times it actually looks like it’s getting wider.

Why is it difficult to remain loyal to core values such as integrity, fair play and teamwork?

Do we need core values? Gone are the days when we knew the difference between right and wrong, now there are shades and degrees of right and wrong, and it’s situational.

We have to try and close the gap. Unless there is a commitment to the core values the likely of a job well done is minimal.

Values and mission go hand in hand. They set the stage.

If we want to build a nation and a society that know how to behave, trusts itself and where people trust one another.

-Brian Lewis

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) secretary general Brian Lewis will represent the Caribbean region at the Securing Sport 2013 Conference  (18 - 19 March 2013) in  Doha, Qatar. The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) will be  hosting approximately 400 senior delegates from the fields of sport, security, integrity, government, commercial management and more at its third annual conference under the theme “Advancing the Security and Integrity of Sport to Safeguard the Future”.

Keynote address will be given by Wilfried Lemke, Special Advisor to the Secretary General for Sport Development and Peace(United Nations).

Richard Caborn, former UK Minister of Sport and Sylvia Schenk, Senior Advisor for Sport, Transparency International areamong those listed to deliver presentations at the conference that will address the issues, challenges and  problems surrounding  the integrity and security of sport. Topics to be discussed during the two day conference include  match fixing, doping, money laundering, betting and the politcisation of sport .

Securing Sport 2013 will feature analysis of worldwide sport as it is today and has been in the past, but will also strongly focus on how the security and integrity of sport could be impacted on in the future, with an examination of the planning and development of major sporting events from the perspective of the key decision makers.

The conference will deliver discussions and presentations on further topics such as the emerging social media trend, fan behaviour, transnational sport related crime, and a conceptual and experiential view on the security technologies of the future that could change the outlook of sport.

Lewis was asked to attend the conference by Commonwealth Games Federation(CGF) vice president for the Caribbean region Ms Fortuna Belrose, the current St Lucia national Olympic committee vice president.

Source http://www.icss.org/ media release:

Integrity is the most fundamental value to sport. Corruption erodes the very spirit of sport. Without integrity competition is meaningless. Breaches of integrity not only damage these values, but will shape a sport’s popularity and ultimately its business and sponsorship viability, and even its survival.

Has sport lost focus of integrity and transparency? Are international sport federations and sport organisations doing enough in the modern age to protect the integrity of sport ? Are sport leaders alive to the tremendous threat facing world sport? These are some of the critical questions The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) will hope to  address and answer in Doha, Qatar.

Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “Securing Sport 2013 provides an important platform for sharing information and exploring best practice, as well as addressing current and future themes across a range of sectors and industries associated with the world of sport security and integrity." I look forward to welcoming distinguished guests and delegates from around the world for what I am sure will be an insightful and thought-leading event.”

TRINIDAD and Tobago has become the first country from the English-speaking Caribbean to ever qualify for the World Championships in the sport of volleyball.

This was revealed yesterday when the Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation held a media conference at the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Henry Street, Port of Spain.

This country will be represented by male and female teams in both the Under-21 and Under-23 World Beach Volleyball Championships in the middle of the year.

A total of 32 countries will be involved in each tournament, coming from the five zones of the International Volleyball Federation—African Confederation, Asian Confederation, European Confederation, NORCECA and South American Confederation.

T&T will be among the six from NORCECA (North, Central America and the Caribbean) zone. St Lucia has also qualified from the English-speaking Caribbean, but only their men's teams.

The under-23 tournament will take place from June 6 until 9 in Poland, while the under-21s will be in action in Croatia from June 20-23.

T&T qualified for the World Championships as a result of the performances of the senior players during last year's NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour.

Daneil Williams and Fabian Whitfield picked up a bronze in the penultimate leg of last year's circuit on home soil in Toco at the end of October to become the first players from this country to ever earn a NORCECA medal.

The "Toco Boys" also finished fourth in one of the other legs and Ayanne Dyette ended up in fourth position twice during the year – with the assistance of Elki Philip and Nancy Joseph.

Philip and Joseph had been the first T&T players to ever come close to a NORCECA medal when they placed fourth in the Dominican Republic in 2010. Joseph was injured following this tournament and the six-time national champ returned in the middle of last year and was able to place fifth with the assistance of Pauline Woodroffe in her second tournament.

TTVF president Daymian Stewart thanked all these players for their efforts last year, along with leading coach David Thomas and Jason Dennis, recently named as the female national beach volleyball coach.

In addition to Stewart, NORCECA vice-president Mushtaque Mohammed also addressed the gathering and the former TTVF president promised that NORCECA will either bring international coaches to get the teams ready for the World Championships or send the players aboard to train.

This year's senior NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour serves off next week Friday in Cayman Islands.

By Shammi Kowlessar

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com