Members’ News

Vincentian appointed to FINA list

Vincentian, Dr. Simone France, has achieved the distinction of being the first national to be appointed a FINA International Technical Official.

Dr. France’s appointment runs for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2024.

The local swimming fraternity has been excited by this achievement and notes that it augurs well for the organization as it reflects its growing recognition in the international swimming arena.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines sports family, led by the National Olympic Committee, have congratulated Dr. France and the local Swimming Association on her appointment and commended the leadership for facilitating the extensive work that has paved the path for this historic achievement.

Dr. France joins an ever-increasing list of Vincentians who have been elevated to serve on international sports federations over the years.

Innovador 1er Seminario de Administración Deportiva; 2291 personas se inscribieron.

VENEZUELA. – A las seis de la tarde (18:00 hora VEN – DOM) de este lunes, se cerró oficialmente el proceso de inscripción, para el I Seminario de Administración Deportiva, organizado por la Comisión de Educación de la Organización Deportiva Centroamericana y del Caribe (ODECABE), actividad avalada por la junta directiva de la organización y su presidente Luis Mejía Oviedo.

Este Seminario abrió sus inscripciones el pasado 5 del presente mes, teniendo como meta principal llegar a los 1000 participantes, objetivo que se cumplió en menos de tres días, lo cual llevó a la directiva de la organización a aumentar la cantidad hasta 1,500 personas, cifra que también quedó corta ante la demanda de registros.

Debido a la cantidad de solicitudes, se permitió las inscripciones hasta el final de la tarde del día de este lunes, dejando cifras finales de 2291 participantes, 2050 de Centro América y el Caribe y, 241 de otros países.

Luis Mejía Oviedo, Presidente de la ODECABE al momento de conocer el éxito en cuanto a la cantidad de participantes inscritos, expresó a través de su red social en Instagram (@luismejia_): “Con entera satisfacción para nuestra ODECABE, cerramos las inscripciones del 1er Seminario de Administración Deportiva, con récord de 2291 inscritos, de 56 países. Honrados estamos por esta aceptación. Hurra”, exclamó.

Por su parte, el Secretario General de la ODECABE y Director de la Comisión de Educación, Eduardo Álvarez Camacho, señaló “Nos pusimos un objetivo pero ante tantas solicitudes, decidimos junto al presidente, permitir que se continúen inscribiendo, lo que terminó siendo un éxito de participación”.

A continuación detallamos, los 56 países que estarán participando, 37 de Centro América y 19 de otras partes del mundo.

Message from CACSO President Luis Mejía Oviedo following the Executive Board meeting July 25

Mejía Oviedo: “The IOC needs to be united today more than ever”

SANTO DOMINGO.- The president of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO), Luis Mejía Oviedo, said on Friday that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) more than ever must be united.

In his brief speech at the 136th IOC session, held virtually by the coronavirus pandemic, Mejía Oviedo highlighted the decision of the IOC president, Thomas Bach, to present himself to a new period at the head of the body in 2021.

“Very grateful for his decision to continue leading the movement in a united way. Today, more than ever, the IOC needs to be united, “said Mejía Oviedo during his intervention in the virtual session, the first of its kind carried out by the senior Olympic body.

In his introductory words, the also president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD), expressed his appreciation for being part of the session, in which members of the different countries affiliated to the IOC also participated.

“Thank you, President (Thomas Bach), let’s move ahead,” said Dominican Mejía Oviedo, words that the IOC chief executive repeated with a smile.

“These past few weeks many of you have asked me about next year’s election for the presidency. I am grateful and deeply moved by the words of encouragement and confidence (…) If you, IOC members, want it, I am ready for a second term to continue serving you and the Olympic movement, which we love so much, for four more years ”Said Thomas Bach, 66, at the end of his speech, at the opening of the videoconference session from Lausanna, Switzerland.

Bach will therefore stand as a candidate at the IOC session scheduled for 2021 for a second and final four-year term.

The IOC’s 136th session, which was held virtually for the first time, addressed the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games and the election of new members, including the 1980 Moscow Javelin Champion, Cubas’ María Caridad Colón and the president of the International Athletics Federation, Britain’s Sebastian Coe.

LINK OF VIDEO: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCvdZL7DJ_w/

Mejía Oviedo: “El COI necesita hoy más que nunca estar unido”

SANTO DOMINGO.- El presidente de la Organización Deportiva Centroamericana y del Caribe (ODECABE), Luis Mejía Oviedo, dijo el viernes que el Comité Olímpico Internacional (COI) más que nunca debe estar unido.

En su breve discurso en la 136ª sesión del COI, celebrada virtualmente por la pandemia de coronavirus, Mejía Oviedo destacó la decisión del presidente del COI, Thomas Bach, de presentarse a un nuevo período al frente del cuerpo en 2021.

“Muy agradecido por su decisión de continuar liderando el movimiento de manera unida. Hoy, más que nunca, el COI debe estar unido “, dijo Mejía Oviedo durante su intervención en la sesión virtual, la primera de este tipo realizada por el cuerpo olímpico de alto rango.

En sus palabras introductorias, el también presidente del Comité Olímpico Dominicano (COD), expresó su agradecimiento por ser parte de la sesión, en la que también participaron miembros de los diferentes países afiliados al COI.

“Gracias, presidente (Thomas Bach), sigamos adelante”, dijo la dominicana Mejía Oviedo, palabras que el director ejecutivo del COI repitió con una sonrisa.

“En las últimas semanas, muchos de ustedes me han preguntado sobre las elecciones del próximo año para la presidencia. Estoy agradecido y profundamente conmovido por las palabras de aliento y confianza (…) Si ustedes, miembros del COI, lo desean, estoy listo para un segundo mandato para continuar sirviéndoles a ustedes y al movimiento olímpico, que tanto amamos, por cuatro más. años ”, dijo Thomas Bach, de 66 años, al final de su discurso, en la apertura de la sesión de videoconferencia desde Lausana, Suiza.

Por lo tanto, Bach se presentará como candidato en la sesión del COI programada para 2021 por un segundo y último mandato de cuatro años.

La 136ª sesión del COI, que se celebró virtualmente por primera vez, abordó el aplazamiento de los Juegos de Tokio 2020 y la elección de nuevos miembros, incluidos la campeona de Jabalina de Moscú de 1980, María Caridad Colón de Cuba y el presidente de la Federación Internacional de Atletismo, el británico Sebastian Coe.

ENLACE DEL VIDEO: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCvdZL7DJ_w/

Mejia Oviedo says it is not possible to open due to the risks; highlights sports leadership unity in America

June 30, 2020

SANTO DOMINGO.- The president of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO), Luis Mejia Oviedo, said that it is not possible to talk about planning in sport in America because of the coronavirus.

By participating this Monday in the Virtual Forum The Pan American Return 2: “Sport, what this pandemic has left and what follows”, Mejia Oviedo pointed out that given the situation, the leadership of America is united, an aspect that the Dominican described as “very important”.

The CACSO president said that out of the desire to get out there, some put pressure on themselves and want the reopening, but that is not possible.

“If Latin America is the Pandemic Center right now, what are we going to plan,” said firmly, the also President of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD).

Mejia Oviedo indicated that everyone is going to ask what to do, what to think, and that his response is that the sports leaders are not magicians to predict what will happen with the virus, and that this is in the hands of the Almighty.

The CACSO president recalled that no country has demonstrated control over the virus, and asked himself “how are we going to have it in sports.”

As a reflection in the forum, Mejia Oviedo narrated that the Dominican Republic and many countries are about to enter phase 3, a stage that in Europe is categorized as de-escalation, and that in that continent, many nations have turned back, and that in America they are taking that behavior as an example.

He favored starting only with training in countries where there is a condition with sports that allow distancing. “You have to be very careful. If we still do not have control of the virus, how are we going to plan?” he insisted.

When touching the subject of the conditions for the equality of the competitions and the qualifying rounds, he indicated that this has to come, as established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Faced with such concerns, Mejia Oviedo added, “We have to make a combination in America and that is what the leaders are for. We will agree to establish the appropriate conditions for the qualifiers; when a continent agrees, the others have to accept that. We are not going to accept that ours be at a disadvantage.”

The CACSO top executive considered that, as the situation is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not possible to make any predictions about the opening of sport and favored waiting. “We have no control over the virus and since we have no control, I refuse to give a forecast. We’re going to wait.”

He recalled that in April the president of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, in a virtual conversation with Dominican journalists spoke that 2020 would be lost “and I am thinking along the same lines, there is a reason, none of us has control of the virus.”

Presidente ODECABE: “En América no es posible hablar ahora de planificación”

ORGANIZACIÓN DEPORTIVA CENTROAMERICANA Y DEL CARIBE·- TUESDAY JUNE 30, 2020

Mejía Oviedo dice no es posible apertura por los riesgos; resalta unidad de dirigencia deportiva en América.

SANTO DOMINGO.- El presidente de la Organización Deportiva Centroamericana y del Caribe (ODECABE), licenciado Luis Mejía Oviedo, manifestó que en América no es posible hablar de planificación en el deporte por causa del coronavirus.

Al participar este lunes en el Foro virtual El Regreso 2 Panamericano: “El deporte, lo que ha dejado esta pandemia y qué sigue”, Mejía Oviedo señaló que ante la situación, la dirigencia de América está unido, aspecto que el dominicano calificó de “muy importante”.

El presidente de ODECABE dijo que por el deseo de salir al ruedo, algunos se ponen presión y quieren que se de apertura, pero que eso no es posible.

“Si ahora mismo América Latina es el Centro de la Pandemia, qué vamos a estar planificando”, sostuvo con firmeza el también presidente de Colimdo – Comité Olímpico Dominicano (COD).

Mejía Oviedo indicó que todos van a preguntar qué hacer, qué pensar, y que su respuesta es que el dirigente deportivo no es mago para predecir qué va a pasar con el virus, y que eso está en manos del Altísimo.

El presidente de ODECABE recordó que ningún país ha demostrado tener control sobre el virus, y se preguntó que “cómo lo vamos a tener en el deporte”.

Como reflexión en el foro, Mejía Oviedo narró que la República Dominicana y muchos países están por entrar a la fase 3, etapa que en Europa llaman desescalada, y que en ese continente, muchas naciones volvieron para atrás, y que en América se está tomando ese comportamiento como ejemplo.

Favoreció iniciar solo con los entrenamientos en los países donde haya condición con los deportes que permitan el distanciamiento. “Hay que tener mucho cuidado. Si todavía no tenemos el control del virus, cómo vamos a estar planificando”, insistió.

Al tocar el tema de las condiciones para la igualdad de las competencias y las eliminatorias, indicó que eso tiene que llegar, como lo estableció el Comité Olímpico Internacional (COI).

Ante tal preocupación, Mejía Oviedo agregó: “Hay que hacer una combinación en América y para eso estamos los dirigentes. Nos pondremos de acuerdo para establecer las condiciones adecuadas para los clasificatorios. Y cuando un continente se pone de acuerdo los otros tienen que aceptar eso. No vamos a aceptar que los nuestros estén en desventaja”.

El máximo directivo de ODECABE consideró que, como está la situación por la pandemia del COVID-19 no es posible hacer ningún vaticinio sobre la apertura del deporte y favoreció la espera. “No tenemos control del virus y como no tenemos control, me niego a dar un pronóstico. Vamos a esperar”.

Recordó que en abril el presidente de Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, en un conversatorio virtual con periodistas dominicanos habló de que el 2020 se iba a perder “y yo estoy pensando en la misma línea, hay una razón, ninguno de nosotros tiene control del virus”.

The Journey from COVID to COMPETITION Return to Play

Greetings from TeamTTO

You are invited to TeamTTO Care and Injury Prevention Zoom webinar.
When: Jun 27, 2020 04:00 PM

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MhIl6XTiTLi7yJIspkFThQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Presenters for CareandInjuryPrevention webinar

Panama.- The Executive Board of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO), reported that the city of Santa Marta, capital of the department of Magdalena in Colombia, will host the First Central American and Caribbean Beach Games in 2022.

The announcement was made last Saturday, March 7, within the framework of the ordinary session of the organization, held at the Wyndham Panama Albrook Mall Hotel & Convention Center.

The decision was made after the Governor of the Magdalena department, Carlos Caicedo, and the Mayor of Santa Marta, Virna Johnson, presented the city’s credentials to support the candidacy.

Santa Marta was the only candidate city for these games.

“It is an important step that CACSO takes, given the geographic habitat where our associate members live”, said Luis Mejia, president of the regional body. “We will make innovations in these beach games and we have the enthusiasm and interest of the Santa Marta authorities”, Mejia continued.

On his side, Governor Caicedo did not hide the joy of projecting the department of Magdalena with the headquarters of the First Central American and Caribbean Games in Playa 2022, for the city of Santa Marta.

“We will make a monument from which the Central American and Caribbean flame of the Beach Games will forever set out in each version, while we are the first venue. The flags of Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia and ODECABE will permanently be placed”, said Governor Caicedo.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Santa Marta said she was very excited and very happy about ODECABE’s decision.

“We already have the experience of the Bolivarian Games, we already know how to organize international sports games and we will apply these experiences in 2022”, said Johnson.

“Santa Marta remains in the history of the Central American and Caribbean Beach Games, being the first city to host them and every four years whichever city wins the venue, they must come all the way here to light the cauldron”, said the mayor.

The I Central American and Caribbean Beach Games 2022 are scheduled to take place in November, which includes 14 sports and the participation of delegations from 37 countries.

CACSO President Luis Mejía plans to make his first visit to the city of Santa Marta in May.

PHOTO:

SANTA MARTA AND ODECABE AUTHORITIES

CACSO President, Luis Mejia conveyed his support of School Handball

SANTO DOMINGO. – The president of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO), Mr. Luis Mejia Oviedo, expressed his support for school handball.

These statements were made this Saturday, February 1, during a visit of the Executive Committee of the North America and Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC) to the president of CACSO in the Dominican capital city.

This is one of the projects that the International Federation of this sport wishes to develop and Mr. Mejia as president of CACSO wishes to be an ally for the NACHC countries.

Mario Garcia de la Torre, president of NACHC, expressed thanks on behalf of the Executive Committee of this regional sports body, for the support expressed by the president of CACSO, Dominican Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee, for the development of school handball.

Garcia expressed: “We want you to be our voice in the Olympic movement,” he said.

“We will meet to draw up the plans to execute in relation to school handball, because we understand that this is the future of our sport and our athletes,” said the president of NORCA.

Miguel Rivera, president of the Dominican Handball Federation and Secretary General of NACHC, said: “School handball is more important for the Confederation than the national teams, because it guarantees a progressive development and growth for member countries,” he concluded.

The meeting was led by the president of CACSO and NACHC, Luis Mejia Oviedo, Dominican Republic and Mario Garcia de la Torre, from Mexico as well as the president of Creating Olympic Dreams (CRESO) businessman Felipe Vicini.

Among those present were the members of the NORCA Executive Committee, Vice President, Néstor Milete Echevarria, Secretary General, Miguel Rivera, Treasurer Felix Wilson, Carline Choute, President of the Women’s Commission; Cliff Williams, President of the Beach Handball Commission; and Llewlyn Harper, President of the Medical Commission as well as Franklyn Guevara, President of the Methods Commission; Kurt Lauritsen, Chairman of the Competitions Commission; and Francois Lebeau, President of the Game Rules and Referees Commission.

PANAM SPORTS STATEMENT ON TOKYO 2020

MEXICO CITY (March 24, 2020) — Given the current situation that the world is unfortunately facing with the Coronavirus pandemic that, according to the World Health Organization, is rapidly accelerating in both the number of cases and deaths throughout the world, the Panam Sports Executive Committee representing the 41 member nations of the Americas agreed on the following points in a video conference this afternoon:

a) Complete support for the decision taken by the International Olympic Committee and the Government and Sports authorities of Japan regarding the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to 2021.

b) Above all else, the priority of Panam Sports will always be the health and well-being of our athletes.

c) We are aware of the serious problems that the Coronavirus is causing for all athletes and that it has not allowed them to train at the level that they are accustomed to. This affects both those who were still seeking to qualify for the Olympic Games as well as those who had already secured their place and dreamed of representing their country with the best preparation possible.

d) We call on all of the National Olympic Committees of the Americas, their leaders, coaches and, of course, their athletes to responsibly follow all the safety and health protocols of their respective countries’ authorities and of the World Health Organization in the face of this pandemic, so that we avoid the spread of the Coronavirus.

e) Panam Sports will maintain all of its aid programs for athletes, coaches and National Olympic Committees.

f) Once the new dates for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are defined, Panam Sports will work together with the IOC, the International Federations, the NOCs and the athletes to be able to adjust their schedules for the competitions that follow, in particular the Junior Pan American Games of Cali 2021 that were scheduled between June 5-20.

Panam Sports hopes that this unfortunate pandemic will begin to diminish worldwide as the days go by and we can soon return to our normal activities, and wants to convey its full commitment to the entire Pan American family in the face of these circumstances as well as our unconditional support to our athletes in this difficult time we are all experiencing.

ABOUT PANAM SPORTS

The Pan American Sports Organization (Panam Sports) is the leader of sport and the Olympic Movement in the Americas. We propel the development of sport and support our 41 member National Olympic Committees to inspire more participation in international competitions as well as participation of the youth to prepare the generation to come in our region.

Panam Sports works closely with athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOC), Organizing Committees of all regional games, Pan American Sport Confederations, International Federations (IF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to secure the success and celebration of our main event, the Pan American Games.

For the latest news and updates about Panam Sports, visit our website www.panamsports.org. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @PanamSports

For more information, please contact:

Alejandro Goycoolea | Communications Director  | alejandro@panamsports.org
+56 994 081 884

Kevin Nutley | Communications Manager |  knutley@panamsports.org
+1 678 262 6612

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