IOC Rio 2016 Olympics: Fri.5th~Sun.21st Aug 2016 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

[Socapro]

Just read full article and spotted an error in paragraph 4.
Desiree Henry is a GB sprinter and not a Team TTO sprinter. Semoy Hackett is the athlete who anchored the TTO Women's 4x100m Relay team in Beijing in the final when we set our current national record of 42.03 rather than Desiree Henry so that 4th paragraph should read:
The T&T team at the Beijing World Championships – Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas and Semoy Hackett clocked 42.03 to capture bronze.

Ato Boldon breaks his silence… TTO relay team did not practise together in Rio
24 Aug 2016 (TTWhistleBlower.com)

If what Ato Boldon said on Wednesday is true, then there must be a serious enquiry into the Trinidad and Tobago camp at the just concluded Rio Olympics.

Speaking on CNC3 on Wednesday, Boldon broke his silence by revealing that the members of the Trinidad and Tobago’s women 4×100 metre relay team never practised together while in Brazil.

Boldon, a four-time Olympic medallist, said when he saw Trinidad and Tobago women team run 42 seconds at the World Championships in 2015 in Beijing, he told them he knew they needed to work harder on their times if they are to medal at the 2016 Olympics. As part of the coaching staff then, he told them not to become complacent as they needed to improve on their times.

The T&T team at the Beijing World Championships – Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas, and Desiree Henry clocked 42.03 to capture bronze.

At the Rio Olympics, the team enjoyed its best-ever Olympic finish in a women’s event when Semoy Hackett, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Kelly-Ann Baptiste and 18-year-old Khalifa St Fort combined for the fifth spot in the women’s sprint relay final, the T&T quartet getting the baton round the track in 42.12 seconds. United States won in 41.01, from Jamaica (41.36) and Great Britain (41.77).

Boldon, who coaches St Fort, and is an NBC track announcer, said it was important for the T&T team to improve on the Beijing performance. Despite this, the entire team never practised together for the relay events while at the Olympic Village.

Boldon said a team needed to practice several things if the members are to bring home a medal. He cited the lane infringement of the men’s 4×400 metre relay team. He said the system had broken down and if Trinidad and Tobago have to improve going forward, there must be changes.

“I think we had some bright spots. I think we have, to be honest. I think a lot of the athletes went there and did not perform as they were expected to. There were athletes who could have performed better.

“I don’t think we expected too much. Four years ago in London, we did well, so people say with all these medals in London, maybe we can improve on that total. I was disappointed yes, but you must understand everybody cannot carry the torch forever.

“I was extremely disappointed when the 4×400 men did not make the final because that is not a position we should be in. The system we have in preparing the team, especially in relays, is flawed, if not non-existent. We still believe as a country, we could go and have a thing a month before and gel the team and that is how we compete against the world.

“I don’t want to hear any ole talk from any organisation. Until you can show me, how we going to change in how we prepare for 2020, then is only ole talk. This is not our worst performance. People have short memories. From 1976 when Hasely won to 1996, there was nothing.

“The women were hungry, a lot hungry. The men are starting to age too. The feeder system is failing us. Where are the young male athletes who were supposed to have made that team?

“There are people in power who feel they are doing a good job and this is the way it should be. No, that is not the way it should be. As long as you don’t admit you have a problem, then things will remain the same.

“There has to be a fundamental change in our club system, and how we prepare our team, especially our relay teams. Imagine in 2016, we went to the Olympics with that 4×100 women relay team, without us having a practice with everybody present, ” Boldon declared.

The former T&T sprinter said a number of countries have started to plan for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. He said the planning must start now, not wait until the Olympics are around the corner.

Another controversy erupted with the T&T team. Dr Ian Hypolite, the team’s Chef de Mission, was missing in action as he was an analyst with ESPN during the athletic segment of the Games.

Neither Hypolite, NAAA’s President Ephraim Serrette, or TTOC President, Brian Lewis, have responded to what Boldon had said.

[Socapro]

NAAA boss admits Team TT’s flaws
Plan for Japan must start now
By Rachael Thomspon-King (T&T Guardian)
Published: Tuesday, August 23, 2016

National Association of Athletic Administrations (NAAA) president Ephraim Serrette believes better systems must be put in place for local athletes to make a mark on the world stage.

He made the comment yesterday as he said he was disappointed with the result of the performances of the majority of Team T&T at the just concluded Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Despite having the largest contingent of Olympic athletes ever, many of whom were from the track and field discipline, only javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott got on the podium with a bronze performance.

The overall team’s effort has been much maligned by some quarters of society, with many taking to social media to vent their frustration at the other athletes’ inability to bring home more medals.

Yesterday, Serrette admitted much was expected of the team.

“Expectations were high when you compare how much medals T&T won in Beijing and back in 2012 in London,” he said.

“Track and field gets most of the pressure because it is the one sport that has been bringing medals, so it is expected that people were hoping for more success. But proper systems need to be implemented if we are to compete against world class athletes.”

After winning one gold, one silver and a bronze medal in London, there was hope of more success in Rio in athletics. This time around though the highly favoured sprinters Richard Thompson and Keston Bledman, both former Olympic medallists, and Rondel Sorrillo failed to advance out of the individual semifinal heats in the men’s 100 metres event. They were joined by Emmanuel Callender for the 4x100m relay but the team was disqualified.

“People seem to have forgotten that the 4x100m men finished fourth in London, but won a bronze because a team (Canada) was disqualified and then the American doping issue saw them upgraded to silver,” Serrette said.

The men’s 4x400m relay team of Jarrin Solomon, Lalonde Gordon, Deon Lendore and Machel Cedenio suffered a similar fate, as they were disqualified in their semifinal heat after finishing third. It was later learned that it was due to a lane violation.

Cedenio did well in making it to the final, clocking 44.01 to break the previous national record held by Ian Morris for the past 24 years, but placed fourth. Sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye took some of the spotlight by reaching both the women’s 100m and 200m finals.

“Let’s put things into context, both Ahye and Cedenio have done much better than last year in their times. Ahye made two finals, placing sixth, and Cedenio broke the national record, finishing behind season competitors who have all ran 43 seconds.”

If T&T wants success, preparation for the Tokyo Olympics must start now, he added.

“The development of T&T athletes must begin now for Tokyo 2020, not in 2019,” said Serrette.

“Japan is hosting and they are making sure that their athletes are at their best when that time comes around. A combination of things need to happen, which include the athletes and coaches for us to be at a better stage at the next Olympics.”

He said local fans must also not compare T&T to Jamaica, since that country has a far better programme which feeds its teams.

“People like to compare us to Jamaica, but Jamaica has a great programme, as well as the British system. Look at GC Foster College in Jamaica that has home-grown, home-trained Jamaican athletes that can compete with the world’s best.

“Our junior system is not transitioning well to senior level. We have basically the same group of relay runners from 2008, so clearly some of them cannot follow through and make a successful transition.”

From here on out, Serrette said, performances at the Games should be analysed and moving forward the association is calling on everyone to get involved.

“I’m speaking overall now. All sporting organisations, the Government and TTOC (T&T Olympic Committee), we need to develop a system to chart a path to 2020.

“To be podium ready, we need to form a track and field national programme.”

[Socapro]

PM: Olympic dream still alive
Published: Monday, August 22, 2016

The Rio Games is not the end of T&T’s Olympic dream, says Prime Minister Keith Rowley, in his congratulatory message to bronze medallist Keshorn Walcott.

In a statement yesterday, Rowley said while the team may have suffered mixed fortunes in Brazil, the nation can be justifiably proud of our athletes who were able to reach the finals in several disciplines.

“We must also remember that for the first time Trinidad and Tobago also competed in boxing, gymnastics and rowing. Swimming, sailing and cycling also continue to give us hope for medalling in future Olympic Games. This is not the end of our nation’s Olympic dream. It is only the beginning,” the statement said.

In the next four years, the release stated, T&T will shine at Tokyo.

“We have to start our preparations early and the Government stands firmly behind all our athletes. We thank you for your effort and look forward to even better results in Tokyo,” it added.

Singling out Walcott, Rowley said: “I wish to congratulate Keshorn Walcott for winning the bronze medal in the men’s javelin event at Rio 2016. Keshorn and all the members of the Trinidad and Tobago 2016 Olympics Team deserve our congratulations and ongoing support for doing their best at the Rio Games, among a very strong field of international competitors.”

Yesterday, a voice recording on Sport Minister Darryl Smith’s cellphone stated it was “temporarily unavailable” while he did not respond to two emails.

Communications and Public Administration Minister Maxie Cuffie said he preferred that Smith address all questions about Walcott.

[Deeks]

What allyuh think about this idea for future Olympics. Saw it in Skycrapercity.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=2014734&page=2

Originally Posted by Nacre View Post

I will take a shot with my crazy idea.

 The reason the Olympics use a four year cycle is that there used to be four ancient games. We can solve the growth of the Olympics by going back to one games per year, with one event per season.

Spring Olympics: team sports (basketball, football, handball, etc)
Summer Olympics: individual sports (athletics, cycling, gymnastics, swimming, etc)
Fall Olympics: ice events (curling, ice skating, ice hockey, etc)
Winter Olympics: snow events (skiing, ski jumping, etc)

 This would . . .
1.reduce the overall size of each of the summer and winter games by about 40%, and thus dramatically decrease the organizing cost for the host city
2.increase revenues for the IOC and sporting federations by hosting events every single year and having more broadcasting rights to sell
3.reduce the construction costs for host cities by roughly 75% (for example if a host city already has 3 arenas, and needs 8 for the summer games and would only need 4 for the spring games the cost would be reduced by 80%)
4.let cities with unsuitable climate or geography host the spring or fall games (such as Melbourne being too cold for the summer games and Minneapolis not having mountains for the winter games)
5.open the games up to far more countries; Portugal cannot possibly manage the current summer Olympics but Lisbon could host a slimmed down games with 40% fewer athletes and events
6.make it easier to accommodate the NHL with a fall event that only pushes back their season a couple of weeks instead of in the middle of the season
7.let the IOC add cricket and/or baseball in spring without causing much burden on the host city



This is a great idea, could work perfectly. Mainly because there would be a way bigger chance all venues could have a longterm use, it would create more money, while costs of single games would go lower, while at similar time more sports could be potentially included long-term.

Spring Olympics - June 2033: team sports played outside: football (with hopeful participation of the best players if it replaces Confederations Cup), rugby, field hockey, water polo, beach volleyball, 3x3 basketball, baseball/softball and potentially cricket, American football, Australian football, ultimate, lacrosse, beach football, ball hockey, tug of war
Summer Olympics - August 2032: individual sports: athletics, gymnastics, cycling, swimming/diving, tennis/racquet sports, golf, weightlifting, combat sports, shooting sports, equestrian, modern pentathlon, triathlon, skateboarding, surfing, sailing, climbing, potentially roller sports, snooker, darts, dance sports, bowling, orienteering; I would not be against including mind sports like chess, draught, bridge or even poker as well
Fall Olympics - September 2031: team sports played inside + motorsport: ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, handball, potentially netball, korfball, slamball, floorball or futsal, could be a spot to include sports like motorsport, motorcycles, speedway or air racing
Winter Olympics - February 2030: winter sports: skiing, snowboarding, skating, biathlon, bobsleigh, luge, curling, potentially include bandy (in ceremony stadium), downhill skating, cyclocross or cross country running

 What would be needed to host games:•Spring Olympics would need 6 football/rugby stadiums with a need to build a venue for baseball and temporary stadiums for field hockey and water polo
•Summer Olympics would need an athletic stadium, one bigger arena for gymnastics and weightlifting, a velodrome, a shooting centre, an acquatics centre, a course for water slalom and rowing, a tennis centre, a golf course, BMX/MTB centre, a place for sailing/surfing, and a few smaller arenas for combat sports, badminton or table tennis, these all are usually temporary, an exhibition centre is usually used
•Fall Olympics would need 4 indoor arenas + potentially a venue for ceremonies or other small arenas for smaller sports and potentially a racing circuit
•Winter Olympics would need what they need right now with the exception of two indoor arenas for ice hockey

TL,DR in other words:
 - change Summer Olympics into just something like bigger Commonwealth Games
 - take away ice hockey from Winter Olympics because of the NHL and to lower the costs
 - create Spring Olympics around current FIFA Confederations Cup with the participation of the best football players, include rugby, etc. - it would be held in a country more than only in one city
 - create Fall Olympics around 4 biggest indoor team sports - basketball, ice hockey, volleyball and handball + include motorsport, motorcycles and air sport with a competition for the best drivers/riders/pilots; ideally allow co-hosting between two cities to lower costs - then one city gets opening and the other one closing ceremony

[Flex]

Thema's ex-coach dies by suicide after charges in US
ANDREW GIOANNETTI (T&T NEWSDAY).

JOHN Geddert, former coach to the US gymnastics team, and former personal trainer to T&T's gymnast Thema Williams, has died by suicide.

Geddert was discovered dead just hours after he was slapped with two dozen criminal charges. The 63-year-old was accused of human trafficking, forced labour and sexual misconduct, among other crimes.

In a statement, Michigan state attorney general Dana Nessel said, "My office has been notified that the body of John Geddert was found late this afternoon after taking his own life. This is a tragic end to a tragic story for everyone involved."

"These allegations," Nessel said, "focus around multiple acts of verbal, physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by the defendant against multiple young women. I am grateful for these survivors coming forward to cooperate with our investigation and for bravely sharing their stories."

Geddert served as head coach for the 2012 US women's Olympic gymnastics team, winners of the team gold medal in London.

He is said to have had a personal and professional relationship for over 25 years with disgraced former US national team physician Larry Nassar, who is convicted of dozens of sexual abuse cases, was sentenced to a maximum of 175 years in prison. Over 150 survivors and family members reportedly testified against him.

Geddert coached Williams, leading up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games while she was based at his club Twistars in Michigan for about a year.

Williams, however, was not selected by the TT Gymnastics Federation for the Olympics, a decision the TTGF made after receiving a report from Geddert.

He slammed the local governing body for its decision, saying his concerns about her fitness were taken out of context and insisting she was physically fine.

Instead, Marisa Dick, who was born and raised in Canada, was granted the Olympic spot, drawing public condemnation, as many considered Williams to be the more talented and prepared of the two athletes.

Newsday reached out to Williams, on Thursday, but she did not want to comment.

Williams previously declined to speak with the media about the then allegations against Geddert. He had not yet charged when he was suspended by USA Gymnastics, in 2018, pending further investigations.


Gymnastics coach John Geddert. -