Tickets for London 2012 Olympics now available
As you read this, there are now only 499 days left until the Games of the XXX Olympiad.
In other words, the already much-talked about London 2012 Olympics are practically upon us.
And to celebrate the ‘500 Days to Go’ milestone, London 2012 yesterday opened its online applications for competition tickets – one of sports most precious commodities.
Not be left out of the festivities was Barbados.
At a joint Barbados Olympic Association/British High Commission press conference yesterday, local officials of the Olympic and Paralympic movement joined with UK government officials to usher in what they collectively termed a “a key date in the Olympic movement.”
“We want to share these Games with everyone around the world, including the people of Barbados,” said Phil Culligan, Deputy British High Commissioner.
Relaying a message from British Prime Minister, David Cameron, Culligan added: “Beyond 2012, we want to ensure these games deliver a strong legacy, not just by regenerating a part of East London, but by boosting our national economy. However and most importantly, the aim is to inspire a new generation to get active and get involved in sports.”
Across the globe yesterday, international sales agents officially began receiving requests for Games tickets. Barbadians, however, will have to go through the secretariat of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA).
“As has been our practice in the past, the BOA has appointed Cartan Tours International to be our official travel agent”, Cameron Burke, Barbados’ Chief de Mission for London 2012, said.
“Their staff has thoroughly investigated accommodations, transportation and locations in the London area. They have developed various travel programs for multiple needs, budgets and desires. We are extremely satisfied that this company pays considerable attention to detail which ensures our patrons of an enjoyable Olympic Games.”
Burke, who highlighted that time was of the essence, said that persons wishing to attend the Games must make a request through the BOA via its email address – info@olympic.org.bb.
“These requests will then be forwarded to the ticket agent who will subsequently contact you. To start the process, a deposit of US$250 must be lodged with Cartan Tours. Having competed the transaction with our agent, tickets can then be collected on arrival in London from the Cartan Tours office.”
One downside from a Barbadian perspective was the lack of tickets available for events such as basketball, swimming, cycling and gymnastics – not to mention the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Games, the two marquee non-sporting events.
With the 2012 Games being held in London, it is seen as the first viable opportunity many Barbadians have ever had of making their dreams of attending an Olympic Games a reality – certainly not since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
To this end, Burke said the BOA was cognizant of the wishes of the many Barbadian citizens who have already expressed an interest in attending the Games.
“Although the BOA has been allotted a reasonable amount of tickets for track and field . . . we did not receive a significant amount of ‘Prime Time’ tickets – tickets for the Opening and Closing ceremonies, basketball, swimming, cycling and gymnastics. However, we are appealing to the organizers to increase our allocations.”
Burke will be attending a Chief de Mission meeting in August in London to review plans and programmes as well as visit some of the venues, including the highly-touted Games village.
Steve Stoute, long-standing president of the BOA, along with Erskine Simmons, the BOA’s Secretary General, were recently in the United Kingdom where they had an opportunity to tour the Olympic Park – 75 per cent of which is reported to be already complete.
“We were able to tour the Olympic Park and we were extremely impressed with the sports venues and the neighboring Olympic village. Barbados is very much looking forward to being a part of the 2012 Olympic Games in London,” he said.
The 2012 Sumer Olympic Games will take place in London from July 27 to August 12. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.
The 2012 Summer Olympic programme features 26 sports with a total of 38 disciplines while the 2012 Paralympic Games, which will run between August 29 and September 9, will include 20 sports with a total of 21 disciplines.
Cricketers released
Former West Indies middle order batsman Runako Morton and Leeward Islands all rounder, Tonito Willet, have been released from police custody today, after the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) met the bail conditions for their release on drug related charges.
WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine also that the two cricketers, who were arrested last Friday night, had since apologized to their families, friends and teams.
He said WIPA was assembling a team of lawyers to represent the two cricketers when they re-appear in court on Thursday charged with being in possession of 470 grammes of marijuana with a street value of TT$6,000 (US$1,000).
The two men had been granted bail on Monday to the tune of TT$100 000 (US$16 600) each, but spent the night in police custody after no one came forward to meet the conditions. The court had also given an alternative bail of TT$20 000 (US$3 330) cash each for the two cricketers.
“Yesterday when the magistrate ordered that they could get bail, we were trying to do it through a deed and the deed obviously needed certain clearance…and it took some time and it was not able to be done….but with the guys in police custody since Friday we therefore want to make sure they are out,” Ramnarine told reporters.
He said that arrangements have also been made for Willet to remain on the island until the conclusion of the court case.
“All of those arrangements are being made as we speak, He said, noting that none of the cricketers would address the media.
Police said the two cricketers were stopped and searched during an exercise on Friday night and a black plastic bag containing the illicit drug was found in the vehicle.
The 32-year-old Morton, who has played 15 Tests for West Indies, is in his first season for Trinidad and Tobago after previously representing the Leewards.
Willett, meanwhile, is a seasoned first class campaigner and a virtual fixture in the Leewards side in recent seasons.
Source:(CMC)
Woods has to back up big talk on course
Tiger Woods was all smiles as he signed for his closing 66 in the WGC Championship at Doral. It gave the former world number one his first top-10 finish of the year and had him nodding enthusiastically when asked whether he liked his chances for the Masters.
His fine round of golf included seven birdies, five of which were converted from inside six feet of the hole. So was this the round that told us that the 35-year-old American is at last back to his best and ready to challenge for the first major of the year?
Discount a 14-time major champion at your peril but it is just as likely that this six-under-par round will prove another false dawn.
Woods has had several impressive finishes recently. There was a 67 at the Barclays in August and a 68 in Boston the following week. Then there was a 68 in Shanghai at the final WGC event of 2010, followed seven days later by a 65 in the Australian Masters.
And there were plenty of positive quotes coming from his mouth.
"Very close," "If I just putt well I'm right there," "I'm pleased with the progress," were some of his encouraging assessments of his revamped game.
Yet the debate about the state of his game and the merits of the swing changes he is making under the tutelage of Sean Foley still rages.
Lee Trevino, winner of six majors, suggests Woods should ditch his teacher because it is clear he remains a very long way from being at his consistent best.
And it is also worth noting that the encouraging final rounds I highlighted earlier were compiled while Woods had no chance of winning the tournament. This was also the case with the 66 at Doral that has had so many observers purring with admiration.
Woods remains upbeat. "Overall, it feels really good," he said. "My trajectory is becoming better. My shapes of my shots are getting tighter. The driver is still not quite there. I'm not quite shaping the golf ball like I want to yet. But I'm hitting it flush again, which is good, so that's just a matter of time before that comes around."
And does he like his Masters chances? "Oh yeah," he said.
Woods realises he needs to talk up his game as much as he can in order to maintain the aura he built up with his brilliance on the golf course. That is because he knows - and he always has - that his aura and reputation can help him win tournaments.
As Johnny Miller put it so superbly before Woods destroyed a five-shot deficit to eclipse Sean O'Hair at the 2009 Bay Hill Championship: "He is the sun and you are the butter when you are with Woods in the final pairing."
That 2009 victory for Woods came at a time when his final rounds counted for something, when his putting stroke was the envy of the rest and the notion that he might switch putters mid-tournament was unthinkable.
To gauge how Woods is faring currently, it is worth a look at his PGA Tour statistics. They tell us he averages 1.78 putts per green this year - and there are 99 players performing better in that regard at the moment.
Of course, you can turn stats to win any argument.
It is worth noting that Woods has played only two US Tour strokeplay events this year. His Greens In Regulation figures are much improved, too, which, in turn, means he will be putting from longer distances and thus less likely to single putt.
Even so, Woods lies 102nd for success with putts inside five feet - damning evidence of his current inconsistency with the short stick.
As for the long ones, he still cannot break into the top 190 for driving (distance and accuracy combined) - as was the case for the whole of the 2010 season.
As we know, Woods is rebuilding his swing and tinkering with his short game to make himself a better player. And he believes Foley can help him achieve his goal.
Foley is trading blows in the media with Hank Haney, a former tutor of Woods, over the path the player has taken. Haney, who split with Woods soon after the player had returned to action at last year's Masters following the player's well-documented personal problems, points out that his former charge won 45% of the events he played and claimed a top-10 finish 85% of the time during the last three years he was his coach.
There is no doubt that Woods is still piecing his life back together on and off the golf course, while a new generation of players have caught up and, for the moment at least, overtaken the man who once so utterly dominated the game.
Since long-time rival Phil Mickelson won last year's Masters, all the majors and World Golf Championships events have been won by players younger than Woods, who celebrated his 35th birthday in December. Nick Watney, who was victorious at Doral, is 29, which is exactly the average age of the winners of these elite tournaments.
Source: BBC Blog
HE Governor issues statement on the Financial Support Package
In a statement issued today by H.E Governor on the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) financial support package his statements reads:
The UK Government-backed financial support package which is now in place buys us the time we need to tackle the dire fiscal legacy the Interim Government inherited. The package provides enough money to refinance TCIG’s high level of debt and the monthly deficits that will continue for two more years even with new budget measures. It does not provide any money to reverse previous spending cuts or fund significant new
expenditure; instead we need to use the breathing space it provides to bring revenue and spending into line. Tackling the severe and structural fiscal problems and achieving a fiscal surplus in the FY 2012/13 will be tough, but getting on course to do so is a key
milestone.
There are three elements to the $260m package:
*A bridge loan of $170m at 0.25% over LIBOR, to be replaced by a bond, syndicated bank loan, or other funding in the next few months. This has allowed
TCIG to repay its core debt - the existing and much more expensive Consolidated Loan, which was priced at 5% above LIBOR, along with other bank debt and the recent loans provided by DFID, and to pay the large backlog of unpaid non- financial creditors.
*A five year term loan of $30m at 0.75% over LIBOR. This is available if desired to repay other more expensive debts of TCIG.
A five year revolving bank facility of $60m, at 0.25% over LIBOR, which will fund the projected deficits over the next two years.
The budget will set out in detail the measures that are needed to set us on the road to fiscal surplus. The measures will include: raising revenues through the introduction of new revenue streams, changes to existing streams, plus improved collection and enforcement; cutting the cost of the public service by 25% by 2013/14, while building capacity in the most important services; reducing the costs of statutory bodies by 25% by 2012/13; introducing a new, more targeted and more fairly applied system of student support; cutting Government expenditure on rents by 25% by 2012/13; eliminating all non-essential expenditure and improving financial management and reporting; and, requiring all purchase orders and contracts over $5000, and all new leases, to be approved by the CFO and Permanent Secretary, Finance.
H.E further explains that, 'None of this is easy work and it will require some tough decisions.' I recognise that not everyone will be comfortable with the short term impact of some of these decisions. But we are set firmly on a clear course to establishing a strong financial foundation on which
TCI and future governments can build with confidence as the economy recovers.
Mr. Wetherell concludes his statements by saying to locals: Let us work together to help make TCI what we would all like it to be - an outstanding
place to live and work with equal opportunities for all and an attractive, welcoming destination for tourism, the central pillar of our economy.
GORDON WETHERELL
Injury forces Clijsters pull-out from Indian Wells
Kim Clijsters' nagging shoulder injury has forced her to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open as she conceded to France's Marion Bartoli 3-6 3-1.
After winning the fourth-round match's opening set on the hardcourt surface, Clijsters called for her trainer at 1-2 before conceding one game later.
Clijsters' exit at Indian Wells ended any hopes the Belgian had of regaining the world number one ranking.
She had needed to do better in the event than Dane Caroline Wozniacki.
Clijsters has been taking the painkiller Advil to cope with the injury since before she won her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.
"With those higher shots against the opponent today, I just feel it pinching a little bit more when I have to do that kick serve and when I have to reach that right arm up higher with the forehand," said two-time Indian Wells winner Clijsters.
In the quarter-finals 15th seed Bartoli will face 19th-seeded Ana Ivanovic, who beat fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic - the defending champion - 6-4 6-2 earlier on Tuesday.
Sixth-seed Jankovic, who beat Wozniacki in last year's final, converted only one of seven break-point opportunities as she was defeated by Ivanovic for the first time in three meetings.
"I felt like my game was not really there. I wasn't really doing the right things out there," Jankovic said.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic advanced through to the fourth round with a 6-0 6-1 win over Ernests Gulbis.
The third seed broke Gulbis three times in the opening set and twice in the second to maintain his unbeaten run so far this season.
"I am just trying to play as best as I can, I couldn't have asked for a better start to this year," said Djokovic.
"The last three months have been unbelievable."
In the next round Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, will meet either number 16 seed and fellow Serb Viktor Troicki or the 24th-seeded Frenchman Michael Llodra.
Seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych crushed 26th-seeded Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 6-3 6-2 to join Djokovic in the fourth round.
Vybz Kartel Deny Selling Soul To The Devil
Dancehall Hero Vybz Kartel publicly address accusations of him selling his soul to the devil for the first time.
Long before his skin bleaching saga, Vybz Kartel have received several bashing from fellow artists and fans alike for an alleged affiliation with the Cult or Freemason as some would refer to it. But during his lecture at UWI last week Thursday (March 10), Vybz Kartel asked the audience how does one go by selling the soul to the devil.
“This is a question now for the audience… I would like to know how does one go about selling their soul to the devil,” Vybz Kartel ask the over 1000 individuals in attendance. “Does the devil have a bank account or do you first put an ad in the classified that say soul for sale in good condition, leave a number to call, the devil calls you, and you work out the fine print of it, he gives you a managers cheque for your soul.”
Vybz Kartel allegedly wears an evil masonic ring on one of his fingers.
This is also coming from an artist that once said in a verse of one of his more popular songs that he “reach 33 degrees a masonry heights a evil.”
Source: Urban Islandz
Afeni Shakur's Hearing For Drug Arrest Pushed Back Until June
Afeni Shakur's court hearing for possessing a controlled substance was delayed for the third time.
According to reports, a hearing in Robeson Country District Court was pushed back until June 2nd, although no reason for the delay was given.
In April of 2010, agents with the state division of Alcohol and Law Enforcement charged Afeni Shakur with possession of marijuana, simple possession of a controlled substance and maintaing a dwelling or place for a controlled substance.
While details of her original arrest are scant, Afeni was released on $10,000 bond when she was originally arrested on April 16th of 2010.
The next hearing in the Afeni Shakur case will be on June 2nd.
50 Takes G-Unit International With New Distribution Deal
50 Cent is taking his record label international with a new European distribution deal for G-Unit Records.
According to reports, 50 Cent is planning to open an office in the United Kingdom via a new marketing and distribution deal with PIAS Group.
"Last year we took the decision to restructure the label and begin to carve out it's own world-wide distribution, marketing and promotions strategy, said Nikki Martin, Vice President, G-Unit Records & Entertainment. “After signing with EMI for North America we looked at who could help develop the brand in other key territories and we decided to partner with PIAS who shared our vision and passion for the music."
50's UK's office will be headed up by renowned DJ, Dan Greenpeace, who is a notable figure in the UK music industry.
PIAS is one of Europe's leading independent music labels, launched in 1982 by Kenny Gates & Michel Lambot.
The PIAS Group is headquartered in Brussels and has local offices in the UK, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Spain.
Rapper Kenzo Sues CBS Over 'Shizz/John Wall' Dance Track
A Kentucky rapper credited with helping bring national attention to the "Shizz" dance has filed a $150,000 copyright infringement lawsuit against CBS Broadcasting.
Rapper Kensey "Kenzo" Rankin filed the lawsuit in United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Kenzo claims he owns the copyright to the song "Do the Shizz," along with plaintiffs Gracie Productions and a man named Marcus Clark.
The song, which was inspired by a popular Louisville dance created by a man named Lawshawn "Sugar Shizz" Talbert, achieved regional success.
But the record broke nationally when John Wall began doing the Shizz during his first year at Kentucky.
The dance then became commonly referred to as the John Wall Dance, even though John Wall has always credited the originator.
Kenzo's lawsuit claims that CBS has created and aired several segments about John Wall and the dance using their music, without the proper permission.
"Defendants CBS knew at all relevant times that Plaintiffs were the copyright owners of the Musical Composition and Sound Recording," the complaint reads.
In addition to at least $150,000 in damages, Kenzo and the other Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking to prevent CBS from using the song in any further segments.
Tragically, the creator of the dance, Lawshawn "Sugar Shizz" Talbert, may never benefit from the popularity of The Shizz.
Sugar Shizz was shot in the head and killed in a South Louisville neighborhood in August of 2010
Doug Parnell speaks to Civil Servants & Taxpayers
RTC News received a press release from the leader of the PDM, Doug Parnell as he voice his concerns against the latest release inregrads to taxes.
Mr. Parnell states:
This is a Public Notice to all taxpayers and civil servants from the Peoples Democratic Movement
The PDM has called on the Interim Administration not to impose the 10 percent tax on utilities, but particularly on electricity bills. This will have a devastating and irreversible impact on the TCI people and our fragile economy. The Leader of our party Mr. Douglas Parnell met with the Chief Economic Advisor on Monday March 7th to deliver this request in person. We await a positive response from the revenue review team on the elimination of this proposal.
Additionally, we have also sent our draft response on the Essential Payroll and Pension changes report issued by the Interim Administration to the Governor and the Chief Executive opposing certain recommendations contained in the document. We will provide a more detailed list to the public imminently. The main theme is that there should be no retroactive law imposed upon civil servants to meet a financial end, especially in such a short time span as 1 month.
We are also renewing our call made last April for the Interim Administration to restore BACK PAY to civil servants affected by the 10 percent pay cut last March 9th 2010.