THE PILOT cycle of Ria Ramnarine’s “Boxing Beyond the Ring” ended at the Fine Line Fight Factory in Montrose, Chaguanas, on Saturday night, as 19 female participants graduated out of the inaugural edition.

This brainchild initiative, which was conceptualised and implemented by the former national boxer, sought to offer its female participants an opportunity to empower themselves physically, psychologically, emotionally and socially.

Over the past six weeks, Ramnarine and Fine Line director Bharrath Ramoutar conducted multiple sessions with the women on sport, particularly boxing, as a socially uplifting and developmental tool. Participants were openly educated on self defence, physical and psychological training, self-esteem, improving confidence to develop self-efficacy and to become adept at personal safety awareness and practice.

Attending Saturday’s graduation ceremony were Ramnarine, Ramoutar and Kabir Hosein, as well as president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Brian Lewis, youth officer in the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development Andrew Sooparie and president of the Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Boxing Association (TTABA) Cecil Forde.

Together, these dignitaries heaped praises on Ramnarine’s unique developmental idea and lauded the many benefits that have so far emerged out of the initiative.

In his feature address, Lewis commended the brave efforts of Ramnarine, who has opted to enter a new and realm of boxing ‘beyond the ring’.

Citing her recent works as “historic and pioneering”, Lewis was in full agreement with the programme’s initiative and credited Ramnarine’s timeliness, since yesterday was also International Women’s Day.

“It’s a landmark approach,” said an excited Lewis. “We are here celebrating a small idea which has now transformed into a catalyst for changing how women experience the sweet science otherwise known as boxing. You have all gone beyond yourselves.

“Ria, this programme that you have built, will go a long way,” he continued. “The distance and borders that such a programme can conquer are beyond our thoughts because what you have done over the past six weeks may have never been done in this country in a sporting aspect. You have set a standard in which you are the leader.”

Additionally, several members of the graduating class opted to share their views on the programme, some of which were almost drawn to tears. Participants Elizabeth Francis and Nathalia Reyes opened the floor for the graduates and were also in high praise of this special sporting workshop for women.

“We learnt so much,” said Francis. “Not only physical training but there were several motivational talks and encouragement.

The self defence aspect was well accepted by me as well. Prior to this programme, I do not think I would have been able to defend myself when presented with a situation. I have left this group with so much more confidence.”

Marlene Charles, president of the Young Women Christian Association, and several other representatives from similar local female groups, were also present and all smiles for the graduating bunch. Meanwhile, Ramnarine, in her address, was overjoyed with the feedback and support received and welcomed more females throughout the nation to join such initiatives. It is expected that the programme will continue on a weekly basis at the Fine Line Gym.



Boxing Beyond the Ring Graduates -

Certificates of Participation: Kadejah Ramdhanie, Nester Flanders-Skeete, Onessa Braithwaite.

Certificates of Merit: Lynicia Hall, Shenelle Ramsaroop, Shantel Adams, Nathalia Reyes, Alana Ali, Sherna Alexander-Benjamin.

Certificate of Distinction: Hema Ramdeo, Tanya Western, Marlene Charles, Dulcie Furlonge, Halcyon Yorke-Young, Leneika Melville, Kimberly Baptiste, Crystal Dick, Elizabeth Francis, Danielle Azizullah.

Certificates of Appreciation: Anand Rampersad, Marlon Mitchell, Ramsingh’s Sports World, Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development, Brian Lewis, Bharrath Ramoutar.

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SPORTSMAN AND Sportswoman of the Year 2014 George Bovell III and Cleopatra Borel are both setting their sights firmly on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Speaking on Friday night, after the First Citizens Sports Foundation’s Sports Awards at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, the 31-year-old Bovell III, asked about his plans for 2015, replied, “getting back to basics, building a great foundation for 2016, towards the Olympics. That’s what really matters.

“That’s what we all look towards, the ultimate goal,” said the lanky swim ace. “It will be nice. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t, then I wouldn’t be too upset about it.”

Looking back at his season last year, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games 200-metre individual medley bronze medallist stated, “there were some real struggles for me in 2014. The Commonwealth Games, I was over-trained. When I was in the World Cup, I was swimming very well, then I was in Asia and I got pneumonia. I did some competitions with the pneumonia.”

He continued, “some of the hardest racing I’ve done in my career just came down to will-power. The CAC was a very memorable one for me. I think I might be the first person to win three in a row - three Games, three consecutively.”

Borel, the 2014 Commonwealth Games shot put silver medallist, was unable to attend Friday’s ceremony due to a training stint in Cuba.

Her mother Marcelle Borel, who collected the trophy on behalf of her daughter, noted, “she worked hard and when you work hard, you expect good results.”

She added, “we are always cheering her on. We are her worst and her best critics. So if she’s good, we compliment her. If she’s bad, we tell her.”

About her daughter’s plans for 2015, Borel (senior) stated, “she’s looking to do her best in all events, and looking forward to 2016. So her goal is the Olympics (as well as) Pan Am Games 2015 and World (Championships).”

The Pan Am Games will take place from July 21-26 in Toronto, Canada while the World Championships will be staged in Beijing, China from August 22-30.

Sir Hilary Beckles, pro vice-chancellor and campus principal of the Cave Hill campus (Barbados) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), delivered the feature address at Friday’s ceremony.

“In the last year, at my campus in Cave Hill, we have done something historic and unique,” he revealed. “We have rolled out a Masters Degree in Sports Science, and this degree is designed to fit into the routine, movements and cultures of our athletes.”

And, in his address to the gathering, chairman of the First Citizens Sports Foundation Dr Keith Clifford highlighted the events which the Foundation undertook last year, and also mentioned that the group plans to forge partnerships with academic institutions, both local and abroad.

Hall of Famer Florrie Kelshall (hockey) was recognised at the show, while a number of sporting persons who died in 2014 were remembered, including Rodney Wilkes (power lifting), Rawle Barrow (sailing), Kevon Carter (football), Benedict Cayenne (track and field) and cyclists Clinton Grant, Hilton “Barracuda” Mitchell, Kent Luces, Roger Smart and Ronald Dickie senior.

Entertainment was provided by the husband and wife duo of Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez, who opened the show with his 2015 track “Our Time” and Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez, who closed the 75-minute long ceremony with her 2015 hit “Raze”.

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Julio César Maglione, the 79-year-old odontologist who leads the International Swimming Federation (FINA), looks set to complete the late Mario Vázquez Raña's final term as President of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), after being nominated today by the body's 19-member Executive Committee.

The Uruguayan - who has been an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member for 19 years and is viewed as a staunch supporter of IOC President Thomas Bach - is to be proposed at an Extraordinary General Assembly in Miami on April 10 and 11.

The election of a replacement for the man who led the body for fully 40 years prior to his death last month, will be the main item on the agenda of that meeting.

If elected, Maglione would serve until 2016; Vázquez Raña was re-elected for what turned out to be his final term as PASO President in Mexico City in March 2012.

Senior figures in the organisation see it as a priority to ensure that speculation over the long-term leadership does not disturb final preparations for this summer's Pan American and Parapan American Games in Toronto.

Maglione's age appears to preclude him from anything more than an interim role as President, but his vast experience suggests he should be a safe pair of hands as PASO faces up to a new era with many uncertainties.

If he does take over, Maglione would preside over completion of a statute review process that could have an important bearing on who the organisation's longer-term leader turns out to be.

This review could lead to a change in voting entitlements from the current system; under this, each of the 41 PASO National Olympic Committees (NOCs) has a vote, and an extra vote is granted for each time a country has hosted the Pan American Games.

A statement released after today's meeting indicated that eventual statute amendments would be approved at another Extraordinary General Assembly after the Toronto Games.

The meeting also agreed to grant an extra $100,000 (£66,000/€93,000) to each PASO NOC member as a contribution to preparation of their athletes for both Toronto 2015 and the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Not everyone is happy about today's decision, however.

It is understood that two gatherings of regional NOCs to discuss the outcome of today's meeting are planned before the Miami assembly.

The first of these is expected in Panama on Saturday; the second in the Caribbean at a subsequent date.

Candidates for the PASO Presidency post-2016 are thought to be numerous, and may include Ivar Sisniega, currently first vice-president, from Mexico, Brazil's Carlos Nuzman, José Joaquín Puello of the Dominican Republic, Richard Peterkin, the IOC member from Saint Lucia, and perhaps others.

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The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) as part of its new strategic marketing and brand management plan, is adopting an entrepreneurial, vibrant and dynamic market driven, new business development approach to revenue generation for its programmes and projects. This includes the strategic vision to achieve 10 or more Olympic Gold medals by the year 2024. In an effort to support this marketing plan and vision, the TTOC has set up an in house marketing department that will handle the TTOC marketing, branding, new business and commercial development, merchandising and licensing programme.

The mandate of the TTOC marketing department is to break down barriers with new ideas and approaches.  “As an organization we must always strive to celebrate and embrace disruptive thinking and challenge conventional wisdom,” said TTOC President Brian Lewis. “This department will drive the TTOC's business and commercial agenda, growth and value strategy. We are at a critical juncture, and it is of even greater importance for us to achieve financial independence and strength for the TTOC while at the same time maintaining the TTOC's identity and not compromising its core Olympic values and ideals.”

For the Rio 2016 Olympic Games the TTOC will be putting in place the required legal checks and balances to protect its Olympic Franchise, including the TTOC, the Trinidad and Tobago(TTO ) Olympic Team and the legitimate TTOC Olympic sponsors and partners from opportunistic marketing and ambushers. This effort comes as no surprise as sporting organizations including the TTOC move to protect their bottom lines.

President Lewis in highlighting the issue stressed that the TTOC, has to ensure that cash flows into, not out of its coffers so that the organization can support not only athletes, but key projects and programmes that aim to develop sport in Trinidad and Tobago.

“It’s one thing to understand what your brand stands for but it matters not unless you protect your brand. Defending your rights and what you stand for is central to what the Olympic movement is all about. Ambush marketing is not a game. It’s a serious issue that can undermine the TTOC's efforts to fund its 10 Gold medals by the year 2024 Athlete Welfare and Preparation programme and other programmes such as women in sport and sport for all.”

The Olympic Games is the world's most valuable and important franchise. As the largest sporting event in the world it provides companies with a marketing opportunity unlike any other. Moreover as a corporate marketing and promotional platform the five Olympic rings is considered one of the world's most iconic, recognizable and valuable brand.

Exclusivity is a cornerstone of the Olympic Movement's marketing programmes. The IOC and National Olympic Committees provides partners with one of the highest levels of protection of any major sports property. In keeping with this, the TTOC as brand stewards will take all necessary advertising and legal measures to educate the public on who the TTOC and TTO Olympic Team sponsors are. It will also take steps to protect its right and those of its partners.

Lewis further stated that “We have to protect our sponsors and partners promotional rights. We will not be turning a blind eye. At this time we want to assure our sponsors and partners that our Olympic team will be protected by the TTOC. At the TTOC we have a duty, obligation and responsibility to develop and use the Olympic brand to its full potential. It’s something we take quite seriously, and our in house marketing department will form a key part of this.”

Sport is played according to rules and the Olympic Movement was founded on a clear set of values and ethics. Under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Charter, the TTOC has sole and exclusive authority for the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Team, Olympic Movement and Olympic Franchise in the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago.

Brent Sancho says transparency and accountability will be the hallmark of his stewardship as Minister of Sport in the People’s Partnership Government.

“I see organisations bringing me budgets and pleading poverty while management enjoys a high standard of living, yet their staff is owed money. I cannot justify that kind of budgeting,” Sancho says of his interactions with sporting bodies since assuming the post last month.

“If an organisation is in debt, you have to reduce your spending. Every sporting organisation, team and club needs to be run like a business.”

Borrowing a perspective from United National Congress (UNC) political leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who, early in her tenure as Prime Minister in 2010, condemned the practise by some Caribbean islands of turning to Trinidad and Tobago for financial assistance in times of crisis, a tough-talking Sancho declared that the ministry, too, “was not an ATM where people can just receive handouts.”

“I want transparency and accountability. These may just be words to some people but to me they are fundamental requirements to achieve funding,” he says. During his tenure, Sancho, 37, says he will also be pushing for value for taxpayers’ money.

“I want to know what’s in it for the TT citizen.

I want their coaches supporting our programmes. I want our youths to be welcomed at events.

I want to see development,” he says, Weaning organisations away from government support, says Sancho, also factors prominently on his agenda. Bent on encouraging various sporting bodies to take an active involvement in future facilities and so generate income and control their own destiny, Sancho says:

“I want to see how they (sports organisations) have engaged support from the corporate sector and how they have developed income streams for themselves. In return, I can offer more than money. If need be I will help them with their audits and accounts.” He also plans to convene a symposium with senior corporate executives to promote the value of investing in sport.

“I am engaging corporate TT in sport in a meaningful way. For example, I am talking to Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to assist with overseas flights for our athletes and teams. In return, CAL would be recognised as a sponsor with their logo on travel jerseys and tracksuits.

“Think about it, our athletes compete in every continent and are televised into hundreds of millions of homes globally. What a fantastic promotional tool! Sponsoring sport is the best value for money promotion you can buy.”

Sancho’s goals may seem quite ambitious given the limited time frame in which he has to effect meaningful change at the ministry, ahead of the upcoming general election.

However, he assures that he will not pursue any major initiatives within the next few months but rather influence improvements in existing projects as well as make tangible inputs in forthcoming policy decisions. “My goal is to make a positive impact on the ministry so that whoever takes over my portfolio will have streamlined procedures, structured policies and motivate staff,” he says. The dreadlocked Sancho, who holds a degree in Psychology from St John’s University in New York, has had no grace period within which to gradually embrace his role at the ministry.

He’s had to buckle down to work quickly but describes his stint within the government thus far as phenomenal.

“It has been an exciting time for me as I experience the inner workings of the People’s Partnership.” The sport portfolio, he admits, has been especially overwhelming.

“My initial thoughts were, how can one person do this job?” he jokes.

“My wife says that I live at the ministry. I’m usually at work by 7 am and I’m rarely home before 8pm each day.”

Apart from his Cabinet and senatorial duties, the former national footballer has a slew of tasks to which he has to attend on a daily basis.

Outside of these responsibilities, he oversees the SPORTT Company, “which in itself is a full-time role.”

The father of two, who announced his retirement from international football in October 2006, told Sunday Newsday, “There was no honeymoon period as I had to immediately immerse myself in a myriad of projects while trying to learn everyone’s name and function. But I have to say that I am enjoying the role and I have set myself specific goals to achieve during my tenure.” The founder of Central FC, who enjoyed a stellar career as a member of TT’s beloved Soca Warriors and as a player on several high-profile, foreign-based teams, Sancho admits that he had never considered a career in politics before being approached by the Prime Minister to take up the sport portfolio in the government. “I had no previous political inclination and had not considered entering politics, at least not for another ten years or so.” The ministry, he was told, was in need of “someone dynamic with leadership to bring about positive change” and the Belmont-bred Sancho, who made his debut on a political platform during the UNC’s Monday Night Forum at Brazil Government Secondary, last week, readily accepted the opportunity to serve.

“As a professional footballer and sport being my passion, I see myself contributing to my country in a meaningful way and to helping the youths and all athletes by ensuring that proper facilities and funding required, are provided for them to succeed in their relevant discipline. I am grateful for the opportunity to see the situation from the other side of the fence and bring positive change where I can,” he says.

So, can a sportsman make a good politician?

Observing that quite a few athletes have made the transition from sport to politics, Sancho listed Brazilian football legends Pele and Zico as persons who have successfully traversed both fields.

Pele, he says, holds the title of “Extraordinary Minister of Sport” in his homeland while Zico, who worked briefly in Fernando Collar de Mello’s administration in the early 1990s as sport minister, is still recognised for securing passage of a bill to assist clubs with their business affairs by ensuring they were run in a professsional fashion. At home, he recalls that late netball star Jean Pierre had also served briefly as Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and Member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain West from 1991 to 1995 in the People’s National Movement administration.

Sancho, who was the owner/coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Football League Club, North East stars, again dismissed talk that he is being groomed to contest the Toco/Sangre Grande seat on a UNC ticket for the upcoming general election.

“I have not been asked by the Honourable Prime Minister to contest the Toco/Sangre Grande seat or any other seat. There is no truth to the talk,” Sancho says. The seat is currently held by his predecessor in the sport ministry Dr Rupert Griffith.

Sancho says his focus, in the interim, will be to improve the status of sporting organisations.

His announcement of a semi-professional women’s football league during last week’s political meeting is a case in point.

“Most people would agree that our national women’s team excited the nation like no other team since the Soca Warriors of 2005/6 but after their last-minute loss to Ecuador, what have they done?” Sancho asked.

“They have had no games, nothing has been put in place to build upon their success and the interest generated. These girls need regular football so that they can develop.”

Sancho is hoping to use his office to organise international matches for the players. He laments that while there has been a positive start to women’s league football, it did not provide any income for the players. “My concept is to offer six or eight franchises to corporate TT based on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system,” he says. “Each team would have its own sponsor and would contain a sprinkling of overseas players.” The minister pointed out that while he will assist with the creation of the league, there would be very little financial input from the government.

Sancho also intends to embark upon the construction of several football-specific facilities to encourage Pro League clubs to become financially self-sufficient. “I am seeing that there are many sports in need of facilities and I would hope to address this more after the election,” he says. Aside from his portfolio, Sancho says he is deeply concerned about the ccountry’s crime situation. However, he believes that sport can help to turn young people away from crime.

“No child is born bad. We have to give them attractive alternatives to drugs and gangs,” he says.

Sancho says the society has the ability to mentor children who do not respect institutions such as schools and the law. “They come to us to have fun, and while they’re enjoying their sport we can embed certain core messages that can help to shape their psyche going forward,” he says. “Teamwork, honesty, respect, passion, self-belief are all components of sport success. They are also building blocks for great citizenship. Prevention is better than cure and sport can be a cure.”

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Top brass at the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) will assemble in Mexico City today for the first Executive Committee meeting since the death of Mario Vázquez Raña, the body's long-time leader.

The meeting will take place tomorrow, with Committee members first attending today's tribute by the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) to a man who was a towering figure in Olympic sport.

Proceedings are sure to be dominated by issues relating to the future leadership and direction of PASO, with question-marks over both the timing of elections to determine Vázquez Raña's successor and the voting regulations that will apply.

The Committee will need to decide whether the General Assembly immediately prior to this summer's Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games is the optimum time for a leadership election, or whether first vice-president Ivar Sisniega should be left holding the reins while that key event is delivered.

There is also likely to be discussion of an ongoing statute review process.

This may lead to a change in voting entitlements from the current system; under this, each of the 41 PASO National Olympic Committees (NOCs) has a vote, and an extra vote is granted for each time a country has hosted the Pan American Games.

Given that Vázquez Raña acted as President for 40 years, it is only natural that there are a number of possible candidates for the succession.

These are thought to include Sisniega, Brazil's Carlos Nuzman, José Joaquín Puello of the Dominican Republic, Richard Peterkin, the International Olympic Committee member from Saint Lucia, and perhaps others.

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