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Sport Performance Weekly
October 29th, 2007 |
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The Calgary Herald - To absolutely no one’s surprise, Jeremy Wotherspoon has reclaimed a spot on Canada’s long track speed skating team. The multi-time World Cup and world sprint champion locked up a spot during the four-day team trials staged during the past four days at the Olympic Oval.
Wotherspoon returned from a year-long sabbatical away from the sport to lower his national record in the 500 metres to 34.36 and crack one of his best times ever at 1,000 metres to easily lock up a spot at both of those positions.
Veterans Mike Ireland and Denny Morrison, along with Vince Labrie and Mark Nielsen will complete the 500 squad, while Morrison, Francois-Olivier Roberge, Steven Elm and Jeff Kitura round out the 1,000-metre crew. Morrison also will compete at 1,500 metres and in team pursuit.
Members of last season’s world championship team were pre-selected with the trials filling out the five spots in all distances for Canada’s World Cup season.
In Sunday’s wrap-up action, Justin Warsylewicz finished second to favoured Arne Dankers of Calgary at 10,000 metres. The distance offered up the most vacant positions—four. Hence, Warsylewicz, third-place finisher Aaron Sadlier, fourth-place finisher Lucas Makowski and Elm grabbed the spots.
Once again, the women’s team will be led by Olympic Games medallists Cindy Klassen, Clara Hughes, Kristina Groves and Christine Nesbitt. Klassen will compete at all five distances (500, 1,000, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000) plus team pursuit.
Hughes wrapped up the trials by finishing second to Czech Martina Sablikova at 5,000 metres, while Klassen was third. |
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Matt McMurray, Regan Lauscher and the Moffat brothers all captured national titles in their respective disciplines (men’s and women’s singles and men’s doubles) on the Olympic Track in Calgary at the 2007 Canadian Luge Championships on Sunday evening.
The 22-year-old McMurray, of Calgary, knocked off Canada’s Olympic luge athletes to claim his first national title. “This was a very big day for me to win my first championship, but also because it was a selections race,” said McMurray. “I knew I can go fast on this ice and race with our best athletes, and to do it today is a great feeling.”
Fellow Calgarians, Sam Edney and Ian Cockerline finished second and third respectively.
Two-time Olympian, Regan Lauscher, grabbed her seventh national title in the women’s singles race. Lauscher, of Red Deer, Alta., set the time to beat. “For me this is an indicator that I’m at the top of my game and is a huge confidence booster heading into the World Cup season, especially since I missed Canadians last year because of an injury,” said the 27-year-old Lauscher. “I treat the Canadian Championships seriously. It is good to get focused, put on the race suit and get those extra runs on the track. This puts me in a good frame of mind.”
Lauscher was joined on the podium by teammates, Meaghan Simister, of Regina, and Monica Gorham, of Calgary.
The Moffat brothers of Chris and Mike had their sled in fine form as they captured their third consecutive Canadian Championship title in the men’s doubles category. “We have been sliding really well lately, and today had to put the edge on our steels to win,” said the 25-year-old Moffat, who is the younger of the two brothers. “We were pushed hard today, and we are really excited to start competing on the World Cup.”
Rounding out the men’s doubles podium was Grant Albrecht and Eric Pothier in second, while Cameron Gunn and David Adair finished third.
The Canadian Luge Team and its new world-leading coaching staff will be officially introduced during a media conference, October 30, at 11 a.m. in the Ice House at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. |
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Dűsseldorf, GER—Canada’s cross-country skiing duo of Sean Crooks and Phil Widmer joined forces to finish 17th in the World Cup team skate-sprint relay in Dűsseldorf, Germany on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Crooks, of Thunder Bay, Ont., skied the opening leg of the 1.5-kilometre trek through the downtown streets of Dűsseldorf, while the 23-year-old Widmer, of Banff, Alta., anchored the leading Canadian team. With each athlete skiing the course three times, the Canadian team finished with a combined time of 18 minutes 42.7 seconds. The athletes hand-off to their teammates between each leg.
“This is a difficult time of year as athletes are recovering from intense training periods and are not peaking right now,” said Yves Bilodeau, head wax technician for the Canadian team. “Our guys put in a great effort for an early-season race and we think it was a good experience for them.”
The world’s best cross-country skiers who descended on the downtown streets of Dűsseldorf battled warm conditions, with temperatures climbing to 11 Celcius, and slushy man-made snow for the opening World Cup event of the season.
Dave Nighbor, of North Bay, Ont., and Stefan Kuhn, of Canmore, Alta., also hit the start line to form the Canada II team. The two Canucks posted a combined time of 19:42.9 to finish in 31st position.
Canada did not field a women’s team as Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont., was ill. Chandra Crawford, of Canmore, Alta., finished 10th in Saturday’s World Cup sprint race.
Crawford wasted no time at the sound of the bell to jump in the ring and face the battle waiting for her against the world’s best top cross-country ski athletes. “I learned really quickly about what it means to get back on the snow and fight with six girls. It is a huge shock to the system after six months of training on our own,” said Crawford. “It was great to welcome the start of winter again today, and I was thrilled with my performance and ability to regroup and meet the challenge.” |
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New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal- Canada’s best athletes are spending a lot of time with Dartfish these days and not the kind that live under the sea.
Dartfish is video analysis software that the country’s winter and summer athletes use to make their takeoffs more powerful, strides more efficient, ski turns tighter and aerial somersaults loftier and prettier. " A picture tells a thousand words, but this can tell a million," said Dr. Peter Davis, the director of sport science for Canada’s winter and summer sport programs: Own The Podium and Road To Excellence.
Video analysis in sports isn’t new, but certain tricks of Dartfish are.
For example, video of Canadian Jan Hudec’s silver-medal run at the world alpine ski championships in February can be overlayed on top of champion Aksel Lund Svindal’s and Hudec can see for himself where Svindal took a gate tighter or carried more speed than he did.
Florian Linder, the strength and starts coach for Bobsleigh Canada, can massage the video to draw angles and demonstrate to brakeman Sabrina Notarangelo of Windsor, Ont., that her back should be straighter on her first step pushing the sled.
Dartfish can save money. Linder says he doesn’t have to be in Europe with the World Cup team to coach them in their starts.
The coaches there send him video, which he breaks down for each athlete, adding comments in text and audio form and e-mails it back. « There’s so much you can do with it, » Linder said. « It’s going to make coaching a lot more efficient and a lot more effective. »
While some sports and coaches are still getting to know Dartfish, Neal Marshall, the coach of Olympic gold medal speedskater Cindy Klassen, has been using it for four years. « To me, the biggest thing is just the ease of, boom, immediately showing the skater something you want to show them, » Marshall explained. « The way it catalogues the clips, it’s very easy to just click on a name, click on a specific distance or part of a race you want to see and it’s right there. The old days, we’d have to search through a 90-minute videotape to try to find it. »
In one analysis session, Marshall put video of Jeff Kitura’s 500-metre race alongside veteran Jeremy Wotherspoon’s in a feature called Simulcam and, freeze- framing it start to finish, was able to show the 28-year-old from Langley, B.C. what makes Wotherspoon so fast. « There’s a big difference between describing technique and seeing it right in front of you, » Kitura said.
Seeing is believing.
« The video clips show to what extreme something is happening that they may not realize or something they might not grasp because my explanation isn’t good enough, » Marshall said.
It’s one tool Canada has picked up in its quest to finish first at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. |
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Canadian Sport News -
KOBE, Japan - François-Louis Tremblay of Montreal won the silver medal in the men’s 500-metres then helped Canada to another silver in the men’s relay on Sunday to conclude the second stop on the short track speed skating World Cup circuit.
Amanda Overland of Montreal and Charles Hamelin of Ste-Julie, Que., added bronze medals. Canada ended the weekend with five podium appearances. “My strength is my speed and it was hard to go fast on this ice,” said Tremblay, who won the 500 last weekend in China. “There are other elements you need to add to a race under these conditions. I just needed another half a lap but I couldn’t get the speed I needed at the end.”
Alex Boisvert-Lacroix of Sherbrooke, Que., and Steve Robillard of Montreal were eliminated in the quarterfinals for 11th and 12th overall respectively.
In the men’s 5,000-metre relay, South Korea capitalized on some equipment problems for one of the Canadian skaters and took the gold. The Canadians with Tremblay, Robillard, Marc-André Monette of Pointe-aux Trembles, Que., and Charles Hamelin of Ste-Julie, Que., were second. China was third.
“Unfortunately one of our skaters (Robillard) had trouble with one of his blades,” said Tremblay. “It was just a bit of bad luck. Still with three guys able to go fast we did extremely well and kept pace with the Koreans most of the way. It’s good to know we have that ability.”
In the women’s 1,000, South Korea posted a 1-2 finish with Sun-Yu Jin first and Shin-Young Yang in second. Overland captured Canada’s first individual medal in women’s competition this season placing third. “I’m very pleased with the medal,” said Overland. “My best race of the day was in the semifinal. And in the final I really felt on it and ready. I tried to control the race as much as possible but the Koreans got me a little bit. Still, I stayed with it until the end.”
In the men’s 1,000, South Korea was 1-2 again while Hamelin collected his second medal this weekend earning the bronze.
Michael Gilday of Yellowknife and Marc-André Monette of Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., were second and third in the B final for sixth and seventh overall.
In the women’s 500, China took two of the three medals with Meng Wang earning the gold. Jessica Gregg of Edmonton and Anne Maltais of Quebec City were eliminated in the quarterfinals for 10th and 13th respectively.
In the women’s 3,000 relay, Canada won the B final for fifth overall with Gregg, Maltais, Overland and Do-Duc. China won the gold. |
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The Toronto Star -
While the cameras surged forward to capture a glimpse of hockey star Mike Bossy and baseball slugger Larry Walker at yesterday’s Canadian Sports Hall of Fame inductions, diminutive wrestler Daniel Igali slipped quietly to one side.
Bossy and Walker were turned out in natty suits - Walker wore a tux for the photo shoot. Igali was dressed more modestly in a blazer and jeans. The contrast was a reminder of the gulf in fame and fortune that separates pro and amateur athletes.
On the podium, the composition of yesterday’s six athlete inductees said something more about the changing face of Canadian sport. Beside Nigerian emigre Igali stood double Olympic gold medallist and captain of the national women’s hockey team, Cassie Campbell. Though the 102nd hockey inductee into the hall, Campbell is the first female representative of our national game.
A little further down was champion skier Beckie Scott. Like Campbell, Scott is the first woman cross-country skier included.
The honourees in the builders’ category, Sam Jacks and Dr. Robert Steadward, represent ringette and the Paralympic movement, respectively.
This year’s inductees stood as testament to the breadth of the games we play and the diversity of those who play them.
« I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we have a lot more sports in this country than hockey, » said Campbell. « I can’t even believe I’m the first female (hockey) player.»
«Tonight is the pinnacle of my career, » Olympic champion Scott said. She was not awarded her gold medal until two years after the Salt Lake games, when the two competitors ahead of her were eliminated for doping.
Scott has been a tireless critic of drugs in sport, something that made her unpopular in certain circles. Yesterday was another step in her ongoing vindication. The triumph showed in her eyes. « I think this symbolizes a great day for women in sport, » Scott said, gesturing toward Campbell.
Even football star Doug Flutie added some outsider glamour as the first non- Canadian inducted in the hall’s 52 years of existence.
Flutie’s New England is some ways off the Nigeria of Daniel Igali’s youth.
He characterized his former life in Africa’s largest nation as « growing up on the margins of human existence. »
Arriving in this country as a 20-year-old refugee, Igali eventually found his way to the gold medal podium at the Sydney Olympics.
His triumphant lap around the wrestling mat with the maple leaf flag wrapped around his shoulders is an iconic Olympic image. Campbell called it « one of the proudest Canadian moments I’ve ever seen. » « With racial issues or tensions going on, you need to make people like you realize that someone else chose this path, » Igali said, referring to his career.
Later, reflecting on what his new home signifies to immigrants, Igali said softly, « Canada is heaven. »
In the near term, Igali is committed to a sports academy in his native country.
He hopes another venture into politics is in his future.
While a lot of emotion swirled around the room, it was a stand-in that seemed most moved. Bruce Jacks was on hand in his father, Sam’s, stead. The creator of ringette died in 1975, just before the game he’d given birth to began to gain international recognition.
Yesterday, Bruce Jacks emotionally paid tribute to the life of his father. Like several others beside him, Jacks’ fondest thoughts were preserved for the Canadians still being influenced by sporting pioneers. Campbell, Igali and Scott echoed over and over the positive affect they hoped to have on young athletes. Jacks had one person in particular in mind. « We’ve had several honours this year for my father, » Jacks said, tears welling in his eyes. « But the highlight for me is that my granddaughter has started playing ringette. » |
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The Vancouver Sun
- A Maple Ridge woman has won the first lottery prize for tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony.
Gwen Blair, 76, had always dreamed about attending an Olympic opening ceremony and on Feb. 12, 2010 her dream will become a reality, the B.C. Lottery Corp. said Friday in a news release. “It’s unbelievable, like a fairy tale,” Blair said in the release. “I was watching the news and when they said the odds of winning were one in 5,000, I thought those were pretty good odds. Even if I don’t win, the money goes to a good cause. So I bought a ticket and I won.”
Blair, a mother of two, said she plans to take her daughter Margo, and that her favourite thing about watching the Olympic Games is watching the athletes march in at the opening ceremony. “I’m a big fan. I love watching hockey, downhill skiing and luge. I have a big Canadian flag at home. I just love this country,” she said.
Through the $5 SportsFunder First Tickets to 2010, lottery players have the chance to win one of 100 pairs of tickets to the opening ceremony and $1,000. The lottery also offers cash prizes, and the corporation says the overall odds of winning any prize are about one in four.
The winning ticket was purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart on Dewdney Trunk Road. Proceeds from the sale of SportsFunder lottery games support amateur sports in B.C |
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Agence France Presse English
- BEIJING, Oct 28, 2007 (AFP) - Up to 1.85 million tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will go on sale in China this week, organisers announced Sunday, six months after fans snapped up the first tranche of seats.
The release Tuesday of more tickets will give local fans a second chance to book a place at the August 8-24 Games.
China put 2.2 million tickets on offer for the home market in April and within a month more than a million had sold, with applications for key events massively oversubscribed and many sports fans disappointed.
Chinese residents will be allocated tickets on a “first come, first serve basis,” the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) said on its website.
In an effort to curb ticket touting, BOCOG has implemented a system requiring buyers to register their personal identities, but already a black market has emerged, with prices soaring for some events. Chinese fans are paying 25 times the official rate for tickets to see Liu Xiang, China’s 110m hurdles world champion, defend his Olympic title at the Games, state press reports said.
Ticket prices for other popular sports are also fetching up to 10 times face value.
Organisers said tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies sold out during the first phase of booking done through a computer lottery system that began on April 15.
A total of 1.59 million tickets were sold during the phase, with buyers largely interested in the opening and closing ceremonies and popular sports such as basketball, men’s football, diving and table tennis.
Seven million tickets will be sold for the 2008 games, with more than five million allocated to the host country.
Each person will be limited to 50 tickets, while sales for some events may be restricted to two purchases only, depending on their popularity.
Remaining tickets will be sold off from April next year.
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OTTAWA, October 25, 2007 - Two new studies, conducted concurrently for the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) by researchers from Queens’ University and Dalhousie University, are expected to lead the way in effectively involving New Canadians in coaching and the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), Canada’s leading edge coach training and education program.
The Dalhousie University study was led by Dr. Susan Tirone of Halifax, the associate director (Graduate Studies) and associate professor in the School of Health and Human Performance, and Dr. Lori Livingstone, the school’s director and also of Halifax. This study explored issues of participation by volunteers from newcomer and minority ethnic communities, how to enhance participation in coaching and the NCCP, and the impact of Canada’s multiculturalism policy as a tool of social integration.
The Queen’s University study, led by Dr. Jean Côté of Kingston, Ont., a professor and the director of the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, focused on the personal experiences of successfully engaged New Canadian coaches by examining their coaching activities and sport and recreational experiences.
Both studies were made possible through the generous support of RBC Foundation. “RBC Foundation wants to be involved in any project that helps to remove barriers, perceived or real, that prevent put New Canadian populations from participating fully in all that Canada has to offer,” says Stephen Voisin, executive director of RBC Foundation. “We are proud to participate in this landmark research.”
The Dalhousie study found that newcomers and sport officials, coaches, and volunteers hold different perceptions and expectations about Canadian sport and coaching. It noted concerns about how best to include newcomers in coaching and sport, identified barriers related to cost and language, and questioned who is or should be responsible for inclusion. It found that existing policies failed to clearly define strategies for addressing and resolving discrimination and that sport organizations need explicit mechanisms of information flow, delivery, and dissemination to newcomer communities.
Recommendations include developing policies for the inclusion of newcomers in coaching and sport, exploring alternative mechanisms and opportunities to entry into coaching by New Canadians, developing and distributing information packages on coaching opportunities for New Canadians, and providing sport associations with direction and incentives to improve methods of recruiting newcomers. It also suggested that the NCCP develop a sociology module that enhances understanding about social conditions, including gender, ethnicity and race, religion and socio-economic status.
The Queen’s study identified two groups of coaches - the career coach and the family-oriented coach - and found that for both groups, specific and universal barriers include language difficulties, a lack of time, a lack of information on how to get involved in coaching, a perceived lack of opportunity and access, maladjustment and difficulties in acclimatizing to the new culture, and a lack of facilities.
Recommendations for improving the situation targeted recruitment strategies, recognition of non-Canadian coaching credentials, sponsorship of immigrant coaches, training experienced New Canadians as NCCP course conductors, offering evening NCCP courses, and promoting the NCCP to New Canadian populations.
“These studies break new ground and have important implications for sport in Canada,” says John Bales, CAC’s chief executive officer. “Their findings provide a starting point in our efforts to reach out to New Canadians and involve them as coaches at all levels of the sport system.” |
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Panel Presentation on Media and Sport, Wednesday, October 31st from 2:00-3:30 pm.
The panel will be open to the public with the following panelists already confirmed:
Jermaine Franklin from TSN, Bruce Dowbiggin from the Calgary Herald, Jock Wilson from QR77, Eric Francis from the Calgary Sun and Jack FM, Chris Dornan from CODA and Joslin Green, Publisher of True Player Magazine.
Potential Questions could include:
- Is there a potential of social networking websites to take value out of sports?
- How do changing tastes and media consumption habits impact the audience for sport and, consequently, the business models and revenue streams of media and marketing organisations?
- How does the emergence of sites including YouTube where the users by-pass the established sports media value chain by posting content which can be viewed free by audiences anywhere in the world have an impact?
- Can can sport retain and build its value and relevance as content in a digital media world?
- How will developing technologies impact business models and advertising opportunities around sport?
- Who will hold the balance of power in sports media?
- What’s the role of public broadcasters in the future of sport?
- Is new media a lifeline or concrete boots for ‘minority’ sports?
- Will new media mean new competition and further inflation in sports rights fees?
- How has the industry evolved and changed; what are the pros and cons |
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