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Other options were to open up the bidding again to cities in both Canada and the United States for 2006, or postpone the next games until 2008. The council decided to re-open the bid process for 2006, citing the precedent that the 1999 games were also canceled meaning that many athletes were too old to compete in the age-restricted games by the time the next games were held in 2002.

Regina, Saskatchewan and Victoria, B.C, and the University of Windsor, in Windsor, ON, are interested in bidding for the 2008 games, but none have said they could be ready to host games in 2006.

Paul Ramsey, writing in the Ontario Birchbark, the Aboriginal newspaper of Ontario, reported that the negotiations between the NAIG Council and Buffalo Sports Society (BSS) became very tense after Buffalo missed several deadlines for paperwork and deadlines for certain required organizational planning deadlines imposed by the NAIG. BSS had threatened to sue the NAIG so that they would not disclose details of work that they had done on the bid, fearing that other groups in Buffalo might possibly use that information for a competing bid. BSS has also threatened a lawsuit for a court injunction that would "prevent any other group from hosting the games in Buffalo or anywhere else in the United States in the next three to six years."

Turkey declares bid for 2011 World Military Games

June 25, 2004

The Conseil International du Sport Militaire CISM, held its 59th Congress last month in Conakry, Guinea and opened up the bidding season for the 2011 World Military Games. Ankara, Turkey immediately announced its intention to officially bid for the games.

The CISM General Assembly also voted to rescind the suspension on teams from Iraq, and heard an update on plans for the 2007 World Military Games from Hyderabad, India. Those plans are said to be progressing very well.

Sheffield needs volunteers for Firefighters Games

June 24, 2004

World Firefighters Games organizers in Sheffield, England are still seeking volunteers for the games.

The dates of the games are August 28-September 4, 2004. 

The games web site however,  http://www.wffg.co.uk to date does not have any information for volunteers, or how to register to be a volunteer.

For information on volunteering send email to enquiries@worldfirefightersgames.co.uk 

Volunteers are still needed for all aspects of the operation, from transportation to translation, media services and hospitality.

All proceeds from the games will go to the Children's Fire and Burn Trust, the British Burn Association and the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund.

June 19, 2004

Organizers of the 2005 Universiade (World University Games) in Izmir, Turkey were shocked to learn of the very sudden passing of Mr. Ahmet Piristina, the Mayor of Izmir and President of the Organizing Committee of the 2005 summer University Games.

Mr. Piristina died suddenly, Tuesday, June 15, as he was making preparations for his sons wedding, which was to be held this weekend.

The popular Piristina was elected Mayor of Izmir in 1999, and in 2003 was re-elected to office, reported by the Turkish press to be the first person ever reelected to a second term as Mayor in Izmir.

Over 50,00 people lined the streets of Izmir on June 17 to pay their respects, and several dignitaries including Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu and Greek Tourism Minister Demetris Avramopoulos attended the funeral.

Izmir continues to prepare for the Games. FISU officials were in Izmir last week, and held working meetings with the Izmir organizers. The University Games village is over 50 percent complete, and several venues are already ready for the games.

Los Angeles enjoys a day with the Olympic torch

June 16, 2004

Los Angelenos enjoyed their day with the Athens Olympic Torch, which landed in the early morning hours from Mexico City and was relayed through LA from Venice Beach, through Hollywood, to the Los Angeles Coliseum, and ended up with the ceremonial lighting of a cauldron at Dodger Stadium.

Sylvester Stallone was the first to carry the 2004 Athens Olympic  Torch in the US when it arrived in Los Angeles, and the star theme continued with Olympians Rafer Johnson, John Naber, Janet Evans, Anita de Frantz, and movie stars such as Tom Cruise.

	Sylvester Stallone holds the torch high on Venice Beach, with surfers going about their daily routine.
	photo by Christina L. Hennessey

Kaohsiung overcomes Chinese opposition to land 2009 World Games

June, 14, 2004

Kaohsiung, Taiwan has been named as host of the 2009 World Games it was reported in the Hindustan Times today, despite protests and attempts to intervene by China. Chinese officials had attempted, via the International Olympic Committee, to place pressure on the International World Games Association (IWGA) so that Taiwan would not be named as host for the games. China disputes Taiwan's sovereignty as an independent nation.

Kaohsiung will pay the IWGA $600,000 dollars (about 20,234,000 Taiwan New Dollars) as a rights fee to host the games. An organizing committee should be set up within the next twelve months.

The mayor of Kaohsiung, Frank Hsieh while signing the contract with the IWGA, said this was the first time Taiwan had successfully won a bid to host an international sporting event.

This will certainly be the largest international multisport event for the nation, but not the first, and not the first winning bid. Taiwan has hosted the Asia Pacific Games for the Deaf in 2000 and the International School Children's Games in 2002, and earlier this year won the bid for the 2009 World Games for the Deaf, or Deaflympics.

Taiwan showed very early interest in hosting the 2010 Asian Games, but abandoned that bid, and made it to the final voting for the 2007 World University Games, before losing to Bangkok.

This time Kaohsiung was victorious over Birmingham, England; Cleveland, US; Houston, US; and Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Bidding for the 2013 World Games will open in 2008.

Sydney chosen for 2009 World Masters Games

June 14, 2004

Sydney, Australia will continue its run hosting large multisport games to at least 2009, after being named host today for the 2009 World Masters Games. Tentative dates for the games were announced as October 10 to 18, 2009. 

Sydney was selected over Shiga, Japan and Copenhagen Denmark.

Australia has held two of the five World Masters Games to date, the 1994 games in Brisbane and the 2002 games in Melbourne.

Sydney is hoping for a large economic boost from the games, with up to 30,000 athletes and visitors in Sydney during the games.

Sydney has made good use of the 2000 Olympic games facilities and excitement Among the major games Sydney hosted the 1997 World Transplant Games and 2000 Pacific School Games in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  After the Paralympic Games, Sydney has hosted the 2001 Sydney Youth Olympic festival, the 2002 Gay Games, and the 2003 Australia Youth Olympic Festival. Sydney also hosted the Australian Corporate Games from 1993 to 2002, and the 2001 Australian Universities Games.

Sydney is also scheduled to host the2005 Australian Youth Olympic Festival and the 2008 Australia and new Zealand Police Games.

Visit the 2009 World Masters Games bid site at: http://www.sydney2009mastersgames.com.au/

June 13, 2004

B of the Bang, the commemorative sculpture of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth games has been trucked from Sheffield to Manchester and is now on site where it will be installed.

The sculpture will now be put together and finished, which should take the rest of the summer.

See more details B of the Bang to commemorate 2002 Commonwealth Games May 14, 2004 

June 12, 2004

Du Hai is the winner of the "Moments of SEA Games" photo competition, sponsored by the Viet Nam Photographers’ Association.

Winners of the contest, which took place from November 27 to December 19, 2003, were announced this week.

The winning photographs will be on display from December 31 in Hanoi and from January 7 next year in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, and a book is planned to be released next year with the winning photographs.

Du Hai, who won 17.5 million Vietnamese Dong ($1,150 US dollars), shoots professionally for Thao Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (HCM City Sport) newspaper,

The top five winners were: 

"Clearing the Blockage," Du Hai.

"Speed" by Tran Minh and "A Perfect Dive" by Tran Ha were both chosen for second place prizes.

Hoang Minh's "Flying Dove" Vu Anh Tuan's "Competition" and Ba Chau's "Arms of Happiness." were selected as third prize winners.

192 Vietnamese photographers submitted 1070 entries to the contest.

June 11, 2004

The Seattle PI is reporting the Seattle Organizing Committee, the group led by Bob Walsh, which had early designs on a 2012 Olympic bid and also organized the 1990 Goodwill Games, has announced plans for a multisport festival next summer.  The committee is talking to the USOC about organizing the games, and NBC about televising the games, but no definite plans have been confirmed.

The event would also include an international arts festival, a cultural component and a major health summit.

The suggested name for the event is the USA-China Invitational, subtitled, "The Road to Beijing."  The United States and China would be the main entrants, similar to the Goodwill Games in which the majority of participants were from the US and the Soviet Union.  Other participants from around the Pacific Rim would also be invited.

The PI reports that the Seattle Organizing Committee has letters from both the Chinese Olympic Committee and the US Olympic committee, noting their "commitment to participate."

Plans are for the event to be about half the size of the 1990 Goodwill Games, which had just over 2300 participants.

The 2005 edition would be over four days in June, with options for the event to expand in 2006 and 2007.

Speedskating is one of the sports being talked about for the event. That would seem to be a detour on "The Road to Beijing," as speedskating is not a summer Olympic event., but would presumably be included to feature Apolo Anton Ohno, a Seattle native.

The Seattle City Council killed Seattle's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, well before Seattle could even be considered by the USOC as the US choice for the games.  Citizen opposition to spending, and plans for the Olympic village, and an organizing committee that did not think it needed community support were instrumental in killing the bid.

Ghana and Nigeria announce Friendship Games revival

June 10, 2004

Ghana and Nigeria have reached an early agreement to revive the Ghana/Nigeria Friendship Games which were held annually for a period during the 1970s.  Hosting duties were alternated between the two countries.

The proposal is to bring them back in April of next year, with the goal of providing more opportunities for young athletes from Ghana and Nigeria to develop, no athletes living outside the two nations will be allowed to compete.

Athletes for the games would be chosen from each the National Sports Festivals of each country.

Ghana/Ivory Coast Friendship Games were also held in the past.

Tactical to Practical to air segment on Military Games

June 9, 2004

Tactical to Practical, a new show in the History channel, which generally features stories on military innovations and technology that has made its way into civilian life will be airing a story on military sports and games next month.

The show is scheduled to air on the History Channel, Monday, July 6, at 9 pm, with segments on the 1919 Inter Allied Games and the World Military Games.

June 7, 2004

A 12 member World Transplant Games Federation inspection team has finished what it has termed its final look at of the London, Ontario, Canada facilities to be used for next years World Transplant Games. 

The WTFG has said that it is very pleased with the preparations for the games which are planned to open on July 16, 2005 and go through July 24th.

Early estimates are for over 50 nations and 1500 to be represented at the games next year.

Ballroom dancing added to Southeast Asian Games

June 7, 2004

Proponents of ballroom dancing as a sport have been buoyed by the inclusion of ballroom dancing in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

The International Dancesport Federation (IDSF) is still hoping, against very steep odds, that someday "dancesport" will be included in the Olympic Games and the Asian Games.

Cleveland calls for more volunteers

June 6, 2004

The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper reports that the organizers of the International Children's Games are asking for more volunteers.  Only 40 percent of the expected volunteers for the games have signed up, with just seven weeks to go until the games.

Locals from Cleveland or anyone else with the inclination or ability to volunteer can contact the organizers at http://www.childrens-games.org/vol_opp.html .

Volunteers must be 16 or older and all volunteer applicants must pass an FBI background check.

The games are expected to draw some 3000 athletes from 60 nations and are being held from July 26 to August 3.

June 4, 2004

Wrestlers from Spain have been invited to participate in the Titan Games in Atlanta this month, after Iran announced it would boycott the games.

Iran's pullout is still to be confirmed, but looks probable.

The games are scheduled to run from June 18-20 in Atlanta.

June 3, 2004

Iraqi sources announced this week that Iraq would send 347 athletes to the Arab Games in September with a total of 667 people in its delegation.  Iraq will also participate in the scientific congress and the cultural components of the games.

Only Algeria and Egypt are planning to have more athletes at the games.

Iraqi participation in the Arab Games has been controversial ever since the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Iraq was banned from the 1992 and 1997 editions of the games, returning in 1999.  Kuwait boycotted the 1999 games in protest of Iraqi participation.

Iraq's most successful participation in the Arab Games was in 1985 when Iraq won 20 gold, 20 silver and 15 bronze medals. In 1999 Iraq won 8 gold, 7 silver and 30 bronze medals.

The Algiers Arab Games were originally scheduled for 2003, but the earthquake in May of 2003 in Algeria postponed the games on year.

The Arab Games are scheduled for September 24 to October 8, less than a month after the closing of the Olympic Games in Athens.

Women will not be restricted in 2006 Asian Games

June 3, 2004

Women will be allowed to participate in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and there will be no restrictions in media coverage related to women at the games.

Responding to queries that Doha might impose restrictions based on Islamic law, relating to women and their clothing and participation in sports, games organizers have said there will be no restrictions.

Organizers pointed to several events held in the past few years in Doha that have not restricted what women have worn during competition.

Doha has said that it will have all venues ready by December 2005, in order to hold the West Asian Games which will serve as a test event for the larger Asian Games.

June 2, 2004

With complaints against security measures, volunteerism, sponsorship, and the managing of the environment, anarchist groups across Greece are calling for solidarity across Greece and the world, in an "Action Day against the Olympic games" June 19.

Anarchist flyers have been circulated calling for protests to "Sabotage the Olympic Games," stating "May the Olympic Games die in their birthplace."

The anarchists are calling for the protests to be "coordinated and strengthened against the Olympic games on June the 19th, and their destructive effects, by organizing manifestations, occupations, interventions and further more, in their cities inside and outside of Greece, in one major dynamic movement."  

African Games village allotments begin

June 1, 2004

Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo has begun the process of choosing winners in the lottery for apartments in the African Games Village in Abuja.

The village was used for the 2003 African Games, the 2004 Nigerian National Games, and is now being sold to private citizens.  High demand necessitated a lottery system be used to decide who would get the apartments.

The lottery was organized on a nation wide basis.  The 14 Nigerian states with a population of over 3 million were allotted 13 of the units, with all of the other states, 12 units.

Major changes for X Games this year

June 1, 2004

X Games X will stay in Los Angeles, but some events will change venues this year and there will be some changes in the format of competition.

This year should have fewer competitors, as the rules are being changed so that in most events preliminary events have been eliminated. 10 competitors will be allowed for each event, with the exception of  surfing, which will have teams of 10. 

Two new events have been added to this years games, supermoto and skateboard big air.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will not host the Motocross events this year. Motocross freestyle, best trick, step-up, Supermoto, and bicycle dirt stunt will now be held in the new soccer stadium at the Home Depot Center.

Other events and venues will remain roughly the same, with skateboarding, in- line skating and BMX at the Staples Center, surfing at Huntington Beach and Wakeboarding at the long beach Marina.

ESPN and ABC will televise many of the events live each night, and ESPN SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn will be on site.