Month of March will continue busy International Games schedule

February 28, 2006

The Torino Olympic Winter Games are mostly in the history books, now the attention turns quickly to the Commonwealth Games from Melbourne, and several other games.

First, however, the Central American Games from March 3-12 (not to be confused with the Central American and Caribbean Games to be held in Columbia in July).  The games will be held in a unique multi-nation venue format, with events spread out among six of the seven participating nations.  This rescue plan for the games came about when Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador all had to cancel hosting the games on their own due to various financial reasons and the effects of tropical storm Stan.  The decision to hold the games in several nations was made just four months ago, organization has been rough, so it will be interesting to watch these games in the next two weeks. more

Also beginning at the end of this week are the Arctic Winter Games (March 5-11) from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska,  the 19th edition of these games held every two years, that continue to grow with each edition.

Turin welcomes the second batch of athletes this year with the Winter Paralympic Games,  March 10-19.  

The Commonwealth Games open March 15th in Melbourne and run until the 26th.

The month will close with the first ever Special Olympics Latin American Games in El Salvador from March 25 - April 2. Though El Salvador had to cancel hosting of the Central American Games, the organization of these games was retained. 

Deaflympics bids to be evaluated next month

February 25, 2006

In October of last year, International Committee of Sports for the Deaf president Donalda Ammons implored cities to consider bidding for the 2013 Summer Deaflympics.  At the time no cities had formally bid. 

As of last month, Ammons wrote that four cities have now expressed interest in hosting the games. Formal bids are being prepared which will be evaluated by the executive committee for the organization at meetings in Salt Lake City next month. Possibile bids may include London and Munich.    

Salt Lake City will be hosting the Winter Deaflympics in 2007.

Supporters revive Micronesian Games

February 24, 2006

A wave of support and a flurry of activity among sports federation leaders and businesses in Saipan, has convinced the Northern Mariana's governor to reconsider his cancellation of the games.

Governor Benigno Fitial has announced that based on budget figures given to him this week, Saipan will go forward with hosting the Micronesian Games this summer. Most of the support and financing for the games will now come from the business sector and private sources. Organizers will also be requesting help from the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC). The government will provide resources such as support for venue and security, but no direct monetary backing.

In addition, Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association Chairman Michael White will now become Chair of the organizing Committee, taking over from Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Daisy Villagomez-Bier. Villagomez-Bier told the Saipan Tribune that the NMASA chair was the “rightful position” for the games head.

Governor Fitial has communicated with Micronesian Games Council president William Keldermans about his reversal Earlier in the week Keldermans had stated that if the Northern Marianas did not host the games, they would be canceled entirely, and not other country would be able to host on short notice.

There will be changes. The games have been shortened four days, to save money. The games are now planned to run from June 23rd to July 3. They had been planned to run to July 7th.

Along with the new financial plan, the organizers have proposed that events for disabled athletes be included in the games, with the Council on Developmental Disabilities, supplying the funds for those events.

Can a Nigerian Commonwealth Games bid be sustained?

(Commentary – Daniel Bell)

February 22, 2006

It has to have been a tremendously difficult week for any supporters of Nigeria’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Among the recent difficulties:

            -a separatist movement in the south has kidnapped several foreign oil industry workers  including citizens of the United States, Egypt, Thailand,  England, Honduras, Bulgaria and the Philippines.

-several oil industry targets, including pipelines and boats, have been attacked over the past number of days causing a 20 percent decrease in oil production.

            -the ongoing crisis in several countries over the publication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed erupted with violence in Nigeria with dozens killed across northern Nigeria.

            -additional sectarian violence has continued with riots in numerous Nigerian cities, with factions from both the Muslim and Christian populations burning churches and mosques. Thousands have reportedly been displaced from their homes.

            -a constitutional dispute is brewing, over the possibility of allowing the current president Olusegun Obasanjo  to run for a third presidential term.

            -Since Obasanjo was elected, in 1999, several ethnic militias have been established, among them the Odua Peoples Congress, (OPC), the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB), the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, (MEND), with goals of overthrowing the government, or simply fighting other ethnic groups.       

If that were not enough, U.N. authorities have warned of a possible widespread outbreak of bird flu, which has already been found in six of the nations states.

It is difficult to imagine Nigeria having any true hope at winning the bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games given the current state of these many affairs in the nation.

Nigeria is hoping the land the games, as 2014 represents the centennial year of the establishment of the modern state of Nigeria.

Nigeria hosted the 2003 African Games and has been pointing to those games as an example that the nation can host large events.  The 2003 African Games however, suffered more than their share of organizational problems and controversies, and are not likely to be looked at as a model for organizing any successful future games.

Bid for 2007 Arab Games reopened

February 21, 2006

The 2007 Arab Games are up for bid again, and as is the normal pattern in many of these instances, there has been no public disclosure as to why Libya will not be holding the games. Libya was awarded the rights to the games at the end of the last games in 2004 in Algeria.

Egypt, Syria and Lebanon have now applied to host the games. The Arab League has set up a commission which has already visited and evaluated the cities.

Plans are reportedly still in place to hold the games in 2007.

Zambia building for 2011 African Games

February 21, 2006

Zambia is working on plans to create stadium complexes in three cities, Lusaka, Ndola, and Livingstone as preparations begin for the 2011 African Games.

The government of Zambia has admitted that it does not have the money to build new stadia, and is looking for private and corporate support. Bids for the stadium contracts are being taken up until March 31st of this year.

Preliminary plans state that the stadium facilities will hold venues for numerous sports, both indoor and outdoor, and also contain restaurants, hotels and shopping.

Micronesian games hopes still alive in Saipan

February 20, 2006

Sports federation officials, athletes and other supporters of hosting the 2006 Micronesian Games in Saipan, are working hard to convince the Northern Mariana's government to change their minds regarding hosting the games.

One week after the government announced they could not host the games, Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association president Michael White organized a march with athletes and parents carrying sings in support of the games to the government capital building and was able to speak with Governor Benigno Fitial. Fitial said that he would give the games organizing committee and supporters one week to come up with a plan that would pay for the games. That deadline is Friday, February 24th.

At issue is whether the games venues, housing, security and other costs will outweigh the benefits of serving as host, and whether the economic impact of the games will offset the costs. Government representatives have come down on both sides of the question.

Northern Marianas Senator Luis Crisostimo, four days after the cancellation was announced by Governor Fitial, filed a resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 15-03) calling for the cancellation to be reversed. 

Crisostimo expressed hope that, with the upgrades in sports facilities, that nations training for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games would come to Saipan to train.

Adding to the puzzle, both Guam and Palau have been contacted about serving as alternate hosts, but neither has announced that they would be able to host the games. Governor Fitial wants to wait until Palau makes a decision, and for the new budget proposal later this week, before making a decision that the Northern Marianas can still host the games.

Micronesian Games Committee president Bill Keldermans has said that they are still hoping the games can be held in 2006. 

Micronesian Games in limbo

February 13, 2006

A flurry of decisions over the past several days has left the future of the 2006 Micronesian Games undecided, according to news reports in the Saipan Times.

On Friday, February 10th, new Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands Governor Benigno Fitial and Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Daisy Villagomez-Bier announced to a crowd of press and athlete federation leaders that the games would be cancelled.

The Governor and Secretary cited delays in planning and lack of funds for the games as reasons for cancellation, stating that 85% of tasks that should have been completed, hove not been done.

Fitial became governor on January 9th of this year. Villagomez-Bier was named as Chair of the Micronesian Games Organizing Committee on January 20, 2006. She included as part of her reasoning to cancel that games the slow progress in planning that had been made since last August when the Marianas agreed to host the games.

The Commonwealth was always in a tight sport in organizing the games, having taken over organizational duties at the end of August 2005, after the island of Yap decided they could no longer afford to host the games. That gave the Northern Marianas a mere ten months to pull the games together.

Several sports authorities and legislators are angry at the decision, and would like to see it overturned.

The sports federations now have to raise funds to travel, perhaps to Palau or Guam, but no one knows for sure. The games could be cancelled entirely.

Some legislators argued that the economic impact of the games would more than offset the costs of the games, and the games would be good for the CNMI economy, and might try to have the decision quickly reversed.

The announcement came as a large shock to most in the sports community, who had been busy training athletes, naming coaches, and working out eligibility issues and deciding which sports to be included in the games, right up until the time of the announcement.

2006 Micronesian Games Timeline

February 10, 2006, Governor Benigno Fitial and Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Daisy Villagomez-Bier announce that the CNMI will not host the 2006 Micronesian Games.

January 23, 2006, Governor Benigno Fitial says the government does not have money for the games, but the government is still working to host the games.

January 20, 2006, Daisy Villagomez-Bier the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary named Chair of the games organizing committee. Government Finance Department has concerns about the availability of funds for the games.

January 9, 2006, New Governor Benigno R. Fitial takes office.

December 27, 2005, Oceania Athletics Association plans a week of training for officials preparing for the Games.

December 14, 2005, Governor Juan N. Babauta has approves $500,000 for the construction of grandstands at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field and the Miguel Basa Softball Field.

October 21, 2005, The Marianas Public Lands Trust is looked at as a possible source for the other fifty percent of the games finding.

October 19, 2005, The Commonwealth Development Authority says it will loan $2.9 million, half the games budget.

September 8, 2005, Micronesian Games Organizing Committee awards the 2006 Micronesian Games to the CNMI.

August 28, 2005, CNMI and Governor. Juan N. Babauta sign letters officially announcing CNMI's intent to host the Games.

July 28, 2005, After Yap gives up the right to host the games, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands says it is willing to host the games in June 2006.

March 15, 2005, Reporting to the National Olympic Committee of the Federated States of Micronesia, games organizers state that the typhoon has slowed plans, but they intend to have venues ready by March 2006, and hold the games on Yap in July 2006.

April 9, 2004, Typhoon Sudal hits Yap, destroying 80 percent of all buildings and houses on the island

August 2002, Yap given the rights to host the 2006 Micronesian Games. Games include Chuuk, CNMI, Guam, Kiribati, Kosrae, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Pohnpei and Yap.

AWG budget picture might not be so rosy after all

February 13, 2006

Last month organizers of the Arctic Winter Games were very pleased to learn that Alaska Senator Ted Stevens had found a way to include $500,000 to the defense appropriations bill, earmarked for security and communications for the 2006 Arctic Winter Games.

Now however organizers are not quite sure how this money will work.

Soldotna Mayor Dave Carey told the Kenai Peninsula Online newspaper "We found out on Friday that the $500,000 coming to the Arctic Winter Games from (the Department of Defense) was to be used to reimburse DOD."

The Department of Defense is helping with security for the games. The half a million dollars is evidently to pay for that security, not on top of that security being provided.

Sarajevo cancels hosting of 2009 Special Olympic Winter World Games

February 12, 2006

Special Olympics organizers in Bosnia and Herzegovina have announced that Sarajevo will not be hosting the 2009 Special Olympics Winter World Games.

Sarajevo was awarded the games in March of 2005, during the last Winter Games in Nagano.

The news was known by Special Olympics International in December, but not made public or published on their web site. 

News sources in Idaho have announced that Boise, Idaho, at first interested in a run at the 2013 games, are now very interested in bidding for the 2013 games. 

According to the Idaho Statesman local Idaho Special Olympics supporters Jim and Pirie Grossman were interested in proposing a 2013 World Games bid when they ran into Maria Shriver at a Christmas party in Sun Valley.  Shriver broke the news that Bosnia and Herzegovina had recently dropped out as hosts, and suggested that Idaho look at the possibility of bidding for the 2009 games.

Special Olympics officials were in Boise in late January evaluating venues.

The Idaho Statesman has reported that there may be bids from Poland, Germany, and possibly, the Reno, Lake Tahoe region in Nevada, hosts of the 1989 games. 

Bid proposals must be ready by March 3rd, and the new host is scheduled to be chosen by the end of May. 

Australian Aborigines planning large Melbourne protest

February 9, 2006

On the day of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, Australian Aborigines are planning to continue their protests of the games, which they have taken to calling the "Stolenwealth Games."

The protest is planned to happen in central Melbourne, and is being initiated by the group "Black GST." GST, which usually stands for Goods and Services Tax, in this context stands for "Genocide to be stopped, Sovereignty to be restored, Treaty to be made."

Organizers are expecting visitors from all over Australia, and around the world to join in the protest which will end in a mass convergence camp. Government sources are attempting to assist to make the protests peaceful.

Their have also been protests related to the Commonwealth Games Queen's baton relay, though Commonwealth Games organizers have included Australians of aboriginal descent all along the torch route.

Aboriginal Commonwealth and Olympic Games Champion Cathy Freeman was, with Elle Macpherson, the first runner to carry the baton from Buckingham Palace when the baton relay began on March 14, of 2005.

On the day the torch first arrived in Sydney, Aboriginal leaders held a welcoming ceremony for the torch. Similar ceremonies have been held at other places along the route and aboriginal runners have carried the baton.

The last Commonwealth Games held in Australia, the 1982 games from Brisbane, were also met with aboriginal protests.

United States Government suspends travel restrictions for Gay Games

February 8, 2006

The United States federal government has granted "Designated Event Status" to this summers' Gay Games in Chicago, meaning that for the period of July 8-28, 2006, persons traveling to the games will not have to disclose their HIV status before entering the country.

Since 1993 the United States has required that people with HIV disclose their status before entering the United States.

Gay Games organizers have worked since the time the games were pulled from Montreal and awarded to Chicago to gain the waiver.  Montreal is hosting its own games, the Outgames, and has used the restrictions in their marketing strategy, telling potential participants that Canada has no such restrictions and will be easier to get to.

New York was granted the "Designated Event Status" for the Gay Games in 1994, but just a few weeks before the games.  Chicago organizers are hoping that the sixth month advance notice will increase participation.

World Equestrian Games planning a name change

February 8, 2006

Jim Jordan of the Lexington Herald Leader, while reporting on the visit to Lexington by Michael Stone, the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) sports director, quoted Mr. Stone as saying that the name "World Equestrian Games" may be changed to something else. 

Stone reportedly said a new name would be chosen in a few months after more meetings by FEI executives.

Former Kentucky state commerce Secretary Jim Host, now chairman of World Games 2010 Foundation Inc. said "We will announce that (new name) when we are prepared to do it,"

However, on December 6 2005, the FEI circulated the Press Release announcing Kentucky as the 2010 winner and the note "To clarify the ownership of the FEI World Equestrian Games and to establish an impacting long term brand structure, a new identity has been unveiled: the “FEI Games”. This new brand will be understood by all and improve the 
marketability of the most prestigious property of the FEI portfolio. 

More women in 2008? (Commentary) 

February 7, 2006


The International Olympic Committee released news today saying that the IOC executive board has approved places for more women to participate in the summer Olympic Games and that the number of women in the games continues to grow, bringing the IOC closer to gender equity.

However, the announcement also stated that with the addition of four women in modern pentathlon, four men's places would be added. With the addition of two more women's places in taekwondo, two more men would be added, and so on. Triathlon (five men, five women), BMX cycling (ten women, ten men). The announcement noted prior gains in women's soccer, field hockey and volleyball. 

IOC spokesperson Giselle Davies was quoted saying "We are getting closer to the 50-50 ratio in Beijing."

But wait one calculating minute....... How does adding equal numbers of men and women bring the IOC "closer to the 50-50 ratio?" It does, minutely, and at a rate that would take decades to reach equity. 

The notice stated that 42% of the 10,500 athletes in Athens were women, that's 4410 women, and 6090 men. The notice also pointed out that and that there will be places for 128 more females to compete in Beijing than competed in Athens. 

If we start with 4410 women and 6090 men, assume the total will stay the same at 10,500 and add 128 women's places each games (subtracting 128 men on each occasion) it would take until 2032 to reach equity. At that point the women would surpass the men by over 100 participants.

However, the more curious proposition is how do the women make up those 1680 spots if every time five women's spots are created, five men's spots are also created, the situation described in the announcement? In this scenario, mathematically, the women would never reach a true 50-50 mark. 

The table below shows how adding equal numbers of men and women would mean that the games would have to eventually have about 88,500 participants in order for women to reach 49% participation. And no one is suggesting the games ever grow that large. 

If male and female participation are added at the same rate- 

42% of 10,500 (the figure stated in the announcement) 

4,410  6,090 = 10,500 42% 

5,410  7,090 = 12,500 43.2 %

8,410 10,090 = 18,500 45.5 %

18,410 20,090 = 38,500 47.8 %

23,410 25,090 = 48,500 48.2 %

28,410 30,090 = 58,500 48.6%

33,410 35,090 = 68,500 48.8 %

38,410 40,090 = 78,500 48.9 %

43,410 45,090 = 88,500 49.05 %

However, there is talk of dropping boxing all together, which would reduce the number of men participating in the games. 

If a 50-50 ratio is the goal, while at the same time not expanding the games, then reducing the number of male participants will eventually have to be part of the equation. 

SEA Games medals may change slightly

February 2, 2006

A banned diuretic in some herbal tea is being blamed for a positive drug test for a female Philippine taekwondo winner from December's SEA Games.

The second test has yet to be confirmed. The athlete has admitted to using the tea in attempt to meet weight requirements.

February 2006, Olympic Winter Games and more

February 1, 2006

Italy and New Zealand will be busy in the next two months. New Zealand hosts three Masters Games in succession, the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin, February 4-12, the South Pacific Masters Games in Hamilton, February 11-19 and in March, the Trans Tasman Masters Games in Auckland, March 11-18.

Italy of course will be busy with the Olympic Winter Games in Turin, February 10-26, and next month the Winter Paralympic Games March 10-19.

In March of 2005, Motti Tichauer, the Sports Director of the European Maccabi Confederation wrote that the Maccabi World Union was hoping to revive the tradition of the Maccabi Winter Games in February 2006. It's now February 2006. No news yet on whether the MWU has been successful at organizing any events. The games were to be held in Poland. Work continues on confirming these events.

Last month we noted the brief historical mentions of the Commonwealth Winter Games, some from coaching and athlete resumes.

Word comes from both the Commonwealth Games Federation, and the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum in Calgary, Canada that very small, and very unofficial Commonwealth Winter Games were held in St. Moritz Switzerland, in 1958, 1962 and 1966. Basically, tourists and ski enthusiasts, including the Ski Club of Great Britain, held small competitions, and informally called them the "Commonwealth Winter Games." The festivities were not sanctioned by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Paralympic TV next month

February 1, 2006

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced the launch of a web site www.paralympicsport.tv. that will carry footage of the upcoming Paralympic Games from Turin.

Coverage will be around the clock, and live on demand. The website paralympicsport.tv contains just a brief note on the future broadcasts.