Olympians fitting farewell

Charlie Payne | 23rd November 2009

OLYMPIAN Steven Lambert has bowed out of hockey with the state’s highest awards, content in the knowledge that Mackay players are continuing his tradition of competing against the world’s best.

Goalkeeper Lambert, who represented Queensland since 1998 and has a stack of medals from the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, World Cup and Champions Trophy, on Saturday night was honoured with Queensland Hockey’s player of the year and people’s choice awards.

“It’s nice to be recognised at the end of my career,” he said yesterday.

Lambert said he decided in June this year to retire officially from national and state competition to concentrate on his electrical business in Brisbane, as well as his wife Angie and new baby Lucia, three months.

Angie, a regular with the Hockeyroos, has also retired from the sport.

While Lambert has retired, a former Mackay player and team-mate of his from the Queensland Blades, defender Matt Swann, is just starting his international career.

Swann, 20, has been chosen for the Kookaburras to play in this week’s Champions Trophy in Melbourne, and played for Australia on the weekend in a tournament lead-up against Spain in Perth.

“I wish him all the best, it’s nice to know a Mackay player is in the national side,” Lambert said.

“He’s worked hard and been rewarded for that.”
While the London Olympics in 2012 is more than two years ago, Lambert said Swann had a very good chance of emulating him and representing Australia at the highest level.

“A lot will happen in that time, but he’s a very good chance of developing and getting himself into a good position for selection.”
Lambert said he was more than satisfied with what he had achieved in his career, which started when he first played hockey at Moranbah in 1988 with his cousin Michael Hurley.

He moved to Mackay and started playing hockey with Norths in 1993, winning a premiership in 1996, before being talent identified for the QAS in Brisbane by coach Greg Browning, who with Barry Dancer have been major influences on his career.

“I have been fortunate in my career to have two coaches who are so knowledgeable in the game and have been able to point me in the right direction.”

Lambert won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, along with two gold medals each from the Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy, and World Cup silver.

“I’ve achieved what I wanted and more.”

Cycle rally for Games awareness

NEW DELHI: With an aim to create awareness on the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, the Delhi Knowledge Development Foundation under the aegis of Department of Training and Technical Education of the Delhi government is organizing a Commonwealth Games Awareness Cycle Rally today at 8.30 am. Chief minister Sheila Dikshit would flag off the 15-kilometre rally from Rajghat.


Around 200 students from almost 15 technical institutions in the capital, including Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology, Ambedkar Institute of Technology, GB Pant Engineering College, Jaffarpur Engineering College, Bhai Parmanand Institute of Business Studies, Kasturba Polytechnic for Women and Meera Bai Polytechnic for Women would be participating in the rally. All students participating in the rally would be provided sports kits which also includes track suit, cap and shoes.


The rally would commence from Rajghat and cover Ajmeri Gate, Paharganj, Ranj Jhansi Marg, Old Baraf Khana, Tees Hazari, ISBT, Mori Gate, GPO, Red Fort and culminate at Rajghat. The rally will be lead by Vibhakar Shrimali, deputy director, DTTE. 

Delhi ready to host 2010 Commonwealth Games: Patil

London/New Delhi, Oct. 27 - ANI: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, who is currently on a visit to the United Kingdom where she will official accept the baton to signal the launch of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October 2010, has told the BBC that the Indian capital is fully geared to stage the mega sporting event.


"No. Delhi is quite prepared and they (the visitors) can come, they are most welcome and Delhi is very, very ready to welcome all those people who want to come here. No problem," Patil said in an interview to BBC television.


Patil further went to state that her visit to London, the first by an Indian Head of State after nearly two decades, is aimed at strengthening the India-UK strategic partnership that was conceived in January 2004.


Describing the United Kingdom as India's fifth largest global partner in trade, Patil said her country looks forward to more investment.


"Now, mutual trade has gone up to 12 billion pounds...The UK is also the fourth largest investor in India and India is the third largest investor in the UK, second largest so far as creation and securing jobs are concerned," said Patil.


Accepting the fact that Britain is experiencing one of its longest periods of recession in history, Patil, however, said that inspite of this adverse situation, there was plenty of scope and opportunities in both countries to improve, and or, increase trade relations.


"We think that in spite of this adverse situation (economic slowdown), there are plenty of scope and opportunities in both countries to improve trading relationship," she said.


On the issue of terrorism and the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, Patil described it as a crime against humanity, and urged the international community to work together to counter such audacious attacks by terrorists.


On the issue of climate change, which likely to be addressed in greater detail during the Copenhagen Summit in December, Patil said the UK and other countries have the technological knowhow and skills to assist lesser developed countries counter the problem.


"India wants to have cooperation in that field and also financial assistance so that we can also take immediate action on that," she said.


"About eight missions have been set up for that (climate change). India is seriously looking into this, how to fight this. We are working on conservation of energy and new renewable sources. We look forward to having cooperation with the UK," she added.


She also revealed that in the cuurent time of global recession, India was focussed on inclusive growth, with a special emphasis on improving standards of education and rural health. India, she said, was also for promoting the empowerment of women, and in this regard, the government has created a national mission for social and economic empowerment. - ANI 

No need to worry on Commonwealth Games security: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: "No player, no participant, no coach, no trainer, no visitor, no spectator" to the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October 2010 need to have any worry on account of security. 


This firm assurance was given by Home Minister P Chidambaram, who said a very comprehensive security plan has been drawn up for the October 3-14 sporting extravaganza. 


"We will provide fool-proof security," Chidambaram said in an interview. 


Asked specifically whether he had any concerns about the safety of the sportsmen during the Games, Chidambaram said "Every international sports event in the world must factor in security. Be it World Cup football, Olympics or Commonwealth Games. So, we have factored in security. 


"We have a very comprehensive security plan. The plan has been presented to the CWG Federation. The security personnel of the participating countries came to Delhi a few weeks ago and they were given a full presentation. I am told that they have expressed satisfaction with the security plan that we presented for the CWG," he said. 


Asked whether he would like to assure the participating nations that India does not face a greater threat than any other country, the home minister said there were many other countries that faced a greater threat.

Govt committed to ensuring grand success of C'wealth Games: Sheila

Posted by: Agencies

The government is committed to ensuring grand success of the next year's Commonwealth Games which would enhance the image of the capital, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said here on Monday.

The Chief Minister, who visited Talkatora and Shivaji Stadiums along with senior officers to review the preparedness there, said all the stadiums and games venues would be upgraded well before the commencement of the sporting event.

Talkatora stadium which is the venue for boxing and swimming is being upgraded and refurbished by NDMC at a cost of Rs 150 crores.

"This is going to be a disabled-friendly and environment friendly venue. It would have state-of-the-art infrastructure and finish. Construction is going on in full swing and the work would be completed in December," Dikshit said. The Chief Minister was also apprised of the various features of the Shivaji Stadium which is being re-developed at a cost of Rs 100 crores for Hockey venue.

2010 Commonwealth Games—estimated to be the most expensive Games yet

Ratna Bhushan, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: Cricket and big bucks may be synonymous, but the 2010 Commonwealth Games—estimated to be the most expensive Games yet—is hoping to beat cricket at its own game, setting a total ad revenue target of Rs 1,000 crore.

The Games organising committee and global sports marketing agencies Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM) and World Sports Group (WSG), which are handling the marketing of the Games, have opened talks with marquee advertisers for sponsorship deals, and hope to raise over Rs 1,000 crore from the mega event.

That’s significantly higher than what Indian Premier League (IPL)—the biggest money-spinner in the cricket world currently—raised. Corporates that have been approached include Bharti Airtel, Tata group, Idea, Vodafone, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Hero Honda, Maruti, General Motors and Reliance, among others.

According to the plan, multiple partnership and sponsorship slots have been offered, which include Rs 100 crore each for two lead sponsors (lead partners) and Rs 50 crore each for 10 associate sponsors (partners). Asking rates for the 12 sponsors have been pegged at Rs 25 crore each.

Besides, there will be sponsorship slots like suppliers, travel, hospitality, apparel, and more.

The chairman and managing director of India’s second largest media buying house, Madison Media, Sam Balsara said, “The rates are steep on the face of it, but with clever marketing, the targets could be achieved.” Madison Media buys advertising space and airtime across media for Bharti Airtel and Coca-Cola.

The big-ticket sponsorship deals are expected to be sold as a package, as a combination of on-ground and on-air sponsorships. The event, estimated to cost over $1.6 billion, will be broadcast by Doordarshan and DD Sports. “Discussions are at the second or third stage and could be closed in one to two months,” said an official, who did not want to named.

Rockies unsurprised by 11-game streak

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com

DENVER -- The delirium of the Coors Field crowd rang in the ears of manager Jim Tracy after Saturday night's 5-3 victory over the Mariners, when it hit him that his players weren't delirious, and had no reason to be.

"It dawned on me that with a number of guys on this club, this is not uncharted waters to be where they're at right now," Tracy said.

The Rockies would win again Sunday to bring their win streak to 11 games to tie a club record. And most of those in uniform vividly remember the other streak. That one ended the 2007 regular season -- the 9-8, 13-inning victory in a one-game showdown with the Padres counted in the streak. The club also swept the National League Division and Championship series, so this team has experienced winning beyond 11 straight.

Understandably, around the baseball world the Rockies' current streak is being greeted with a degree of surprise. This team performed so poorly out of the gate that the front office made a managerial change, from Clint Hurdle to Tracy. The Rockies have to extend the streak to a dozen on Tuesday night against the Rays at Coors Field to bring their record to .500.

But all along, the Rockies knew they were capable of such success. And they knew how to achieve it, partly because they've been reminded of it since Spring Training began in Tucson, Ariz.

"We knew we weren't playing to our capabilities," said Rockies second baseman Clint Barmes, who has become a solid hitter in the No. 2 spot in the order during the streak. Barmes' 22 hits since June 1 put him in a tie for the Major League lead for this month. "I bet it was only a matter of time. I was actually surprised it took as long as it did, to be honest."

Before the streak, the Rockies were 10-3 in games in which they scored at least six runs. That's a lot of runs to need to have a chance to win.

In the first four games, the Rockies outscored opponents 38-10. But the Rockies kept the streak going by prevailing in closer and lower-scoring games. The Rockies have exceeded six runs just twice in the last seven games, which have included two one-run and three two-run games.

Low-scoring games are impossible without strong starting pitching, and Rockies starters are 10-0 with a 2.49 ERA during the run.

There was only one time during the run a starter went fewer than six innings, and that was Sunday when Jason Hammel didn't return after rain and tornado warnings forced a delay after he had gone 5 1/3 innings. During the run, Rockies starters have 59 strikeouts to 22 walks and Aaron Cook and Jason Marquis have sub-2.00 ERAs. Ubaldo Jimenez has a complete game and an eight-inning start, and Hammel (in three starts) and Jorge De La Rosa (in two starts) each have 15 strikeouts.

"The way the starting rotation has pitched the last two weeks has been outstanding," said long reliever Josh Fogg, a starter during the 2007 streak. "Everything starts with pitching. If those guys do a good job for six, seven, eight innings, it allows the bullpen to line up a little better."

A solid bullpen, led by reigning co-National League Player of the Week Huston Street, has a 2.70 ERA during the run.

The Rockies have had competent starting pitching for much of the year, as evidenced by their 37 quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer runs), but too often poor offensive execution left those starts wasted.

Now that's changing. Saturday, after the Mariners committed three eighth-inning errors, the Rockies broke a 3-3 tie with sacrifice flies by Chris Iannetta and Barmes. Earlier, the Rockies might have blown the chance, with hitters later talking about "trying to do too much."

A poster child for executing when it counts is right fielder Brad Hawpe. He knocked an RBI double in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh in a come-from-behind, 4-2 victory over the Brewers. His RBI double Friday against the Mariners broke a seventh-inning tie.

While Hawpe has been one of the most consistent performers over the course of the season, several others have stepped up during the streak. Over the 11 victories, formerly slumping shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has hit .383 with three home runs while playing in nine of the games; Barmes has hit .383 with a team-high 11 RBIs; Todd Helton has hit .351 with 10 RBIs, and Ian Stewart has hit .333 with four homers.

Did all that work on fundamentals this spring suddenly bring everything together? What has the managerial change had to do with it? Can it be explained?

"We don't have an answer," Tulowitzki said. "We're just doing what it takes to win games."