Former prime minister says it will be a decade before success of Olympic Games can be judged.
Tony Blair has told those who criticise the investment of £9bn of public money in staging the London 2012 Olympics they should have more pride in hosting "the world's biggest sporting event".
The former prime minister said it would be a decade before the success of the London Games could be judged and warned that political focus must be maintained afterwards.
"It's in 10 years time we'll know whether this has worked or not. What is important is after the Olympics to carry on encouraging the impact of it to keep generating local sport activity," he told the Guardian after appearing at the Beyond Sport conference in London on Wednesday.
Blair, who has focused on his role as a Middle East envoy since leaving power, has taken on his first role with the Labour party since stepping down as prime minister, becoming an adviser on Olympic legacy.
He said those who criticised the cost of the Games had not fully considered the benefits. "It's really important on the money side to understand what you're getting in return.
"Of course, £9bn is in one sense a lot of money but, in another sense, you're regenerating an entire part of the country, creating thousands of jobs and there's massive amounts of investment coming in," Blair said.
When Blair originally gave the go-ahead to the Olympics bid, it was claimed that the Games could be delivered for £2.4bn. After London was chosen, the budget more than tripled to £9.3bn.
Those involved say that the original budget was always an operational figure and did not include VAT, the cost of buying and remediating the land or the sizeable contingency fund required.
Asked whether the same figure could simply have been spent on regeneration without the Games, Blair said: "It's not quite the same. You've got the Olympics! When people start making arguments like this I just have to say 'Come on guys, this is the biggest sporting event in the world and we're hosting it.' A bit of pride there, I think."
Blair admitted the competing figures cited in recent weeks on both sides of the debate made it difficult to calculate the benefits.
"There is no accurate assessment of the figures on this, but if you were to ask any of the cities who we beat if they wish the result had gone differently, if they were being honest they would say 'yes, of course'."
He said the last-minute list of concerns, from transport and security to the weather, were typically British but predicted that the country would revel in hosting the Games.
"We're just like this. But when it comes to the point, people will be delighted. It's an enormous opportunity for the country," he said.
Blair, who said he still "worked out four or five times a week" at the age of 59, said he was convinced of the link between elite sporting success and grassroots participation – despite the fact that no previous Olympics have persuaded more people to play sport in the host country.
"I basically do buy it. If you look at cycling in the UK today, and I've got no scientific evidence for this at all, but I think it really does make a difference. Andy Murray in tennis, these big sporting icons can draw people into sport."
After leaving office, Blair set up a small-scale sports foundation in north-east England to train coaches and volunteers, which, he said, had reached tens of thousands of children.
He said that it was vital to pour more money into coaching and urged sports bodies to invest more of their income in the grassroots.
"We need a greater linking up between government, sports organisations and the grassroots," he said.
"We sit in that gap but we sit pretty alone. It's important for the sports governing bodies, which have some pretty significant budgets, that they understand the importance of coaching and volunteers. It's not just about picking some elite kids and making them champions; it's about permeating sport through the community."
Blair, who with his wife, Cherie, is credited with playing a key role in schmoozing IOC members the night before the 2005 Singapore vote on the 2012 host city, said that the former Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and athletes persuaded him in 2002 to bid for the Games despite official advice that Paris would win.
"We had a meeting in Downing Street with [the rower] Sir Steve Redgrave and all these people. Their enthusiasm was a big factor. It was difficult because we feared we weren't going to win. That's what people kept telling me," he said.
"The infrastructure is now the thing the Olympic committee more or less take for granted. What we added was a sense of London as a modern, multicultural, multi-faith city.
"I'm not saying that was the determining element, but it was an important dimension," he said.
Blair said he would take his seat at the opening ceremony on Friday feeling a "mixture of nerves and pride", and hoped the Games would show London at its best.
He said that he had waged an ongoing battle in government to "fight the system" and knit sport into the fabric of health, education and social affairs policy but admitted that he could have gone further.
"You can always do more. But I think we did a lot in terms of facilities, sports co-ordinators in schools and so on. But now I have a sports foundation, we find there is a big unmet need still there," he said.
By Owen Gibson
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
GAMES
North Korea in first diplomatic row of London 2012 after wrong flag displayed
The opening day of sport at London 2012 has sparked a row with North Korea after the South Korean flag was mistakenly displayed prior to their women's football opener against Colombia at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
The North Korean player's names were shown beside a picture of the South Korean flag in an embarrassing blunder which marred the opening day of action at London 2012.
Particularly as South Korea are not even competing in the women's football tournament, though their men kick off their Olympic campaign tomorrow.
Relations between the two countries is tense, and they are technically still at war as no peace treaty has ever been signed following the Korean war from 1950 to 1953.
The team walked off the pitch in anger and only returned to start the match with Colombia an hour later.
An angry North Korean official protests after the wrong Korean flag is displayed at Hampden Park
The North Koreans have received a swift apology, with London 2012 organisers saying: "Today ahead of the women's football match at Hampden Park, the South Korean flag was shown on a big screen video package instead of the North Korean flag.
"Clearly that is a mistake.
"We will apologise to the team and the National Olympic Committee and steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again."
Hampden Park media manager Andy Mitchell said: "The South Korean flag was shown in the video package on the screen before the kickoff and the North Koreans were naturally very upset about that.
"We have made a full apology to the team and the North Korean NOC (National Olympic Commiittee).
"A genuine mistake was made for which we apologise."
Once back on the pitch, the North Koreans did not seem too affected as they went in at half-time 1-0 up against the South Americans.
Kim Song Hui put them ahead with a fortuitous strike when the ball ricocheted in off her knee as she tried to connect with a cross.
Hui then sealed the win with five minutes to go, taking advantage of an error by Stefany Castaño to chip the ball over the line.
It was a confident and composed start by the North Koreans, whose victory is a signal of their intent at these Games, although many observers consider them fortunate to be allowed to take part.
FIFA have banned them from competing in the 2015 World Cup after five members of their team tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs at last year's tournament in Germany.
But they have allowed them to keep their place in the Olympics.
An attempt by the Australians to overturn the decision was unsuccessful.
-David Gold
Source: www.insidethegames.biz
Border strike on eve of London 2012 called off
A planned strike by British border staff on the eve of London 2012 has been called off, it was announced today.
The strike, called by members of the the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, was scheduled to place tomorrow, just one day before the start of the Olympic Games, and it would have caused severe problems at all of the key London 2012 transport hubs, including Heathrow Airport, which is now entering its busiest ever period.
The one-day strike was designed to demonstrate anger over cuts to United Kingdom border staff numbers and pay.
The issue had become so serious that Home Office officials were due to ask the High Court to block the strike by declaring it illegal with the Olympic looming.
But the issue has been diverted, at least temporarily, after the PCS were promised that there would be significant investment in the border force and passport service in a move that would see the creation of more than 1,000 new jobs.
"These new jobs are a welcome step towards a recognition that the Home Office has been cracking under the strain of massive job losses, and that the answer is not more cuts but more investment," said PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka.
"We are pleased that with these new posts and the progress made in talks we are able to avert a strike ahead of the Olympics.
"But we first raised our concerns 18 months ago, so it is deeply regrettable that Ministers allowed this dispute to escalate."
Olympic volunteers wait to greet arriving teams at Heathrow Airport ahead of the Games
PCS Parliamentary group chair John McDonnell has also welcomed the move.
"Thank goodness the Government has seen sense," he said.
"The union has secured a tremendous breakthrough to protect its members' jobs.
"This could have been sorted weeks ago.
"There was no need for this heavy-handed brinkmanship by the Government."
By Tom Degun at the Main Press Centre on the Olympic Park in London
Source: www.insidethegames.biz
T&T’s Roger Daniel on target for London
T&T ace shooter Roger Daniel shot his way to first place in three individual events at the COPA del Caribe shooting championships held at the Albergue Olímpico training centre in Puerto Rico from July 12-18. Daniel was among T&T’s six-member contingent who went up against approximately 100 of the region’s best shooters from Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, El Salvador, Guatemala, US Virgin Islands and the host nation. Daniel, a two-time First Citizens Sportsman of the Year, was totally unsurpassed in the men’s individual pistol events. He snatched the 25m standard title ahead of compatriot, Rhodney Allen, who secured third place. Daniel also took the 10m air title and went onto retain his title as the 25m centre fire defending champion. Allen brought home T&T’s fifth individual medal when he successfully defended his men’s 50m free pistol title.
Daniel’s winning performances at the championships will serve as a confidence boost as he proudly represents the country in the sport at his third Olympic outing at the London Games which gets under way tomorrow (Fri 27). Curtis Blunt and Marlon Moses were T&T’s rifle shooters, with Moses finishing eighth and Blunt also ranking. Lone women’s local competitor, Marsha Bullen-Jones, put out her best shots in the women’s 10m air and 25m sports pistols events. She managed to finish among the top ten, ending in eighth place in both events. Daniel and Allen then combined forces with Clement Marshall to secure T&T two medals in the team pistol division. Together the trio took silver ahead of Martinique in the men’s standard pistol. First place was taken by Puerto Rico. The host team also took gold in front of Barbados and T&T which placed second and third respectively in the centre fire pistol.
Allen, who also served as the team’s manager, yesterday told the T&T Guardian that the championships was a good experience for the national players. When asked about sponsorship, Allen divulged that the players had to use their money to pay for their trip. Allen said team members had to put out a total of approximately $16,000TTD (inclusive of airfare, accommodation and match fees). Allen said that a plea for financial assistance was made to officials of the Trinidad Rifle Association (TRA) who said that they would contact the Ministry of Sport for possible refunding. He is also pleading to corporate T&T to hop on board as sponsors for the sport to prevent this from happening in the future. The team is still thankful to the TRA, T&T Chief of Defence Force, Brigadier Kenrick Maharaj, and Major Kak Sebastian for their help and interest in the team.
-Shernice Thomas
www.guardian.co.tt
Guardian’s Thompson-King off to Olympics today
Senior Sports journalist Rachael Thompson-King leaves today for London to cover the 2012 Olympic Games which opens tomorrow and runs until August 13. She will be on hand to witness T&T’s top athletes in action as they go in search of precious medals at the world’s biggest sporting event. The T&T contingent left the pre-Olympic camp in Wales today (Wednesday) for the Olympic Village in London. She will make her way to the EXCel Centre to see Carlos Suarez make his debut in the light flyweight catergory as well as Njisane Phillip at the Velodrome, competing in the sprint and keirin events. Shooter Roger Daniel will go to work at the Royal Artillery Barracks while George Bovell III will seek his second Olympic medal at the Aquatics Centre.
The Olympic Stadium will be the venue where the national track and field athletes will converge against the best in the world. Keston Bledman, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Renny Quow are among the top T&T prospects for success at the Games. Bledman has been impressive leading up to the event, winning his first senior national sprint title in style, blazing to victory to a career best 9.86 seconds. This was in the NAAA Sagicor/NGC National Open Track and Field Championship men’s 100 metres final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, last month. Bledman, Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson and Marc Burns and Rondell Sorillo form the sprint team and wiull challenge the likes of top contenders record-holder Usain Bolt and John Blake, both of Jamaica and United States sprinters Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay. The local group will be joined by Emmanuel Callendar and youngsters Deon Lenore and Jamol James on the 4x100m squad. Thompson did not achieve all of what he had hoped for last season, but had some measure of satisfaction running an impressive 9.96 seconds to cop silver behind Bledman in the final. Sorrillo mean clocked a new personal record (PR), 10.03, to claim bronze
Sorrillo got off to a fast start this season as in his 200m season debut at the Guadeloupe Invitational on May 1. He finished in second place in 20.42 seconds behind winner Churandy Martina (Netherland Antilles/ 20.40). On May 9 at the Cayman Invitational, Sorrillo again finished in second place in the 200m in 20.57 second behind winner Warren Weir (Jamaica/ 20.13). Baptiste also has great chance of becoming the first woman to win an Olympic medal. Baptiste has been excelling over the past seasons, running consistently ran under 11 seconds in the 100. In Daegu, South Korea at the 2011 World Championships, impressed by claiming bronze in the women’s 100m dash. Baptiste is the reigning national women’s 100m champion and will definitely be one of T&T’s best option for a medal but she will have tough competition in USA’s Carmelita Jeter and Allyson Felix and Jamaicans Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
T&T TEAM
Athletics
Richard Thompson (100m; 4x100m), Keston Bledman (100m; 4x100m), Rondell Sorillo (100m; 200m; 4x100m), Mark Burns (100m; 4x100m), Renny Quow (400m; 4x400m), Deon Lendore (400m; 4x100m), Wayne Davis II (110m hurdles), Jehue Gordon (400m hurdles), Lalonde Gordon (4x400m), Emmanuel Callendar (4x100m), Machel Cedenio (4x400m), Ade Alleyne-Forte (4x400m), Semoy Hackett (100m; 200m; 4x100m), Kai Selvon (100m; 200m; 4x100m), Michelle-Lee Ahye (100m; 4x100m), Kelly-Ann Baptiste (100m; 4x100m), Janeil Bellille (400m hurdles), Ayanna Alexander (triple jump), Cleopatra Borel-Brown (shot put), Reyare Thomas (4x100m), Sparkle Mc Knight (4x100m); Dexter Voisin (manager), Dr Ian Hypolite (head coach), Edwin Skinner (sprint/hurdles coach), Gunness Persad (sprint/hurdles coach), Ismael Lopez Mastrapa (throws coach)
Boxing
Carlos Suarez (Light Flyweight 46-49kg); Reynold Cox (manager/coach), Raulson Dopwell (coach)
Cycling
Njisane Phillip (sprint, keirin); Peter Maharaj (manager/coach)
Sailing
Andrew Lewis (laser); Kairon Serrette (manager), Fernando Alegre (coach)
Shooting
Roger Daniel (50m pistol, 10m air pistol); Altansetseg Byambajav (manager/coach)
Swimming
George Bovell III (100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle); George Bovell II (manager/coach)
www.guardian.co.tt
IOC finances defy global turbulence
Governments and banks may be collapsing, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has arrived in London in rude financial health.
This much was made clear at the 124th IOC Session by Richard Carrión, chairman of the IOC's Finance Commission and a possible contender to replace President Jacques Rogge (pictured) when he steps down next year.
Carrión confirmed – as disclosed by insidethegames in May – that the total raised by selling Olympic broadcasting rights for 2009-2012 had shot ahead to $3.91 billion (£2.51 billion/€3.24 billion) from just $2.57 billion (£1.65 billion/€2.13 billion) in the four years to the Beijing 2008 Games.
But he also revealed that $3.7 billion (£2.38 billion/€3.06 billion) in broadcast revenues has already been contracted for the next four-year period, culminating with Rio 2016 – with "still quite a few territories to be negotiated in the next few months".
A further $2.6 billion (£1.67 billion/€2.15 billion) in broadcast income has already been contracted for 2017-2020, with the choice of the 2020 Summer Games host still more than a year away.
In a set of figures whose robustness was described as "an extraordinary event" by Kevin Gosper, a veteran IOC member from Australia, Carrión showed that the Movement's assets had continued to edge ahead during the recent months of global financial turbulence and now stood at some $564 million (£364 million/€468 million).
In a lengthy contribution, Samih Moudallal, the IOC member for Syria, urged Carrión to "look closely" at how the IOC's funds were invested, arguing that investments in shares could be dangerous and lead to the IOC's assets being reduced.
Carrión replied that, while most of the body's investments were in fixed income instruments, the IOC also invested in real estate, commodities and equity markets.
"I think we have protected the value of [our] capital having come through difficult financial times," he said.
By David Owen at the Grosvenor House in London
Source: www.insidethegames.biz