Guatemala and El Salvador drop Central American Games

October 27, 2005

Two weeks after postponing the Central American Games, Guatemala and El Salvador have decided that they will not be able to hold the games in March 2006.

The games were to be held in December 2005, but tropical storm Stan interrupted those plans. Both the Guatemalan and El Salvadoran governments have stated that they now need to focus on recovery and do not have the resources to organize the games at this time.

Nicaragua was originally named as host of the 2005 games, but had to give up the rights in 2004.

Skeleton rider recovering after surgery

October 20, 2005

The USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation has identified the injured athlete in yesterday's accident at Calgary Olympic Park as Noelle Pikus-Pace, a world class skeleton rider who won the 2005 Skeleton World Cup and was second in the world championships.

Pikus-Pace underwent surgery in Calgary.  A titanium rod was inserted in her lower right leg to stabilize a broken tibia and fibula.

Noelle's husband and mother traveled from Utah to be with her.

Via USA Bobsled and Skeleton Pikus-Pace released a statement saying. “I’m feeling great and I want to stay positive. This is not the end and I’m looking forward to coming back,” said Noelle from her hospital room. “All things happen for a reason and I’m still smiling and having a good time despite the circumstances. I’m trying to make the best of it. I would also like to thank my family, the USOC, the USBSF, and Speedo for offering their support and assistance through this tough situation. I am so blessed that only my leg was broken. It could have been much worse. I would also like to say that I understand the dangerous aspects of this sport and have no hard feelings towards the men’s bobsled team about what happened.”

Accident at Canada Olympic Park

October 19, 2005 1:15 pm

Daniel Bell in Calgary

United States bobsled and skeleton athletes, training in Calgary at Canada Olympic Park were involved in a serious accident this afternoon at 12:33 Calgary time.

Bobsledders and skeleton/luge athletes were taking turns using the track. Two female skeleton riders had finished their runs and were standing at the end of the track when a male bobsled team came through and finished the run. Other US team members on the side of the track screamed "Brakes!, Brakes! Brakes!" The bobsled went out of sight and a horrifying bang was heard.

The bobsled came through the finish line fast enough to carry it completely off the end of the track, leaving scrape marks on the asphalt some 70 feet from the end of the ice chute.

The female skeleton or luge rider was attempting to retrieve her skeleton/luge from the track but was not able to get out of the way in time. She lay mostly motionless for 20 minutes until ambulances arrived.

Edmonton is Canada's Choice for Universiade Bid

October 18, 2005

Edmonton, Alberta has been selected by Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) as Canada's candidate city for the 2011 Summer University Games. Canada will forego a bid for the 2011 Winter University Games, leaving a proposed bid from Calgary out in the cold.

Jean-Guy Ouellette, Chair of the CIS International Committee said, “the CIS Board was presented with two outstanding bids from both Calgary and Edmonton. It was a difficult decision to select one city to continue in the bid process with, as we were confident that both communities had the experience and capacity to deliver an outstanding set of Games.”

Edmonton hosted the summer university games in 1983, but has never hosted a winter world university games.

The Edmonton proposal will focus on renewing the facilities from the 1983 games.

June 2006 is the deadline for all cities to bid for the games. FISU is scheduled to choose hosts for both the 2011 summer and winter Universiades in January 2007.

Cayman Islands out, Isle of Wight in Island Games race

October 12, 2005

The Cayman Islands have dropped out of the race to win the bid for the 2011 Island Games, citing a need to continue rebuilding from the damage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

However, the Isle of Wight has now joined the race, with both the Isle of Wight and Bermuda presenting letters of intent to bid to the Island Games Association this week.

Both Islands will now have three months to prepare their bid documentation.

The host selection is scheduled for July 2006 in Rhodes, host of the 2007 games.

Aussie marathoner Steve Monaghetti named Commonwealth Games village Mayor

October 11, 2005

Australian Olympian Steve Monaghetti will be mayor of Melbourne's Commonwealth Games village for the 2006 Games.

Monaghetti is one of the few athletes to own a complete set of Commonwealth Games medals in a single event, having won the Commonwealth Marathon bronze in 1986, Commonwealth Silver in 1990 and the Commonwealth marathon Gold medal in 1994.

Monaghetti will live at the Commonwealth Game village with 6000 athletes during the Games.

Monaghetti currently serves as chairman of the board of the Victorian Institute of Sport.

Central American Games moved to March 2006

October 10, 2005

The Organizacion Deportivos Centroamericanos (ORDECA) has accepted the request from Guatemala and El Salvador to postpone the Central American Games scheduled for this year.  New dates for the games have been preliminarily set as March 3-12.

The move tightens up a busy schedule, with the Central American and Caribbean Games already scheduled for July of 2006, and the march dates overlapping a bit with the Winter Paralympic Games and occurring just before the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, though there should be no participation conflicts between the competitions.

Central American Games in danger of postponement.

October 9, 2005

Officials in both Guatemala and El Salvador will ask ORDECA tomorrow to postpone the upcoming Central American Games due to the damage and death from tropical storm Stan.

The games were due to begin in December, but the severs storm damage and loss off life will shift the priorities to rescue and restoration efforts.

ORDECA had earlier dismissed a proposal that Guatemala and El Salvador both hold events for the games, but since had reversed that decision.

Roundup of Games Bids and Future Games around the world

October 1, 2005

Asian Games

North and South Korea announced in June of this year a preliminary joint bid for the 2014 Asian Games with Incheon and Pyongyang the candidate cities. It isn't known if this will be allowed by the OCA.

Any Korean bid, joint or separate, will get strong competition from India, which has presented Delhi as a candidate.

Dubai's rumored candidacy lasted all of one day when Ebrahim Abdul Malek, General Secretary of the UAE National Olympic Committee stated "We will send a letter to the President of the OCA, Shaikh Ahmad Al Fahd Al Sabah, stating our concern over the false reports which have spread regarding Dubai's intention to host the 2014 Asian Games."

Prince Faisal bin Hussein of Jordan announced a possible bid by Jordan in August of 2004, but the bid has not progressed.

A suggestion by Taipei City Government spokesman Jack Yu for Taipei to bid also never developed.

Vietnamese news sources also reported the possibility of Vietnam launching a bid, but there are no reports of Vietnam filing a candidature prior to the deadline.

Korea, India, Jordan, and Vietnam did file letters of intent to bid before the March 31 deadline set by the OCA, but June 30, 2005 was the deadline to submit official bids to the OCA.

Korea and India look to be the most serious candidates.

2010 Host: Guangzhou, China

Asian Winter Games

Almaty, Kazakhstan, along with announcing a bid for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games also plans to bid for the 2011 Asian Winter Games.

2007 Host: Changchung, China

Commonwealth Games

Cape Town, South Africa has dropped out of the running for the 2014 Commonwealth games in deference to the other African candidate city, Abuja, Nigeria, which is still proclaiming that it will lobby hard for the games.

The Welsh Assembly Government has not yet decided to back a possible bid from Cardiff.

Earlier bid mentions from Singapore, Sheffield, England and Wellington, New Zealand have not developed.

Glasgow was chosen over Edinburgh as Scotland's bid city and is considered to be a strong candidate.

Five cities in Canada are still in the running to be named as Canada's nominee for the 2014 Commonwealth Games race; Calgary, Halifax, Hamilton, Ottawa and the York Region.

Very recently the mayor of Gold Coast, Australia mentioned a bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. This might prove somewhat difficult with Australia hosting the 2006 games.

2006 Host: Melbourne, Australia

2010 Host: Delhi, India

East Asian Games

Taipei City Government spokesman Jack Yu wants Taiwan to bid for the 2013 East Asian Games and Mongolia's NOC President mentioned in May of this year, an interest in having Mongolia bid for the 2013 East Asian Games.

2005 Host: Macau

2009 Host: Hong Kong

European Youth Olympic Festivals

Candidates for the 2011 European Youth Olympic festivals will be announced at European Olympic Committee (EOC) meetings on Dec. 5, 2005.

2007 Hosts: Summer -Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. Winter - Jaca, Spain.

2009 Hosts: Summer -Tampere, Finland. Winter - Wisla/Szczyrk, Poland.

Francophone Games

The Socialist party of Belgium has suggested that Belgium pursue the 2013 Francophone Games.

2005 Host: Niamey, Niger

2009 Beirut, Lebanon

Gay Games

Johannesburg, Cologne and Paris are all still being evaluated as possible hosts for the 2010 Gay Games.

2006 Host: Chicago, USA

Islamic Solidarity Games

It was previously announced that the 2009 games will be held in Iran and the 2013 games in Syria. New announcements indicate that the bid for the 2013 games might still be open, with Syria and Pakistan possible hosts.

2009 Host: Iran

Island Games

Bermuda and the Cayman Islands both announced this summer that they would be interested in hosting the 2011 Island Games.

If either is successful, it would be the first Island Games held outside of Europe. The Orkney islands have mentioned a possible bid in 2013.

2007 Host: Rhodes, Greece

2009 Host: Aland, Finland

Mediterranean Games

Thessaloniki, Greece and Mersin, Turkey are the only two cities known to have expressed interest in the 2013 Mediterranean Games to date.

2009 Host: Pescara, Italy

Outgames

If the splintering between the Outgames and the Gay Games continues, and this looks likely, there will be bids for the 2013 and 2017 Outgames.

At the time of the announcement of Copenhagen as the 2009 Outgames host city, Manchester, England, and Sao Paulo, Brazil announced their intention to bid for the 2013 Outgames. Berlin may also be preparing a bid for 2017 Outgames.

2009 Host: Copenhagen, Denmark

Pan American Games

Guadalajara, Mexico is now considered to be the only viable candidate for the 2011 Pan American games. San Antonio, Texas, showed no interest in pursuing the games after losing the 2007 bid.

2007 Host: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Special Olympics World Games

India, Cairo and Rio de Janeiro are in the race for the 2011 Special Olympics World Games according to Special Olympics sources in India.

2007 Host: Shanghai, China

World Equestrian Games

The Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, the United Arab Emirates (Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai) and Basse Normandie and the city of Caen in France are still looking to host the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

2006 Host: Aachen, Germany

World Games

It was previously announced that bidding for the 2013 World Games would begin in 2008. The IWGA has now moved this up to June 2006. Still no bidders announced.

2009 Host: Kaoshiung, Taiwan

World Masters Games

Civic groups in Vancouver BC Canada (SportHost) and Montreal (Internationaux du sport Montreal) have both explored the possibility of bidding for the 2013 World Masters Games.

2009 Host: Sydney, Australia

World University Games

Montreal has officially declined to bid for the 2011 World University games. Canada is putting forward Edmonton as its 2011 Candidate.

Shenzen, China announced in January of this year that it is a very serious candidate for the games.

Taipei has previously made brief mentions of interest, most recently at the 2005 Universiade in August.

Portugal also mentioned that it is exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2011 games, just prior to sending it's delegation to Turkey for the 2005 games. A Universiade for Portugal would be by far the largest international multisport competition ever staged in Portugal. Portugal held the European Youth Olympic Festival in 1997.

Early on, Germany talked of putting forward Leipzig as a candidate and has talked to all of the cities that were candidates for the 2012 Olympic games, and Munich.

Utrecht, Holland has been briefly mentioned, but these suggestions seem to have developed into serious consideration.

Bristol, England has been mentioned in passing and Belfast, Northern Ireland has put forth the idea of going for the 2011 or 2013 Universiade.

2007 Host: Bangkok, Thailand

Winter World University Games

Erzurum Turkey, which lost to Harbin for the 2009 University Games, has decided to run for the 2011 Winter Universiade. Calgary is a possible nominee from Canada according to the Edmonton Sun. 

2007 Host: Turin, Italy

2009 Host: Harbin, China

World Police and Fire Games 

City sources in Fairfax, Virginia are looking at the opportunity for Fairfax County to bid for the World Police and Fire Games in 2013. 

World Transplant Games 

Gold Coast , Australia seems to be the main city interested in hosting the 2009 World Transplant Games.