Fiji and South Africa both secured qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by reaching the quarter-finals of the eighth HSBC Sevens World Series event of the season at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.
The two sides will now meet in a mouthwatering last eight clash tomorrow after the Blitzboks, who currently lead the overall Series, could only finish second in their pool following a pulsating 24-19 defeat to New Zealand.
“It’s a big moment for us,” South Africa’s Frankie Horne said.
“We are very privileged to have made it this far.
“We have worked hard this season to qualify and it’s an historical event for the game of sevens to be in the Olympics.
“We thoroughly deserve it but it’s a great privilege and a great honour for us to be there and represent the game of sevens"
Fiji, currently ranked second on the overall leaderboard, enjoyed a more successful day as they topped their pool with a 100 per cent record, a feat matched only by the All-Blacks.
By virtue of Scotland’s 12-7 victory over Wales, which saw the hosts reach the Cup competition quarter-finals, the Fijians also secured their vital Olympic qualification berth.
New Zealand’s dominant performance on the opening day ensures they will face Scotland in the quarter-finals after they topped Pool B, adding to their superb win over the Series leaders by beating Kenya and Samoa.
The other last eight contest sees England, victorious at the last Series event in Tokyo, entertain Canada, while Australia face the United States.
On what was an enthralling day of action, the South African side managed to achieve one of the principal aims of the Sevens World Series as they became the first team to seal their Rio 2016 spot.
Attention for them now turns to the Sevens World Series overall title with this season’s competition set to provide one of the most dramatic finales in the history of the sport.
The top three teams - South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand - are all separated by just nine points, meaning the Glasgow event could have a big say in the destination of the Sevens World Series crown.
The event in the Scottish capital concludes tomorrow with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
AOC President accuses Australian Senate of failing to support battle against doping
Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President John Coates has accused the Australian Senate of a lack of support in their battle to tackle doping in sport in the country.
Speaking at the AOC Annual General Meeting in Sydney today, Coates feels the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has been left with its “hands tied behind its back” after the Senate rejected an ASADA Amendment Bill in 2013.
The Bill attempted to introduce coercive powers, whereby athletes are required to attend interviews to answer questions, give information and produce documents regarding doping, even if it may lead to self-incrimination.
Despite the Bill being turned down by the Senate, ASADA went on to introduce their own changes to the AOC Anti-Doping By-Law in May 2013, to include similar powers.
“Unfortunately the Government lacked the numbers in the Senate to pass this aspect of the amending Bill and we are left with an Act that excuses individuals from answering questions or giving information if the answer or the information might tend to incriminate them,” Coates told representatives from his member Olympic sports.
“When it comes to investigating most of the nine anti-doping rule violations which are not based on the presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete’s sample, ASADA has been largely left with its hands tied behind its back.
“What our elected representatives in Canberra would or could not do for ASADA, we have done for them.”
His comments come despite the Senate passing a Bill in June 2013 which gave ASADA greater powers to help it speed up doping investigations.
The 65-year-old has long been a campaigner for more transparency concerning doping in Australian sport and he also offered his views on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code as he attempted to allay misconceptions on what sports it actually refers directly to.
“It is just plain wrong to say, as I have read, that the WADA Code was not designed for team sports,” he added.
“These commentators forget that the highly professional team sports of football, ice hockey, basketball and volleyball and the other team sports of handball, rugby sevens, hockey and water polo, which have always been bound by the Code at both the international and national levels, are Olympic sports.”
Addressing last year’s Royal Commission investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse against swimming coaches, Coates reiterated the AOC’s commitment to preventing it happening in Australian sport.
“While we do not know of any incidents that have occurred in our Teams, that is not to say there have been none,” he said.
“We are committed to protecting athletes from coaches, officials and others who may seek to take advantage of their unique and trusted relationship with them.”
Sport Ministry explains decision to stop TTFA funding
The following is a press release issued by the Ministry of Sport:
Senator the Honourable Brent Sancho, Minister of Sport continues to press for full accountability and proper monitoring across all areas of the sporting landscape. He has urged all of the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport who receive funding from the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) to put their accounts in order if they wish to continue receiving support from the Government purse.
His latest call comes as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has been mandated to provide audited financials for the millions of dollars the organisation has received over the last few years via multiple subventions from the both state entities.
In November 2014, Cabinet approved the disbursement of just over TT$9 million to help service the massive debt of the organisation with much of it allocated to salary and stipend arrears for the technical team members and the players on the men’s senior team.
However, funding to the Association has been halted temporarily while the Ministry awaits the submission of the audited financials from the NGB. Just last month, the Ministry announced that it commissioned an independent financial and procedural audit into the operations of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control.
This is all part of the Ministry’s mandate to ensure accountability and transparency in state funding and governance best practice. This approach is in keeping with the tenants and guidelines of the State Enterprises Performance Monitoring Manual (SEPMM) are followed with strict adherence to statutory compliance and performance monitoring.
The Ministry continues to encourage all National Governing Bodies, as autonomous sporting organizations duly affiliated to their respective International Federations, to keep building on the foundation already laid and, with a unified voice and spirit, seek to improve the welfare, development and athletic prowess of our beloved athletes that continue to bring pride and joy to our country.
Carmona hosts reception for Caribbean rugby champs
President Anthony Carmona celebrated the efforts and success of the national senior men’s 15s team, with a reception at the President’s House, St Ann’s, on Wednesday following their recent caputure of the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (Nacra) Rugby Championship title.
President Carmona was present two weeks ago when T&T defeated Mexico 30-16 in a thrilling title showdown at St Mary’s College Ground, St Clair, between the winners of the North and South Zones, respectively.
T&T advanced to the final after dethroning Guyana with a 22-20 win—also at home—and a comfortable 44-7 win away to Barbados.
The President, patron of the T&T Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) hosted the team, coach, manager and TTRFU staff at his office, where he extended hearty congratulations for their outstanding performance. Further, he acknowledged the discipline shown in defence, especially in the second half, when Mexico turned on the pressure.
The players, through vice captain Felician Guerra, expressed elation at President Carmona’s presence at the game, hosting them and of his knowledge of the sport. Guerra extended his appreciation for President Carmona’s presence at the match, something he said provided inspiration.
The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee Awards 12 Participants from the 1st Advanced Sport Management Course
The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee awarded twelve (12) graduates from the 1st Advanced Sport Management Course (ASMC) on 9th May 2015 at the Olympic House. The main objective of the course is to stimulate change within National Sporting Organizations (NSO) through that use of a case study approach focusing on Organising an Olympic Sport Organisation, Managing Human Resource, Managing Strategically, Managing Finance, Managing Marketing and Organising a Major Sporting Event.
TTOC President, Brian Lewis, congratulated the first cohort with encouraging words "To make a positive impact and transform sport in Trinidad and Tobago, we must be brave, courageous and we must not be afraid to fail and stumble because it is by failing and stumbling that we will learn to improve and fulfill our true potential."
“The Olympic Committee Advanced Sport Management Course has been truly an amazing and most educating experience” stated Kabir Hosein, Harvards Club. “I was extremely excited to be selected to participate and the programme exceeded my expectations. My biggest take-aways from this experience were the importance of Human Resource Management in managing a N.S.O, setting and implementing realistic short term, mid-term and long term goals for a strategic plan and composing sponsorship proposals.”
The TTOC congratulates the first cohort of the ASMC graduates:
Michael Peters (Basketball), Richard Jones (SPORTT), Clint Charles (Jump Rope), Kevin Ancil Weekes (Canoe/Kayak), Nicholas Martinez (Harvards Club), Daymian Stewart (Volleyball), Kabir Hosein (Harvards Club), Ria Ramnarine (Boxing), Kecia Hosein (Harvards Club), Vernetta Flanders (Football), Rowena Williams (Cycling), Beverley Anne Cruickshank (Netball).
Participants received a Diploma in the Management of Olympic Sport Organisations, certified by the International Olympic Committee. The course was directed by Stacey Cateau and the course facilitators included Carol Charles Austin, Anna Thompson, Sherlan Cabralis and Kairon Serette.
TTOC begins the 2nd Advanced Sport Management Course
The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) held an orientation for its second cohort of the Advanced Sport Management Course (ASMC) on 9th May, 2015 at the Olympic House. The ASMC participants will be exposed to an intensive 6 month programme which is carded to conclude on 28th November, 2015. Industry professionals will explore six (6) modules: Organising an Olympic Sport Organisation, Managing Human Resource, Managing Strategically, Managing Finance, Managing Marketing and Organising a Major Sporting Event.
The main objective of the course is to stimulate change within National Sporting Organizations (NSO). ASMC can be considered as continuing vocational education and training from the Sport Administrators Course.
Participants will use a case study approach to analyse their sporting organization. The purpose of this approach is to allow participants to identify current issue within the sporting, apply theoretical knowledge and suggest solutions and recommendations for overcoming these issues.
The participants targeted were Executive Members and Senior Officials from NSO’s. The fifteen (15) sporting organisations represented are: Football, Judo, Karate, Rugby, Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton, Athletics, Chess, Cricket, Sailing, Swimming, Netball, Squash and the Paralympic Committee. Additionally, in the 2015 cohort are Sport Development Officers, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers from the Ministry of Sport and participants from the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute.