International Games News

June 1998

Extreme Games

The Extreme Games ruled San Diego's streets for the second year running. The worlds best bicycle stunt riders, skateboarders, sky surfers and street lugers once again showed their stuff to a worldwide audiences on ESPN and ABC.

Next years games will not be held in San Diego. ESPN will be televising the Women's World Cup in June and has moved the timing of the Extreme Games into the first week of July. San Diego chose not to give up it's beaches for the already crowded July 4th weekend.

Can-Am Police Fire Games

Regina Saskatchewan was probably one of the safest places in the world to be the week of June 22-28, 1998. The annual games for both Police and Firefighters had for the first time participants from outside the US and Canada, with entrants from the Puerto Rico Police and a Russian Law Enforcement team. The Saskatchewan RCMP bested all other agencies by winning 123 medals.

The games feature typical sporting events and specialized events drawn from the every day Police and Fire work environments. Police officers compete in canine events with their dogs, and a motorcycle rodeo, and SWAT competition. Firefighters compete in vehicle extrication.

Two other events are unique to these games (and other police and firefighter competitions worldwide), the TCA or Toughest Competitor Alive and the TFA, Toughest Firefighter Alive. The TCA is a modified decathlon (octathlon?), which consists of a 5 kilometer run, shot put, 100m sprint, 100m swim, 20 foot rope climb, bench press, pull-up and an obstacle course. Points are awarded for performances in each event to determine a winner.

The TFA consists of four events all related to firefighting skills, which consists in part of dragging, rolling and carrying fire hoses, carrying 200 pounds of weight 200 yards, and climbing and descending flights of stairs while carrying fire hoses air bottles and other firefighting equipment. Each competitor must wear full firefighting gear while competing including a coat, helmet, and breathing gear.

This was mild compared to he final event of the TFA at the 1997 World Police and Firefighter Games in Calgary which had the competitors run over 20 flights of stairs straight up Calgary's tallest building.

Tough yes, and admittedly most civilians could not complete the tasks, but one wonders if given a choice between the TFA or an Ironman Triathlon which one the athletes would choose.

World Lithuanian Games

Valdas Adamkus the President of the Republic of Lithuania presided over the opening ceremonies of the sixth games World Lithuanian Games, in June. Over 5000 Lithuanians from around the world gathered in Kaunas for the Opening Ceremonies, then dispersed around Lithuania for competition in 18 sports, before returning to Vilnius for the games closing ceremonies.

Commonwealth Participation: Who's In? Who's Out

Malaysia has begun an all out marketing push to promote the Commonwealth Games which open September 11 in Kuala Lumpur, and are banking on the participation of star Commonwealth athletes in the Games. Some stars have said they are in, some have already announced their plans to pass the games by.

Josiah Thugwane the 1996 Atlanta Olympic marathon champion has decided to forego the games, as will Ato Boldon the reigning world 200 meter champion.

Kenya's distance stars are intending to participate in the games in full force. Daniel Komen, Kenya's 3000 meter World Record holder earned a spot on the Kenyan team, placing third in the Kenyan Trials. Earlier reports had Komen skipping the meet that would name the Commonwealth team. Other stars earning places on the Commonwealth team: Bernard Barmasai, Joseph Keter, and John Kosgei (Steeplechase), Tom Nyariki and Paul Koech (5,000) and John Kibowen in the 1500. Notable Kenyan women names to the team: Jackline Maranga (1500), and Sally Barsosio (5000)

The Australian contingent will be led by three time Commonwealth Games marathon medalist Steve Monaghetti. Monaghetti won the Bronze at the 1986 games, the Silver at the 1990 Games in Auckland, and finally reached the top of the medals stand with his gold medal win in Victoria, Canada in 1994. Cathy Freeman who won both the 200 and 400 meters in Victoria will return to defend her championships. Emma George, the world record holding pole vaulter will headline the first ever women's Pole Vault at the Commonwealth Games.

Cricket, in the games for the very first time, has been affected by other international events which have weakened the field. India's will send a team but her best squad will compete in the Sahara Cup in Toronto during the same time as the Commonwealth Games. The Sahara cup pays each team $500,000 dollars, while the Commonwealth Games pay nothing. Pakistan and South Africa are sending their second teams to the Commonwealth Games and England has also decided not to send a team at all.

The largest entries of the games have been England with 370 athletes, Australia with 335, and Canada with 277. Host Malaysia has entered 245 competitors in the games.

Games Coming Next Month

The World Youth Games for athletes under 18 years of age open in Moscow July 12, and close on July 19th, the same day the 4th Goodwill Games Open in New York City.

last update 11/02/03