News

• Shamil Tarpishchev referred to ‘Williams brothers’ on TV

• ‘I did not want to cause any offence or make fun’

The Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) president, Shamil Tarpishchev, has officially apologised for making an inappropriate comment about the Williams sisters on state television.

Appearing on a chat show, the programme host said: “I was at the Olympics, where Maria Sharapova was in the final, playing with one, with one of the …”

Tarpishchev responded by saying “Williams brothers”.

The Women’s Tennis Federation fined him $25,000 and demanded a personal apology as well as disqualifying him for a year from working in an organisational capacity.

“Serena and Venus [Williams] are without doubt top sportswomen and they have played tennis to the highest possible level, perhaps even a different level,” Tarpishchev said in a statement on the RTF website.

“The Williams sisters will always stand out on the tour, as they do in the sport thanks to their talent and successes. They have managed to set new standards and results that will become the new benchmark for other players.”

“My comments were spontaneous and happened after we went live on the Evening with Urgant show and they not only put tennis in a bad light, but also drives a wedge into the strong and friendly tennis family within our sport,” Tarpishchev added.

“I did not want to cause any offence or make fun of any of the sportsmen. I am sorry that the joke I made, when translated into English was taken out of the context of a chat show and so much attention has been brought towards it.

“I don’t think that the incident needed to be blown out of proportion. Everything that was said on the TV show was said without meaning to cause offence.”

Tarpishchev is also an International Olympic Committee member.

American Serena Williams, 33, is the current world number one and has won 18 grand slam singles titles.

The 34-year-old Venus, a former world number one, has seven grand slam singles titles to her name.

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Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis is one of two new members on the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Board for the 2014-2018 term.

Lewis said its a privilege and honour to be elected to serve on the CANOC board .

" I  look forward to working with my fellow Board members.  The Board  of CANOC are stewards of the interest of the organisation. CANOC doesn't belong to the directors we hold it in trust for the members. We have to at all times act in the organisation's interest rather than self interest ".

Lewis  had been nominated by the TTOC to contest for the post of Chairman .

The CANOC constitution requires the General Assembly to elect the 7 Board members and after their election the Board members meet and decide on who will serve as chairman, secretary and treasurer.

Lewis said the Board members agreed to allow the incumbent chairman  Steve Stoute (Barbados)  to retain the position for the first two years of the four year term .

"After some robust discussion we arrived at a consensus position that was acceptable to all 7 members. We all gave our word to honour what we agreed."

The other newcomer to the CANOC Board is Alphonso Bridgewater - President of the St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee.

Keith Joesph (St Vincent and the Grenadines)  takes over as Secretary General . Joseph replaced Senator Elton Prescott (Trinidad and Tobago) who did not seek reelection. Don Anderson (Jamaica) also didn't seek re election.

Alfred Emmanuel (St Lucia) retained his position as Treasurer, Donald McClean (Cayman Islands) and Angel Morales (US Virgin Islands), Stoute  and Joseph were the other incumbents  reelected to the CANOC Board.

Remembering Edwin Roberts’ Olympic first

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Randy Waldrum expects this evening’s FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Haiti to be a gruelling encounter. But, he believes this country has what it takes to pull off the result which will keep them alive in their bid to qualify for the next year’s World Cup, to be played in Canada.

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee said a communication mix-up led to the statements from American coach of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s football team Randy Waldrum pleading for assistance Wednesday.

Tim Kee said Waldrum apologised in a written letter yesterday but Tim Kee said the damage was already done in terms of the public outrage and embarrassment to the nation.

But Tim Kee said the social media outburst of the coach was a symptom of some of the malaise at the organisational structure of the TTFA.

At a press conference at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday, Tim Kee outlined a previous situation where the technical staff, including coach Waldrum, had endorsed the Petrotrin facilities for a training camp for the senior women only for Waldrum to use social media to express his disapproval a few days later.

Tim Kee said Waldrum had issued a letter of apology to Petrotrin and the TTFA then too

“So when I saw that communique from the coach,  I said  ‘oh my God! I  hope it is not same thing that happened before and this letter he (Waldrum) wrote this morning (yesterday)  confirms that,” said Tim Kee

“I am not here to pass blame, but I thought the national community and all who was listening should have an appreciation of the facts.

Tim Kee apologised for the shame and pain caused.

“No amount of excuses or  reasons or  explanations  could erase what happened yesterday (Wednesday)  because of what you call an emotional disturbance,”

But Tim Kee said the players had an excellent training session Wednesday afternoon,  there is no complaint of discomfort  and they are eagerly and excitedly awaiting  the start of the competition on October 15.

Tim Kee advised that the US $500 was indeed given to the players for ground transport and meals with the knowledge that more money was on the way.

The Ministry of Sport yesterday stepped in to issue $250,000 to supplement the team’s preparations.

“He (Waldrum) should have been communicated with, that is something there is no pardon or forgiveness for from the administration, it is unpardonable, so when the coach saw the players and in conversation learnt they only had 300 and made statements, I can’t blame him,” Tim Kee said. “I am not blaming the coach, perhaps before he went there (social media),  he should have called here (TTFA).”

Tim Kee said the breakdown in communication was  a symptom of a bigger problem of governance and structure.

“The governance and structure of the  organisation is faulty,” Tim Kee said, adding that is why he mandated a reform commission headed by Raoul John of KPMG.

He said some of the major reforms to come out of the process would be  one club one  vote and the inclusion of three independent professionals on the executive.

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Following is a statement released yesterday by the Minsitry of sport regarding the financial assistance being given to the national women’s football team:
“With regard to the participation of the national senior women’s team in the final round of World Cup 2015 qualification, the official request and accompanying documentation from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) was only received at the office of Minister of Sport, Dr the Honourable Rupert Griffith late Tuesday afternoon at 3.30 p.m. Minister Griffith dispatched copies of the correspondence and supporting documents to officials at the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company who immediately began the necessary processing to facilitate payments.
Earlier today (Wednesday), TTFA General Secretary Sheldon Phillips received an initial payment of TT$250,000.00 from the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company will continue to work with the TTFA in order to expedite the additional payments associated with the team’s World Cup qualification campaign. The total request from the TTFA for the campaign is TT$873,118.67 (US$137,715.88).
The Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company remain committed to providing the necessary support to national athletes and teams but remind National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) that the timely submission of documentation is critical to facilitate the necessary oversight, protocols and procedures associated with the release of state funds.”

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The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) has told National Sport Organizations (NSOs) that the TTOC's fitness standards, criteria and process will not be compromised.

The TTOC communicated its policy and process to all NSOs since last year and way in advance of 2014 Commonwealth and Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC).

Transparency is an important aspect of the TTOC's selection process.

On Saturday 11th October at 9am the TTOC will stage the final Beep Test at the Jean Pierre Indoor facility in Port of Spain.

The TTOC communicated in writing and at meetings since last year the required beep test standards and the dates for the Beep Test.

The TTOC , the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago Elite Development Unit and Michael Johnson Performance Centre has worked together since May this year to ensure that in particular Team Sports and locally based athletes desirous of qualifying and participating at the Commonwealth Games, Youth Olympic Games and Central American and Caribbean( CAC) Games had the sport science based support, advice and programmes to address any shortcomings or deficiencies.

Annette Knott, TTOC secretary general and Chef de Mission for the upcoming CAC Games said the TTOC will not tolerate or accept any attempt by NSOs  to compromise or subvert the fitness and selection policy or process .

"None of the NSOs can say that they don't know what is the policy or standard. Once an event is under the TTOC we stand by our selection process."

The TTOC has to submit the Trinidad and Tobago delegation list to CAC Games officials by Tuesday 14th October  Saturday's test is the final opportunity for athletes and Team Sports to meet the fitness standard.

The TTOC General Council will convene on Friday 10th October at Olympic House to receive and  consider  the recommendations of the Executive Committee in respect of the proposed CAC Games delegation.