July 30, 2004

Prepare to update your Olympic trivia books. 

If Merlene Ottey is able to make it to a starting line at the Athens Olympic stadium, she will have run in her seventh Olympic Games. Ottey has competed in six Olympic Games, which ties the record for female track and field athletes with Lia Manoliu of Romania and Tessa Sanderson of Great Britain.

The seemingly ageless, now 44-year old Jamaican/Slovenian sprinter has had a remarkable 2004 season, competing in the indoor world championships, and just this past month running Olympic qualifying times in both the 100 and 200 meters.

Ottey first competed in the Olympic Games in 1980 in Moscow, at the age of twenty winning the bronze medal in the 200 meters. Ottey also won bronze in the 200 meters in Los Angeles, Seoul, and the silver in Atlanta.

In the 100 meters, Ottey won the Olympic bronze medal in 1984 and the silver in 1996.

Ottey has a similar record in the World Championships, winning bronze in the 100 meters in 1987 and 1991, silver in 1993 and 1995.

Ottey finally got to the top of the medals stand in the 200 meters in world championships of 1993, after winning a silver medal in the 200 in 1983, and bronze medals in 1987 and 1991. Ottey retained her World Championship gold medal in 1995, and then won another bronze in 1997.

Ottey also struck gold in the Commonwealth Games, winning the 1982 200 meters gold, and 100m silver and the gold in both the 100 and 200 meter races in 1990

Prior to her Olympic and Commonwealth achievements, Ottey won silver medals in the 100 and 200 meters in the 1979 CARIFTA Games (behind 100m winner Raymonde Naigré of Guadeloupe, and 200m winner Oralee Fowler of the Bahamas) and the 1979 Pan American Games 200 meter bronze.

After winning a slew of medals for Jamaica, Ottey switched her allegiance to Slovenia in 2002.

First Special Olympics Caribbean Games a success

July 15, 2004

The First Special Olympics Caribbean Games in Jamaica last weekend were successful, though hampered a bit by late funding problems.

The games had participants from St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Dominica the Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago and host Jamaica.

Organizer of the games Maureen Webber, co-chairperson of Special Olympics Jamaica, thanked the volunteers and committee for the games, but was disappointed that few spectators, including parents and families, showed up for the games.

Webber is hoping that these first games will lead to more editions of the games.

July 7, 2004

News reports from Jamaica claim that nation is holding a Special Olympics Caribbean Games this week, but the event is not mentioned on the calendar at the Special Olympics International web site.

Swimming, athletics, football, bocce and cricket are on the agenda with 14 nations expected to attend,

In bid news for future Special Olympics World Games, the Denver Sports Commission web site mentions that Denver is contemplating a bid for the 2009 Special Olympics Winter World Games.

The Seattle Sports Commission web site goes a step further, mentioning the possibility of bids for both the 2009 Special Olympics Winter World Games, the 2011 Special Olympics Summer World Games. 

Aug 6, 2003

After a five day visit to New Delhi, the Commonwealth Games Evaluation Committee was positive in its statements about the possibility of the city being selected as host of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.