http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/11/24/pe-bain-irun.html

Recognition for autism run

P.E.I. runner Alex Bain has been named one of Canada's most inspirational runners by iRun magazine.

Bain's run for autism awareness is highlighted in the magazine's January issue.

The magazine outlines the 2006 run Bain undertook to raise awareness for autism. During July of that year, Bain covered 20 to 25 kilometres a day in a tip-to-tip run across the province.

Bain was diagnosed with autism when he was three.

2009 iRun Award Winner - Alex Bain

Positively Autistic Advocacy

From CBC TV "The National"
http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/special_feature/positively_autistic/
Positively Autistic

October 27, 2008 (Runs 19:00)

Is autism a disorder, or just a neurological difference?
Meet the people who are working to change the negative view of living with autism

***play video***

CBC Compass News - Alex in a Tale of 3 Runners at the PEI Marathon

Kenya's Wanjiru wins men's Olympic marathon

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletics/story/2008/08/23/olympics-athletics-marathon.html

Kenya's Wanjiru

wins men's Olympic marathon

Kenya's Sammy Wanjiru breaks the tape in Sunday's men's marathon at Beijing.
(Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press)

With a smile on his face and enough strength in his legs to sprint to the finish, Sammy Wanjiru won Kenya's first gold medal in the men's Olympic marathon in record time.

Wanjiru, 21, set a searing pace in the final athletic competition at the Beijing Games, obliterating the Olympic record with a time of two hours 6.32 minutes on Sunday morning.

The previous record of 2:09.21, owned by Portugal's Carlos Lopes, had stood since 1984.

"It feels good to make history here," said Wanjiru, who informed officials afterward that his name was misspelled as 'Wansiru' on the official results sheet.

"It feels good to make history for Kenya and win the gold." Wanjiru pulled away from Moroccan contender Jaouad Gharib with 15 minutes remaining, and entered the National Stadium unchallenged and to a standing ovation.

The jubiliant Kenyan raised his arms in triumph, and, with the crowd cheering him on, proceeded to sprint around the track and break the tape in record time.

"I had to push the pace to tire the other runners," Wanjiru said. "I had to push the pace because my body gets tired in the heat when I slow down."

It was just the third full marathon run by Wanjiru, the world half-marathon champion, and the first Olympic gold in the event for Kenya — a nation defined in the sports world by its excellence in distance running.

"In Kenya, we have many medals," he said. "But I'm glad I have this one."

Gharib, a two-time world champion, took the silver medal in 2:07.16, and Tsegay Kebede streaked past a spent Deriba Merga, his elder Ethiopian teammate, with 200 metres left to claim the bronze in 2:10.00.

No Canadians competed in the event.

Defending champion Stefano Baldini of Italy placed 12th in 2:13.25, despite nursing a tender thigh that doctors ordered him to rest for three days just prior to the Games.

"In the last 10 kilometres, it was unbelievable what the Africans were able to do under these conditions," Baldini said.

Pleasant conditions at outset

Runners were treated to pleasant, less humid conditions and a soft breeze at the outset, but the temperature rose from 21 C to 30 C by the time it concluded.

Most importantly, Beijing's notorious air quality was surprisingly good, leaving observers to wonder whether world record holder Haile Gebrselassie should have competed after all.

Gebrselassie, who set the world mark of 2:04:26 last September in Berlin, competed in the 10,000 metres at Beijing, but the legendary Ethiopian withdrew from the marathon because he feared the city's poor air quality would harm his health over the long haul.

Ninety-eight runners lineup at Tiananmen Square for the start of the race, which meandered through the streets of Beijing, past the fabled Forbidden City and historic Temple of Heaven before looping back to the square and through the city's financial district toward the stadium.

The 42-kilometre route was exposed but relatively flat, with a gradual incline of four kilometres over the first half and a gentle downward slope the rest of the way.

As the marathoners competed outside the Bird's Nest, the performers inside rehearsed for the closing ceremonies (CBC, 6 a.m. ET), much to the delight of fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of the marathoners.

Martin Lel of Kenya set a brisk pace over the initial 15 kilometres of the marathon, covering the distance in 44:36.

Lel posted the swiftest time this season in winning the London Marathon in 2:05.15.

Reigning world champion Luke Kibet, Martin's teammate and a late replacement for injured Robert Cheruiyot, stuck with the chase group before being forced off the course with stomach cramps at 1:25.46.

Lel began to wilt by the halfway mark and relinquished the lead to Wanjiru and Merga, who ran side-by-side with Gharib trailing by 0.04 seconds.

Wanjiru pulled ahead of Merga by two strides at the 1:45.00 mark, with Gharib trailing by 0.01 and Eritrea's Yonas Kifle lurking just 1.28 back.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/08/22/pe-connaughton-grant.html

Olympics over for two Islanders

CBC News

Sprinter Jared Connaughton and his Canadian teammates placed sixth in the men's 4x100 metre relay at the Beijing Olympics, while pentathlete Kara Grant had to settle for a 31st-place finish.

'We've got some work to do, but this team will be back.'— Jared Connaughton

While the Canadian relay team set a seasonal best, it was well back of the winners from Jamaica.

"This would have been an opportunity to just open the steps up and really go for broke, and I think we were just a little bit conservative. And 38.66 in any other given day is a pretty good time, but not in an Olympic final," Connaughton, from P.E.I., told CBC News after the race.

"We've got some work to do, but this team will be back. I'm satisfied we're here, but you know, I'm not satisfied we're not on the podium."

Earlier this week, Connaughton reached the semi-finals in the 200-metre sprint. P.E.I.'s Grant placed 31st in the modern pentathalon with a score of 4,976.

"I have mixed feelings. Obviously, you know, it's great to be here in Beijing competing, and you know I've certainly proved over the years that I am part of a world-class field, but I definitely didn't perform the way that I'd hoped today so, definitely a little bit of disappointment there," Grant said.

This is Grant's second Olympics, and she said she hasn't decided whether she'll attempt to get to the next Games.

The other Canadian in the modern pentathlon, Monica Pinette, finished 27th.

Pentathaletes take part in five events in one day: shooting, fencing, swimming, show jumping and running.

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletics/story/2008/08/22/day-14-olympics-relay.html

Jamaica sets world record in 4x100 relay

CBC Sports

Asafa Powell heads home to give Jamaica the win in the men's sprint relay

at the Beijing Olympics on Friday. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Jamaica set a new world record in the men's 4x100 sprint relay late in Day 14 at the Beijing Olympics.

Asafa Powell ran a sizzling anchor leg to put Jamaica across the finish line in 37.10 seconds.

Nesta Carter led off, followed by Michael Frater and Usain Bolt. It was the first Olympic gold medal in the event for Jamaica.

"I said to Asafa, 'Can we do this?' And he was like, 'Don't worry, man, we got this one."' Bolt said.

Bolt, who set world records in winning the 100 and 200, will leave Beijing with three gold medals. Powell will get gold after finishing a disappointing fifth in the 100 final.

"I pushed myself to help Usain and his quest for three gold medals," Powell said.

Trinidad and Tobago, featuring 100 silver medallist Richard Thompson and Marc Burns, captured silver in the relay in 38.06 seconds. Japan won bronze in 38.15 seconds.

"We simply couldn't compete," said Burns.

Canada was sixth in 38.66 seconds. The Canadian team is made up of Toronto's Pierre Browne, Hank Palmer of Pierrefonds, Que., Anson Henry of Pickering, Ont., and Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I.

"I think overall our exchanges were tight — a little bit too tight and a little bit too close, and we didn't get any ground through the [exchange] zones and we needed that," Henry told CBC Sports.

The team improved on their semifinal time, which was 38.77. Brazil and Germany finished ahead of the Canadians

"We were just a little bit conservative," said Connaughton. "[A time of] 38.66 in any other given day is a pretty good time, but not in an Olympic final, so we got some work to do, but this team will be back."

Jamaica won silver at last year's world championsips — without Bolt — behind the United States. The Americans crashed out in the semifinals, with the baton dropped between Darvis Patton and Tyson Gay.

It is the first time since 1912 that the U.S. men's relay team did not advance to the Olympic final.

Nigeria and Great Britain, too, went from strong medal contenders to out in the semifinals due to a disqualification.

Jamaica has won six gold and 10 medals overall in Beijing. They also have teams entered Saturday in the gold medal finals for the men's and women's 4x400 relays.

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletics/story/2008/08/20/mens-200-final.html

Bolt earns sprint double, breaks world record

2 sprinters disqualified for lane infractions

Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after breaking the world record with a time of 19.30 to win
the gold medal in the men's 200-metre final on Wednesday. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Jamaica's Usain Bolt became the first man in 24 years to run to double sprint gold at the Olympics, breaking the world record in the 200 metres on Day 12 at the Beijing Games.

Bolt ran 19.30 seconds into a slight headwind to blow away the field in Wednesday's final, breaking Michael Johnson's 12-year-old record.

As promised, Bolt ran full steam through the finish line.

'I just came out here and just gave it my all, so I'm happy.'—Jamaica's Usain Bolt, double-gold-medal sprint champ

"After I finished running the 100 metre, I was saying, 'This is possible,'" Bolt told CBC Sports. "If I'm going to break it [anywhere], it's going to be here because the track is quick.

"I just came out here and just gave it my all, so I'm happy," he added.

Bolt collapsed on his back after seeing his record time. Later, he danced on the track for the thrilled crowd at Bird's Nest Stadium.

Defending Olympic champion Shawn Crawford took silver in 19.96 seconds, with Walter Dix earning his second bronze of the Games in 19.98 seconds. Dix, just out of Florida State University, finished third in the 100 final last week.

Crawford and Dix ascended to the podium after a pair of disqualifications.

Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles ran in 19.82 and celebrated an apparent silver-medal win. American Wallace Spearmon thought he had taken third ahead of his countrymen, as well as Zimbabwe's Brian Dzingai.

Spearmon, the bronze medallist at last year's worlds, was told while on the track that he was disqualified for stepping outside his Lane 9 line.

Martina didn't learn until much later that he, too, was disqualifed for the same offence after U.S. track officials filed a protest.

Celebrates birthday with record run

Bolt, on his 22nd birthday, became the first man since U.S. runner Carl Lewis at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to win gold in both the 100 and 200. Bolt can go for another gold as part of Jamaica's 4x100 relay.

Earlier in Beijing, Bolt ran a world-record 9.69 to earn gold in the 100, even though he let up in the last several metres to celebrate, a move criticized by some track observers.

"Come on ... when you're running, if you see you're going to win, you're going to celebrate," Bolt told CBC Sports. "You're going to be Olympic champion, you're just happy. That's pretty much it.

"We're not worried about time here. When you get on the circuit, then you worry about breaking world records."

Lewis won four gold at the 1984 Games, winning in the long jump and as part of the 4x100 relay. The feat matched Jesse Owens in the 1936 Berlin Games.

Other sprinters who won both the 100 and 200 at the Olympics include Valery Borzov of Russia (1972), and Americans Bobby Morrow (1956) and Bobby Tolan (1932). Canada's Percy Williams is credited with the feat in 1928.

Bolt became the first man to break the world record in both events while taking both sprint titles. The last man to hold world records for both distances was Jamaica's Donald Quarrie in the 1970s.

Johnson's Olympic and world record in 1996 was 19.32.

"You're back there giving it everything you've got — it's brutal," said Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis, the 2003 world champ who finished seventh. "He's [Bolt's] doing it and making it look so simple. Michael Johnson did it, and it didn't look that easy."

Robles breezes in 110m hurdles semis

In the 110-metre finals, Cuban Dayron Robles remains the man to beat after he advanced Wednesday.

Robles ran his semifinal heat in 13.11 seconds to easily defeat David Payne of the United States and 2005 world champion Ladji Doucoure of France. Richard Phillips of Jamaica also qualified for the final, which takes place on Thursday.

Robles served notice of his intention to win gold in June in Ostrava, Czech Republic, setting a new world record in 12.87 seconds.

China's Liu Xiang, the 2004 Olympic champion, held the previous record of 12.88. Liu walked off the Beijing track earlier this week after grimacing through a false start in his heat due to a hamstring injury.

David Oliver of the United States won his semifinal heat in 13.31 seconds. Oliver is the only man to be competing in the final who has beat Robles this year.

Artur Noga of Poland, Jamaica's Maurice Wignall, and Jackson Quinonez of Spain also qualified for the final.

The Bird's Nest Stadium crowd groaned as China's Shi Dongpeng was just beaten out by Wignall.

Jamaica's Maurice Wignall won the slowest heat, 13.36, to finish ahead of Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados and Colombia's Paulo Villar.

Two-time silver medallist Terrence Trammell is also out of contention. Trammell went down after the first hurdle in the first heat of qualifying due to a hamstring injury.

Liu holds the Olympic record in the event with a time of 12.91.

With files from the Associated Press

Canada's Connaughton reaches semifinals in 200m

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletics/story/2008/08/17/olympics-athletics-200.html

Canada's Connaughton reaches semifinals in 200m

Jared Connaughton, middle, duels Brendan Christian, left, and Aaron Armstrong. (William West/Getty Images)

Charlottetown's Jared Connaughton sounded supremely confident following Monday's qualifying for the semifinals of the men's 200 metres at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

"It was easy, Connaughton told CBC Sports. "I was relaxed and in control and that is what the plan was."

Connaughton, 23, finished third in the eighth and final heat in a time of 20.60 seconds.

The top three finishers in each heat advanced, as did the next three fastest finishers.

Connaughton held second place behind Aaron Armstrong of Trinidad and Tobago, but he eased up at the finish line and slipped to third behind Armstrong (20.57) and Antigua's Brendan Christian (20.58).

"It is the biggest atmosphere I have been in … I let the crowd really energize me and bring me home," Connaughton said. "I ran that about 75 per cent."

Finnish hopeful Visa Hongisto made a late lunge to try to catch Connaughton, but he settled for fourth in 20.62.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/08/18/connaughton-semis.html

Connaughton squeaks into 200 semifinal

P.E.I.'s Jared Connaughton will run in the semifinal of the 200-metre race in Beijing, the slowest to make it through the second round of heats.

After placing third in his preliminary race Monday morning with a time of 20.60, Connaughton had to make the top 16 during a second round of heats later in the day. Connaughton had the 16th-fastest time in that round, at 20.45 seconds.

Running in the first heat and placing fourth, Connaughton had to wait for the other three heats to go before knowing if he would advance.

"I was pretty confident that that first heat that I was in was going to be the fastest anyway, so I'm happy I'm through," he told CBC News after the race. Making it to the final will take an extra-special run, he added.

"A personal best, for sure. I've run 20.34, .35, .36 this year. I think if I can go into 20.30, I have a shot at getting through," he said.

Connaughton runs in the semifinals Tuesday night, at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday AT. The top eight will advance to the final Wednesday night.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=163306&sc=99

Confidence pays off for Connaughton

ROB VANSTONE
Canwest News Service

BEIJING — Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., has qualified for a Tuesday semifinal in the men’s 200-metre event in the Beijing Olympics’ track and field competition.

Connaughton began Monday by finished third in a heat with a time of 20.60 seconds. In a subsequent quarter-final, his time of 20.45 was good enough for him to advance to the third round.

Before the quarter-final, Connaughton received some encouragement from former Olympic 100-metre champion Donovan Bailey.

“Donovan and I were over there chatting,’’ Connaughton said. “He said, ‘I’m a pretty confident guy. I think you’ll get through.’ When he said that, I was pretty convinced I’d get through. Now I’m off to the semifinal and hopefully the final the day after.’’

Connaughton advanced despite running in the outside lane, which is not necessarily an advantageous placement.

“It’s the Olympic Games. I’m blessed to be here,’’ he said. “If they had made me run in the first row of the crowd, I would have done that, too.’’

Preparing for his Olympic debut, Connaughton was so excited that he could hardly sleep.

“I had to get up at six (in the morning) and I woke up at 3:30,’’ he said. “It was one of those things where I was just really anxious to go. I’ve got two races under my belt at the Olympic Games and a third tomorrow, and hopefully a fourth the day after. I’m pumped to be here and I’m really excited to represent my family, myself and my country.’’

Rob Vanstone is in Beijing as part of the Canwest News Service Olympic Team



At a glance

Competitor: Jared Connaughton

Event: Track and field

Class: Men’s 200-metre

Event time: Semifinal begins at 9:25 p.m. Tuesday (Beijing), 9:25 a.m. ET Tuesday (Canada)

Born: July 20, 1985, Charlottetown,P.E.I.

Hometown: New Haven, P.E.I.

Height: Five foot nine

Weight: 170 pounds

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=163259&sc=118

Connaughton advances to 200 m semifinal

The Journal Pioneer

BEIJING - New Haven's Jared Connaughton is one step closer to his Olympic dream.
The 23-year-old narrowly advanced to the semifinal in the men's 200 metre at the Beijing Olympics.
Connaughton placed third in his preliminary race Monday to advance to the second round of heats with a time of 20.60 seconds. In the second round later in the day, the sprinter placed fifth, one spot out of contention.
Connaughton had to wait for three other heats to finish before finding out that he would advance.
He ended up with the 16th fastest time - 20.45 seconds -- just fast enough to squeak into the semifinal.
Brian Dzingai of Zimbabwe was the fastest runner in the men's 200 m event at the National Stadium, finishing with a time of 20.23 seconds
Connaughton runs in the semifinals Tuesday at 10:25 a.m. AT. The top eight will advance to Wednesday's final. Both will be broadcast live on CBC television and live online at cbcsports.ca.
Connaughton, who trains at the University of Texas, Arlington, is also a member of Canada's 4x100 metre relay team, which begins competing Thursday.
His personal best in the 200 m is 20.34 seconds while Dzingai's best is 20.12.
Michael Johnson of the United States currently holds the world and Olympic records in the 200 m, a time of 19.32 seconds recorded in Atlanta in 1996.
This is Connaughton's first Olympic games.
He won silver at the 2007 Pan American Games in the 4x100 m relay, bronze in the 2007 Canadian Championships and silver at the 2006 Canadian Championships.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/08/15/connaughton-pre.html

Connaughton primed for good run

P.E.I. Olympian Jared Connaughton says he is feeling healthy and ready for a good run in his first Olympic appearance.

Connaughton will run a heat of the 200-metre dash in Beijing on Monday (11 p.m. Sunday AT).

"The season has really panned out for me. Training has gone better than I could have hoped for," Connaughton told CBC News Friday.

"I've had a few time trial runs, and both [were] personal bests. So I'm really, really ready to run and I'm anxious to run Monday, and I think just because it's the Olympics I'll run fast."

Connaughton is one of only two Islanders in the Summer Olympics, the other being pentathlete Kara Grant.

CBC-TV's Compass has a feature interview with Jared Connaughton Friday. Watch on CBC-TV at 6 p.m. or on line after 7:15 p.m.

YOUR SUPPORT: Send your messages of support to P.E.I.'s Olympic athletes

Your View - Prince Edward Island

YOUR SUPPORT: Send your messages of support

to P.E.I.'s Olympic athletes

This is your place to show your support for P.E.I.'s Olympians: Kara Grant and Jared Connaughton.

This is Grant's second Olympics competing in the modern pentathlon. In Athens in 2004, the Stratford native placed 22nd, and she is looking to improve her performance in Beijing. She's expected to finish in the top 12.

Connaughton is going to the Olympics for the first time, competing in the 200-metre dash and the 4x100-metre relay. The New Haven native set a new meet record in the 200 at a regional USA Track and Field event in Southern California in June. His time of 20.35 seconds was the 24th best time run in the 200 this year. He is heading for the Olympics despite some early training challenges.

Show your support for P.E.I.'s Olympians by posting a message here on CBC's webpage.

EDIT: The Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour has set up a website (www.gov.pe.ca/go/olympics) where people can go online and post messages of encouragement for the two Island Olympians.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/07/10/stratford-games.html

Canada Games costs double for P.E.I. town

The cost of participating in the 2009 Canada Games has taken a big jump for the Town of Stratford.

'It just kept coming back with more and more and more money.'— Coun. Gary Clow

The Games will be a provincewide event. Stratford, just east of Charlottetown, is scheduled to host the baseball events.

But the town had to cut back on its plans when the cost to renovate the local diamond more than doubled.

"There seemed to be a lot of negotiating right up until the last minute to make this work," Coun. Gary Clow, parks and recreation chair, said Wednesday.

"We wanted very strongly to be part of the Canada Games but it just kept coming back with more and more and more money. And there's only so much money in the pot."

The Town of Cornwall had already balked at the $330,000 cost of building a new facility for Canada Games baseball.

Stratford, which needed to upgrade its diamond, was the second choice. The town was initially told its share of the cost to renovate MacNeil Memorial Field would be around $45,000.

Town stretched to the limit

But when the bids came in, the town discovered its share would be more than $100,000. Clow said there was no way the town was prepared to pay that.

It finally settled on a compromise — $80,000 — but that meant cutting back on some features.

"We're stretching the limit to go to even 80 [thousand] with them and not a penny more," said Clow.

"We're going to have Canada Games standard; some of the stuff coming will not be staying. It will be going when it's all over."

There will be no new scoreboard, and the bleachers will be removed at the end of the Games.

Construction began on Wednesday.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=150540&sc=98
Canada Games funding unveiled for capital venues

TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
The biggest athletic event in the country is coming to P.E.I. in just over a year, and there’s no better proof of the work being done to prepare than a drive by UPEI.
There are small mountains of dirt on the campus as an earthen bowl is constructed to accommodate a large crowd of spectators to the many sporting events that will be highlighted during the Canada Summer Games when the event comes to P.E.I. in 2009.
Representatives from the Canada Games host society, the City of Charlottetown, the province and the federal government joined UPEI president Wade MacLauchlan and a number of young athletes to thank each partner for their financial contribution to this major event on P.E.I.
“P.E.I. is getting very excited,” said Premier Robert Ghiz during a news conference at UPEI Saturday.
“It is going to be an Island-wide event and it’s going to be a great event for all Islanders — but it’s going to be especially wonderful for our athletes.”
In total, the city, the provincial and federal governments and the university are investing over $7.6 million in funding for Canada Games facilities in the City of Charlottetown.
Saturday’s funding announcement outlined details of the new $6.8-million state-of-the-art athletic complex currently under construction on the UPEI campus.
The complex will host close to 50 track and field events during the second week of the Games. The aquatic complex at the CARI Centre will also receive nearly $300,000 in upgrades, allowing it to host numerous swimming and diving competitions.
But UPEI isn’t the only area in Charlottetown hosting Canada Games events.
Memorial Field and the tennis courts at Victoria Park will undergo major renovations totalling almost $530,000, allowing them to also be used for the event.
Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee expressed praise for the federal and provincial dollars being pooled with university and municipal funding for the many events that will take place in the provincial capital.
“With this announcement, we have been given the opportunity to further demonstrate our strength as a major event-hosting venue and more specifically, you have given us the green light to be host competition in the sports of athletics, diving and swimming, baseball, tennis and volleyball,” Lee said.
Peter MacKay, the federal minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) was scheduled to come to P.E.I. for the joint funding announcement, but couldn’t make it due to airplane difficulties.
ACOA vice-president Pat Dorsey took his place at the official ceremony, announcing the government of Canada’s commitment, through ACOA, to invest $1.9 million in the four Canada Games infrastructure projects in Charlottetown.
“(The games) will showcase the natural beauty and hospitality of this province and attract visitors to P.E.I. that will only benefit our economy,” Dorsey said.
“Today’s investment builds on the government of Canada’s commitment to promoting sport and physical activity among Canadians of all ages and abilities.”
All told there are 32 proposed venues across the province for the 2009 Canada Games. It is the first time the games have ever been hosted by an entire province.
Normally, individual municipalities play host to the major sporting event.
It is anticipated that over 4,400 athletes, coaches and managers will attend.

P.E.I. ATHLETIC COMPLEX:
The athletic complex is under construction on the UPEI campus. The state-of-the-art facility will host 25 track and field events for men and 24 for women during the second week of the games. The complex will feature a synthetic 400-metre, eight-lane oval track, a water jump for steeplechase, a facility for long and triple jumps, pole vault, discus and hammer throw, javelin throw, shot put, warm-up track, storage, washrooms, spectator seating and viewing as well as site and storm drainage and fencing. The total cost of this project is $6,793,322, which will be funded through federal, provincial and municipal contributions.

CARI CENTRE: SWIMMING AND DIVING INFRASTRUCTURE
Charlottetown will play a lead role in 2009 when Prince Edward Island hosts the Canada Summer Games. It is a major shareholder in the CARI Centre which is owned by a not-for-profit corporation — Capital Area Recreation Inc. This $299,400 project will upgrade the technical requirements for both the swimming and diving facilities at the CARI centre. The swimming upgrades include the installation of pushbutton Daktronics, touch pads, lane dividers and covers, and darkened windows to reduce light reflection. The diving aspects of the project include a three-metre diving board, pool lighting, and surface agitation system including electrical components.

VICTORIA PARK TENNIS COURTS:
The Victoria Park tennis courts are located in the southern section of the 40-acre parkland. The current venue consists of a total of six lighted courts, a tennis clubhouse, parking as well as a nearby canteen service owned and operated by a local service club.
The site has been chosen by the 2009 Games for the tennis competition. The Games requirement includes a total of eight courts in one venue. Rather than try to create a new venue with eight new courts and all the amenities, it was decided to add two additional courts. In keeping with a specific bylaw pertaining to Victoria Park, the council held a public consultation, and as a result, have support to proceed with two courts in a specified area. This venue upgrade will not only enable the city to host the Games but will also enable the tennis community to attract other future national competitions which also require an eight court venue.
The total project cost is $229,000.

MEMORIAL FIELD UPGRADES:
Memorial Baseball Field, located in Victoria Park in the heart of Charlottetown, is a premier venue for baseball play in the city. This site has been chosen as a primary venue for hosting Games baseball in 2009.
The facility presently does not meet Games standards in either the dimensions or type of playing surface. A substantial upgrade is required in order to meet Games specifications.
The work includes stripping the topsoil from the infield and replacing the infield material with natural sod material to create a grass infield.
The infield will have a drainage system as well as irrigation.
The overall repositioning and expansion of the field will be moved in a northerly direction so as to avoid tree removal in the adjacent woods.
Lights will be relocated and repositioned. New amenities will include bleachers, a bullpen; fencing and a press box.
The complete scope of work has been endorsed by Games officials to ensure that medal games can be played on these fields.
In addition, the city has already committed to hosting the 2008 National Junior Baseball Championships in August. This event will act as a pre-event trial of the venue for 2009 Games.
The total project cost has been approved for $299,814.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/07/08/games-venues.html

Details announced for Canada Games venues

Further information on how $7.6 million from Ottawa will be spent on athletic facilities in Charlottetown for the 2009 Canada Games was announced Monday.

About 90 per cent of the money, $6.8 million, will go to the new track and field venue currently under construction at UPEI. It will have an eight-lane track with a synthetic surface, permanent seating for 1,400 and additional seating for up to 5,000.

Nearly $300,000 will go to upgrades at the CARI pool, including new touch pads, lane dividers, and darker windows.

More than $500,000 will go to renovations for the tennis courts and a ball field at Victoria Park.

The Games next August are expected to attract 4,400 athletes.

Connaughton off to Olympics

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=150152&sc=99
Connaughton off to Olympics

DAVE STEWART
The Guardian
Jared Connaughton, from New Haven, P.E.I., celebrates as
he crosses the finish line after winning the 200m final at
the Canadian Track and Field Trials in Windsor, Ont. Sunday.
Canadian Press photo

WINDSOR, Ont. — New Haven’s Jared Connaughton walked over and hugged his father, Neil, after realizing the dream of a lifetime.
He’s going to the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China.
“I’ve been dreaming of this day for a long, long time,’’ Jared Connaughton told The Guardian in a cellphone interview after winning the gold medal Sunday in the men’s 200m sprint at the Canadian track and field championships and Olympic trials.
“It feels good.’’
Connaughton did it with a personal best 20.34 seconds to beat the B standard he needed and earn his Olympic nomination.
He will almost certainly be named to the relay team when the Olympic teams are formally unveiled today.
Neil Connaughton said he’s never been more proud of his son.
“It’s the most unbelievable feeling you can imagine,’’ said Neil, who was in Windsor to watch his son qualify for Beijing. “Today, Jared solidified himself as one of the greatest 200-metre runners in Canadian history.’’
Souris’ Kurt McCormack finished 10th in the men’s triple jump but did not qualify for the Olympic Games.
Jared Connaughton is the second Islander to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games. Kara Grant was named to the Canadian modern penthalon team last month.
Jared Connaughton’s performance was historic for other reasons as well.
He broke the track record at the Windsor stadium and established a new benchmark for the Canadian track and field championships.
His goal in Beijing?
“I want to be a finalist. I’m physically and mentally capable . . . I’m ready for that.’’

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=150153&sc=98
Running to Beijing

The Guardian

Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., runs in the 200-metre heats at the Canadian track and field trials in Windsor, Ont., Sunday. His result means Connaughton will head to the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer. The Island runner set a new mark for the Canadian track and field trials. Canadian Press photo

Congratulations Jared!


http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/07/07/connaughton-olympics.html

P.E.I. sprinter qualifies for Olympics with record run

Jared Connaughton has landed a spot on Canada's Olympic team for the Games in Beijing in August, despite facing what some would consider serious training challenges as he developed his talent.

'I trained on soccer fields, I trained on gravel tracks, I trained on sand dunes.'— Jared Connaughton

Connaughton won the 200-metre Canadian title at the Olympic qualifying meet in Windsor, Ont., on the weekend with a time of 20.34 seconds, a new Canadian record. The previous record of 20.40 seconds was set in 1986 by Atlee Mahorn.

Connaughton's home of Charlottetown is an unlikely spot for the development of sprinters. There is no real tradition of track and field in the province, and no proper training facilities for athletes interested in the sport.

"I trained on soccer fields, I trained on gravel tracks, I trained on sand dunes. At the time I didn't know any different," Connaughton told CBC News.

"I wanted to run fast and I believed I could be an Olympian one day, and I'm a month away from that."

One of Connaughton's main training tracks was a school hallway, about 150 metres long, at Charlottetown's Holland College. He did have one early advantage. One of his first coaches was Dave (Eli) MacEachern, the Island's only gold-medal Olympian, who won the bobsleigh in 1998.

Connaughton is no longer training on P.E.I. He now works in Texas in some of the best facilities in the world.

Canada's Olympic coach calls him one of the brightest young stars on the team. Sprinting was once a highlight of Canada's Olympic squad, and Connaughton believes this year's team could surprise some people.

"A lot of people say this group of sprinters aren't quite what it used to be, but I think we're out here to prove that wrong," he said.

The official announcement of Canada's Olympic track and field team will be made Monday.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/05/05/islandgames-out.html?ref=rss

P.E.I. bid for International Island Games pulled

Citing a lack of co-operation from the provincial government, the Island Games Association of P.E.I. has pulled its bid to host the games in 2013.

The International Island Games Association has 25 members, mostly in Europe. The 2007 games in Rhodes attracted 2,000 competitors.

Alfred Groom, president of the Island Games Association of P.E.I., told CBC News Monday the province wants too much representation on the bid committee.

The IGA suggested having two government members and three association members on the committee, while the government wanted two IGA members and six of its own representatives.

"The Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island is a member of the IGA, not the province of Prince Edward Island," said Groom.

"The province acknowledged that, but still insisted that they would have to be in control, so therefore we had no choice but to withdraw our bid given the lack of support of the government of Prince Edward Island."

P.E.I. was in competition with Bermuda for the games, which would be the first held in North America. Carolyn Bertram, the minister responsible for sport, made one of her first trips as a minister to Rhodes for the Island Games last June.

Groom sent a letter to the head of the International Games Association Sunday night. Jorgan Petterson said he was disappointed to hear the decision. He said the Island has one big advantage over Bermuda.

"It's easier to get to P.E.I. than it is to get to Bermuda," said Petterson.

The committee said the games would have brought 4,000 athletes and visitors to the province, and revenues would have topped $10 million.

The province has told CBC News there will be no one available to comment on the issue Monday.

UPDATE: May 5:

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=132223&sc=118

Bid to host Island Games scrubbed

SUMMERSIDE
MIKE CARSON
Transcontinental Media

P.E.I.'s bid to host the 2013 NatWest International Island Games is dead and organizing committee members are pointing the finger at government as the reason.

Alfred Groom, president of the Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island Inc. announced Monday, the association has, after two years of effort and expense, withdrawn its bid.

He said the province wanted too much control over the bidding process. The association refused and the province withdrew its support.

"We are the only body that can submit the bid and win the bid," Groom said. "The Province, at this time, said they wanted our committee to step aside and they were going to replace them with their people."

Asked why, Deputy Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs Tracey Cutcliffe, said "it's confidential," according to Groom.

Last fall, the association had sought a letter of commitment from the Province to allow work to begin on accessing funds for the games from The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The bid package was to be presented to the International Games Association by Dec. 28, 2007.

That letter of commitment came from Premier Robert Ghiz on Dec. 24, 2007. But despite the premier's letter, Cutcliffe ended all hopes for the games coming to P.E.I. when she wrote to Groom on Feb. 19, 2008.

The deputy minister made it clear that since the association would not go along with the memorandum of understanding from the province on the bid committee structure "the Province of Prince Edward Island no longer supports the P.E.I. Games Association bid ... financial or in any other regard."

Groom said the association had a high degree of confidence that P.E.I. would have won these games in 2013.

Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs and Labour Carolyn Bertram said it was important the province be a part of the bid process.

"We are trying to be respectful of the taxpayers' dollars for the future," the minister said.

Bertram said the province was willing to work with the association but it needed to be involved in the entire process to ensure Islanders' best interests were protected.

As for the loss of the games, the minister said, "It wasn't the government who pulled the bid, it was the association."

UPDATE: May 6:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/05/06/games-ghiz.html

Province needed more input on games: Ghiz

The issue of control caused a bid to bring the International Island Games to P.E.I., Premier Robert Ghiz confirmed on Monday.

The Island Games Association of P.E.I. was unwilling to give the province the control it needed on a bid to host the International Island Games, Ghiz told CBC News.

When the P.E.I. group pulled its bid to host the 2013 Island Games on Sunday, it said the province wanted too much control.

The province wanted six seats on the bid committee while the IGA would have two. The IGA suggested two government representatives and three from the association.

"When a bid is put together and the province is on the hook for it, if we're not involved in what the province is actually promising, how do we know what the dollar figures are?" Ghiz said.

"That's why the province has to be involved in an endeavour such as this. And unfortunately this situation didn't turn out."

Local IGA president Alfred Groom said the province was missing out on a potential $10 million economic impact. The International Island Games Association has 25 members, and the last games in Rhodes in June attracted 2,000 athletes.

There's still a chance the bid could be resurrected if a bid committee can be formed by next month.

UPDATE: May 7:

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=132532&sc=118

Island Games chair says didn’t ask for provincial money

MIKE CARSON
Transcontinental Media

SUMMERSIDE — Claims by the Province that they need to control the bid process for the NatWest International Island Games to protect Island taxpayers are groundless, says the P.E.I. games readiness chair.

The Island Games Association withdrew its bid to host the 2013 NatWest International Games, an event that would have drawn over 4,000 athletes and visitors, generated an estimated $10 million in revenue and cost $2.1 million.

The association decided to pull out after the Province gave them an ultimatum — give the Province control over the bid process or get no government support of any kind.

Premier Robert Ghiz and Community Development and Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram claimed government needs the control to protect taxpayers’ dollars.

P.E.I. games readiness chair, Lorraine Robinson, said the bid process does not involve provincial taxpayers’ dollars. “We did not ask the Province for any money for this bid,” she said.

The association was going to ACOA for assistance.

“Based on the structure they (provincial government) were proposing, we would have had no control over where those funds went,” she said.

“We were looking at $100,000 for the types of things we would have needed to do. So they wanted us to go to ACOA, get the money and turn it over to them.”

Robinson said Bertram and all the key Island ministers were given detailed financial reports and a feasibility study.

“There were no questions on the financials that we gave them,” Robinson said.

“They reviewed them twice, and if there were any questions they should have been asked then (in September or November 2007) and not taken us down this road this far and pull out at the end when they didn’t get bid control.”

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=132528&sc=98

Opposition demands answers on failed bid to host Island Games

WAYNE THIBODEAU
The Guardian

A competition on who’s to blame for P.E.I.’s failed bid to host the 2013 Island Games had the province running up 35 pages of documents supporting its case while the Opposition fought back with 40 pages to make its case.
Islanders were told Monday that the Island Games Association had to withdraw its bid to host the 2013 NatWest International Island Games. The association says the provincial government told the volunteer board it would not continue to offer its support for the bid.
Opposition MLA Jim Bagnall used most of question period Tuesday searching for answers on why the provincial government pulled its support.
Reading from a registered letter sent to the association by Tracey Cutcliffe, deputy minister of Cultural Affairs, Bagnall said it was the provincial government, not the association, that pulled the Island’s bid.
“This is a letter that you wrote, you sent to the volunteer committee on Feb. 19 telling them that you were pulling their support,” Bagnall said during question period.
“Why did your deputy minister undermine the volunteer group for her own personal power struggle?”
Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram maintains it was the association, not the provincial government, that pulled the bid.
But Bertram admits the government did pull its support for the bid because the association would not meet the conditions set out by the province. Those conditions were outlined in a memorandum of understanding.
Bertram said the province raised red flags as did other funding partners, including ACOA, about how much these games were going to cost taxpayers to host. She said the original bid was supposed to cost $40,000. Those costs, she added, came in at $200,000.
“Our department tried our very best to work with the Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island,” Bertram said, as she presented 35 pages of documents, including cancelled cheques, to support her side of the fight.
“We wanted this to work for Prince Edward Island.”
Island Games is more than child’s play. It was estimated the games would have generated more than $10 million in revenues.
In an interview with The Guardian, Premier Robert Ghiz said the province had a role to play in protecting taxpayers’ dollars.
Ghiz came under personal attack in a letter from Alfred Groom, president of the Island Games Association. The letter was contained in a package of 40 pages of supporting documents made public by the opposition.
In the letter, dated May 1, Groom writes: “Even though you, as premier on April 21, 2008, stated that you did not think we could win this bid, the Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island had a high degree of confidence.”
Groom went on to say it was “truly unfortunate that as premier of this province, you have allowed this to completely fall apart.”
Ghiz said the province simply wasn’t comfortable with how the association was working.
“This is an unfortunate situation but better now than perhaps later on, who knows, in five years time when it ends up that we promised more than we can deliver,” the premier said. “You’d rather exercise due diligence now than get yourself into trouble later on.”
The association has said it did not want to sign a memorandum of understanding “dictated” by the deputy minister, Tracey Cutcliffe, adding it did not agree to her “threat” that if it did not agree to the terms presented the province would pull its support of the bid.
Bagnall said the association made several attempts to meet with the province, in an attempt to get the matter settled, but they failed to even get a meeting with Bertram.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/05/07/bagnall-islandgames.html

P.E.I. government accused of

betraying athletes

The Opposition wants to know why the Ghiz government pulled its support for a bid to host the International Island Games in 2013.

The Island Games Association of P.E.I. had been working for more than a year putting together a formal bid, but dropped its bid on Sunday saying the government was trying to take over the process. The province wanted to fill six seats of a proposed eight-member bid committee. The association offered two seats on a five-member committee.

The issue dominated question period Tuesday.

"Why did you betray every Island athlete on Prince Edward Island by withdrawing your support for the bid?" asked Progressive Conservative MLA Jim Bagnall.

Carolyn Bertram, the minister responsible for sport, said the government had tried to work with the volunteer committee. She noted she travelled to the last Island Games, held in Rhodes last June, to announce that P.E.I. would be bidding on the games. She said the issue came down to ensuring taxpayer's money was spent wisely.

"We had serious concerns. Yes we wanted this to work, but Madame Speaker, we wanted to make sure that the province of Prince Edward Island and taxpayers' dollars were well protected and we wanted to be involved in the bid process," said Bertram.

The Rhodes event attracted 2,000 athletes from the association's 25 member Islands, and the opposition said the province had killed the opportunity to host it on P.E.I. to host the 2013 games on Prince Edward Island.

There's still a chance the bid could be resurrected, if another committee can be formed to put a bid together by the end of next month.

Athletes disappointed

Athletes looking ahead to the Games are disappointed they've lost a chance to perform before a hometown crowd.

Stan Chaisson is an Island runner who won medals in Rhodes.

"It was a great event for not only the athletes but I think the Island in general," said Chaisson.

"These are elite athletes, and to have had them here on P.E.I. from all across the world is just amazing. As an athlete there's no better way to compete than at home and to have hopefully fans that are there to cheer you on. It would be great, and I'm going to miss out on this."

Chaisson won two of the 16 medals Prince Edward Islanders brought home from the Island Games.

UPDATE: May 8:

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=132938&sc=103

In this case, let the games cease
P.E.I. appears to be passing up a golden opportunity by not bidding
for the NatWest International Island Games

EDITORIAL STAFF
The Guardian

An apparent misunderstanding between the provincial government and the committee that was formed to bid for the 2013 NatWest International Island Games can only be described as unfortunate and disappointing. It’s not clear who did what to whom, but because the parties don’t see eye to eye, Prince Edward Island stands to lose the opportunity to bid for this event and the multi-million economic spinoffs it potentially could create for the provincial economy.
The Island Games Association of Prince Edward Island stunned Islanders early this week when it announced it has withdrawn its bid to host the Games. Despite the many months of volunteer work and a commitment from the premier secured earlier, the committee said the province apparently wanted too much control over the bidding process. The province, of course, has its side of the story. Carolyn Bertram, minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, said the province was willing to work with the committee, but that it wanted to be involved in the entire process to ensure Islanders’ interests were protected.
This story was confusing when it broke early this week, but it’s become even murkier as each day passes. In the legislature this week, for instance, questions from the Opposition and the responses from government did nothing to enlighten Islanders about the disagreement between the province and the bid committee. Some things should be a matter of fact, not spin. Is the province expected to cough up cash for the bid process or not? What specific control does the province want before it would support the bid, and which is so objectionable to the committee? What control is the bid committee insisting on that is unacceptable to the province?
We say: let the games, specifically the ones being played by the disputing parties, cease. Both sides of this dispute — that is, the bid committee and the province — need a time-out here so they can regain perspective.
The 2013 NatWest International Island Games, if awarded to P.E.I., were expected to bring 4,000 international athletes and visitors to the province and generate $10 million in revenue. That would have translated into a significant injection into the local economy.
Are the disagreements between the committee and government really that irreconcilable? Could not some compromise have been worked out to satisfy both sides?
It’s unclear whether it’s too late to resolve the dispute, but if it’s not, both parties should try again to put their differences to rest. If it is too late, then Islanders have no choice but to learn from the experience and move on. The specific lesson would be that sometimes in trying to win the turf battle, you lose the war. P.E.I. appears to be passing up a golden opportunity here to compete for an international games, which, if won by the province, would have attracted thousands of visitors from across the globe to our shores. For a province whose second major industry is tourism and which needs all the exposure it can get, winning the Games would have been a big coup. The news that the province now won’t even be trying to get them amounts to a big loss.

Important - Please read jypsy@isn.net changing

Hard to believe.....

I first signed onto the Internet, with ISN (Island Services Network), on April 14th, 1995. Although I wasn't "jypsy@" for another year or so, I have always had (and exclusively used) an "@isn.net" email address. Now, after 12 years, "jypsy@isn.net" is about to be no more.

A couple of months ago ISN was sold to Eastlink. Despite promises made to us by ISN's owner, and promises made to him by Eastlink, Eastlink sent out an email a couple of days ago to inform us that AS OF APRIL 15th our email addresses would be deactivated and any mail sent there would bounce!

Eastlink's customer service is on the very far end of the spectrum from ISN's.

Well, I guess they heard from enough of us as they have relented now and given us until the end of the year.

Meanwhile I've spent a good many hours already changing over various accounts, groups, subscriptions etc etc etc to another, permanent, email, and I haven't got them all yet. (I can't imagine how many more hours/days/weeks it would have taken if I hadn't recently acquired highspeed!)

So..... if I'm in your address book you might as well make the change now.

Please change "jypsy@isn.net" to "jypsy@planetautism.com".

As well, if you are linked to my webpage, or have it bookmarked, and still use the "www.isn.net/~jypsy" URL, change my URL to www.PlanetAutism.com .

Currently, and for a while, both the PlanetAutism URL and email address bounce to my ISN address. At some point though this will change and they will bounce over to a different address. It WILL NOT be Eastlink.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/03/19/eastlink-email.html

ISP delays e-mail name change for P.E.I. users

March 19, 2008

Eastlink will give customers it picked up with the purchase of a P.E.I. internet service more time to change their e-mail addresses, following complaints.

'I get 90 per cent of my bookings off the e-mail.' — Jane Dunphy, B&B owner

Former customers of Island Services Network were shocked to learn this week that Eastlink was giving them one month to change their e-mail addresses. In particular, it was a serious problem for dozens of tourist operators.

"I get 90 per cent of my bookings off the e-mail. I'm one of 64 people in the tourist guide who have ISN addresses; that can't be changed," said Jane Dunphy, who owns Annandale Bed and Breakfast in eastern P.E.I.

Dunphy was given 30 days notice of the change via e-mail, and was one of several upset customers who complained to Eastlink about the sudden change. Dunphy said the company needs to recognize e-mail addresses have become as important as phone numbers.

Eastlink bought ISN in January.

"We do understand that this was an inconvenience to customers," said Eastlink spokeswoman Paula Sibley, following the complaints.

"We didn't provide them with sufficient time. We apologize, and now we're working to extend that period again until Dec. 31."

The change has Dunphy relieved she will be able to concentrate on making her guests comfortable, rather than worrying if they will be able to reach her.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2008/03/11/guernsey-games.html

P.E.I. too big for Island Games, says Guernsey

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Prince Edward Island has lost the support of Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, in its bid to host the 2013 Island Games, because it is too big.

Jon Marley, the Island Games liaison for Guernsey, said there were problems with last year's games in Rhodes because of the size of the Island, and the time it took to travel between venues. For that reason, Guernsey has decided to support Bermuda's bid to host the games.

"Compared to Guernsey, you're a very, very large place," said Marley.

"There is no strict, 'The island is too big, too small.' It's purely because Rhodes is in everybody's minds and there was issues with that. Unfortunately it just came around at the wrong time for us."

P.E.I. is about 100 times the size of Bermuda.

The Island Games were established in 1985 and are held every two years. The Rhodes event attracted 2,000 competitors from 25 islands.