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ELV's For those of you who do not know the meaning of ELVs, it stands for experimental law variations. Rugby Union has just experienced a past season which incorporated radical ELVs. The process appears to have been an unequivocal disaster reducing games to a saga of kicks rather than scrums and the driving maul. The idea of ELV's may sound positive in theory but not so good in practice; and the idea that making a series of changes all at the same time is a good strategy, will likely not stand up to scrutiny. The cost of trialing new rules to an established sport are substantial; and in this case it would appear that making changes which lead to less excitement and enjoyment for the fans has proved a big step backwards. And then of course there are the costs involved in defending these 'decisions' - all of which add up to a large burden for a sport which should be doing everything possible to maintain and increase its fan base.
One of the past problems with drug testing is the
ability (or inability) to ensure that athletes know that there is someone 'on site' who is
there to take a sample. It is not unusual for a player to complete their training and then
leave. Instead, in the UK, the testing body UK Sport has now agreed that thirty elite football players will submit to five tests a year in addition to those conducted after matches. The procedure would require that these individuals nominate a specific location at which they would be available for one hour between 6.00am and 11.00pm each day. Personally, I prefer the 'combo' mobile phone and
specific location variation. The belt and braces approach. As announced to its General Assembly on 27 March in Denver, USA, GAISF will provide centralized anti-doping advice, support and services to IFs that need them, with the objective of ensuring that they implement and enforce anti-doping rules and programmes in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code. The GAISF programme will operate from Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC and WADA will contribute toward costs. GAISF will hire an anti-doping manager, who should be operational and provide expert advice and services in the coming months. "The IOC is happy to support this cooperative effort to help International Sports Federations fight doping," said IOC President Jacques Rogge. "We have to work together to rid sport of cheaters. The IOC is more than ever committed to that effort, and welcomes this new initiative." "Through unity and synergies, we believe that the world of sport will be stronger when tackling global challenges together," added GAISF President Hein Verbruggen. "Anti-doping is a major issue for IFs today, and organizing together the fight against doping will enable us to reduce costs and the administrative burden on IFs. This is one of GAISF's commitments: better service and support for our members." "As the monitor of the global fight against doping in sport and the guardian of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA is very pleased to contribute to the establishment of this anti-doping support for IFs," said WADA Director General David Howman. "Over the past four years, WADA has successfully experienced a similar collective resource approach with the establishment of Regional Anti-Doping Organizations in regions of the world with limited resources. This model has allowed the implementation of anti-doping programmes in numerous regions with significant economies of scale. We are looking forward to starting to work with GAISF on this matter."
Politics will always play its part in the world of sport. In the course of time it will become apparently whether the sports industry is negatively affected by the Global Recession. While corporate sponsors may be melting away, many punters are splashing out on the big event as a treat during hard times. As the attendance of events shift and the corporates play a smaller role, both in terms of attendance and sponsorship, the sports industry is making the most of its ability to recreate and re-invent. Take a look back a little over 10 years and the relationship between politics and sport was just as 'flexible' as it is today. New documents, recently published in accordance with the Freedom of information Act illustrate the point. Then Prime Minister Tony Blair was around six months into his first term when he met up with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone. Following the meeting, Blair gave the all-clear and a permanent exemption to the sport and defied the scope of what appeared to have been a 'universal' piece of legislation: the tobacco advertising ban. Look no further back to the start of the new millennium and the feel-good factor around
the sports industry is still obvious. The Inland Revenue has written off more than £28
million owed by 18 struggling football clubs. The question remains whether the public
values the game of footie enough to take on these rather large financial 'hits'?  waiting patientlyThe International Confex at Earls Court this year had a welcome addition to the agenda: a day conference entitled Events 2012 and Beyond. This was billed as the answer to all the questions that every events related businesses wished to put to the team of experts from around the globe including representation from TOP sponsors Coca-Cola and Visa. But were their questions answered? As the one-day conference drew to a
close it became clear that expectant delegates were seeking a positive response to the
'big' question. Will they be able to sign contracts and get going NOW after London
2012 has been singing from the rooftops the opportunities since winning the Olympic and
Paralympic Games in 2005? It is fair to say that anyone who suffers a minor sports injury or just an injury due to a stumble, maturing bones, or over ambitious activity is looking for a quick fix! Well now there is a modern solution to tearing a ligament or tennis elbow. Doctors can inject elite athletes with their own blood - a procedure known as platelet-rich plasma therapy. The blood is injected into the tissue rather than the bloodstream and the effect can be almost miraculous.
Practiced in the USA, two of the Pittsburgh Steelers American Football Team received the treatment before their team went onto to win the SuperBowl earlier this year. PRPT dates back to the 1970's when the treatment was used to mend broken bones. The results appear to have been unanimously successful but both Wada and the IOC have reservations. Blood doping has long been associated with the sport of cycling as a way of enhancing performance. But injecting your own blood into tissue is not seen - at least in the American Football world - as a performance enhancing procedure.
Seven-times winner, Lance Armstrong may find that
after being away from the Tour de France for a number of years that he is still dogged by
'drug related issues'.
There is nothing like a quick bet with the bookies on one of many great sporting events which take place around the world; but online betting has has a 'murky' history in the past. However, in the current credit-crunch climate this is all about to change. Online gaming firm, PartyGaming has reached a landmark deal with US authorities. No longer will industry senior management be at risk of extradition or lengthy jail sentences if they abide by the new rules ….. all of which comes down to money. Basically the solution is simple and straightforward and should probably have been the framework for 'doing business' from the get-go. In the past, when online betting companies 'crossed boundaries and/or set up off-shore HQ's the industry was all set to be challenged by the taxman. As a result, like their competitors, Partygaming's stock fell. In this case from a high of almost 600 in 2007 to a low of just over 100 towards the end of 2008. By April this year with a deal in place with the US
authorities the organization has benefited from a bounce - back up to 250. Almost US$600 million was placed on the Grand National at Aintree but the winning horse Mon Mome and novice jockey Liam Treadwell didn't get a lot of support from the punters - much to the joy of the bookies. This was the fifth time that the gambling industry
'cleaned up' with a 100-1 winner. Tipperary Tim was one of two finishers in 1928;
Greagalach finished at the front of the 66 starters in 1929 - the biggest field in a Grand
National; Caughoo won by 20 lengths in 1947 despite protests that the jockey had taken a
short cut in gloomy weather; and Foinavon came from the behind after steering a course
around a pile-up which brought the entire field to a standstill.
Straight out of the starting blocks from pole position, British F1 driver, Jenson Button clinched his second Formula One title in Melbourne. Button who very recently imagined he may find himself unemployed due to Honda's withdrawal from F1 racing was expected to do well as his new car was thought to be the best of the bunch. And he proved everyone right; which perhaps begs the question, is it the car or the driver that makes for champions? or a combination of both? Few can deny Button's achievement in the context of a perfect drive and the fact that al the drivers were first time out in their new cars driving in the much changed 'cash strapped' season.
But back to the car. Alongside the move to driving costs down - credit crunch related - and the MBO of the Honda team, the redesigned cars are on track to create more overtaking; more exciting races and more equality between teams. Hence the very exciting first two season races! The Overtaking Working Group (OWG) has already seen the fruits of their labour. KERS Kinectic Energy Recovery System is in place in most of the 2009 season cars. In addition, new tyres, an adjustable front wing, rear diffuser and wing and overall cleaner lines. See quiz to check just how much you know!
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The World Anti-Doping Agency, Wada is not entirely in
agreement as how to ensure that soccer - like many other sports - does not avoid its
obligations when it come to drug tests.
Tony Blair's legacy
perhaps the past is coming home to roost
back in the history books
Jenson Button
driving Honda
and out
and in
and always in
