Olympic Hearts: August 2013

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The Heartbeat

Don’t forget to check the SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates or the middle column of the homepage.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

Events in Canada

Internationaux de Tennis Junior
Aug 23-31
Repentigny, QC
More info
Schedule
Competing for Canada
Hugo Di Feo playing at 4pm Wednesday
Brayden Schnur playing at 6:30pm Wednesday
Marika Akkerman in doubles at 2pm Wednesday

Table Tennis North American Championships
August 25-27
North Vancouver, BC
More info
Leading the Canadian team: Eugene Zhen Wang, Pierre-Luc Theriault, Hongtao Chen and Andre Ho (Men) as well as Mo Zhang recently crowned Commonwealth Champion for the women.

Para-Cycling World Championships
August 26-September 1
Baie Comeau, QC
Event website
More info

Canoe Kayak Sprint Canadian Championships
August 27-31
Montreal, QC
More info
Results

Track Cycling Canadian Championships
August 27-September 1
Dieppe, NB
More info
Results
Top competitors include Olympic medallists Tara Whitten and Gillian Carleton as well as Oympian Zach Bell.

Olympic Sports On Television

US Open Tennis
Daily on TSN/TSN2 and RDS/RDS2
Wednesday:
Eugenie Bouchard (2nd match Grandstand approx noon-1pm start)
Alexandra Wozniak and Sharon Fichman (3rd match Court 10)

Other Canadians through to 2nd round in singles Milos Raonic, Frank Dancevic, Alexandra Wozniak
Men's doubles: Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil
Women's doubles: Eugenie Bouchard with Janette Husarova (SVK)

Rowing
Thurs eve/Fri Morning midnight Sportsnet ONE
Saturday 12:00am (Friday night midnight) SN ONE
Sunday 12:00am Sportsnet ONE

Canoe Sprint World Championships
Saturday 1pm Sportnset ONE
Sunday 11:30am Sportsnet ONE
Sunday 5:30pm MT (7:30pm EST) on Sportsnet West

Basketball FIBA Americas Championships
Friday 11:15am Sportsnet 360 Canada vs Jamaica
Saturday 1:30pm Sportsnet 360 Canada vs Puerto Rico (6:30pm SN ONE)
Sunday 11:00am Sportsnet 360 Canada vs Brazil (9pm SN 360)
Tuesday 1:30pm Sportsnet 360 Canada vs Uruguay (8pm SN 360)

Track and Field Diamond League
Sunday 1:30pm NBC

Internationaux de Tennis Junior de Repentigny
Vendredi 30 août 12h00 TVA Sports
Samedi 13h00 TVA Sports
Dimanche 1er septembre 08h30 TVA Sports
Lundi 09h30 TVA Sports

Mountain Bike World Championships
Tuesday 12:00am Sportsnet ONE
Tuesday 11pm Sportsnet ONE

Cycling Tour of Alberta
Stage 1 Tuesday Sep 3 8pm EST Sportsnet ONE

Livestreams and Other Events

Volleyball Under 21 World Championships
August 22-September 1
Ankara and Izmir, Turkey
More info
livestream
Wednesday 18:30 local (11am EST) Canada vs France Round of 16

Lawn Bowling Pre-Commonwealth Games 8 Nation Test
August 24-31
Glasgow, Scotland
More info

Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
August 24-September 1
Kiev, Ukraine
More info
Canadians competing include Patricia Bezzoubenko and Annabelle Kovacs

World Rowing Championships
August 25-Sept 1
Chungju-si, Korea
More info
Entry list (page 10)
livestream
live results

Mountain Bike Trials and World Championships
August 26-September 1
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
More info
livestream
television/livestream schedule

Swimming World Junior Championships
August 26-31
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
More info
Click here for list of Canadian competitors

Judo World Championships
August 26-September 1
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
More info
livestream
Competing for Canada:
Sergio Pessoa, Patrick Gagné, Sasha Mehmedovic, Etienne Briand, Alexis Mmorin-Martel, Antoine Valois-Fortier and Alexandre Emond
Joliane Melancon, Stefanie Tremblay, Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, Kelita Zupancic, Amy Cotton and Catherine Roberge

Canoe Kayak Sprint World Championships
August 27-September 1
Duisburg, Germany
More info
livestream
General race schedule
Canadians competing:

Wednesday
10:10am (4:10am EST) Draga Culjak K1 Women 200m Paracanoe TA
10:20am (4:20am EST) Dave Waters V1 Men 200m Paracanoe TA
10:30am (4:30am EST) Suleiman Muse K1 Men 200m Paracanoe A
10:50am (4:50am EST) Christine Gauthier K1 Women 200m Paracanoe LTA
11:10am (5:10am EST) Papito More-Wilson V1 Men 200m Paracanoe LTA
11:50am (5:50am EST) Christian Maranda K1 Men 200m Paracanoe LTA
Semi finals and finals to follow

Thursday
8:14am (2:14am EST) Una Lounder K1 Women 1000m
9:24am (3:24am EST) Mark Oldershaw C1 Men 1000m
10:00am (4:00am EST) Emilie Fournel K1 Women 500m
10:36am (4:36am EST) Adam Van Koeverden and Brady Reardon K2 Men 1000m
11:04am (5:04am EST) Ben Russell and Gabriel Beauchesne-Sevigny C2 Men 1000m
11:40am (5:40am EST) Genevieve Beauchesne-Sevigny and Kathleen Fraser K2 Women 500m
12:02am (6:02am EST) Roland Varga, Dana Morgoch, Mark Levinas and Paul Bryant C4 Men 1000m
Finals Parancanoe 14:15-14:55 (8:15-8:55am EST)
Semi-Finals 15:30-18:37 (9:30-12:37pm EST)

Friday-Sunday not posted yet.

Track and Field Diamond League
August 29
Zurich, Switzerland
More info
Canadian competitors:
19:10 (local) 1:10pm EST Dylan Armstrong (shot put)
19:32 (local) 1:32pm EST Josh Cassidy (1500m Wheelchair)
20:00 (local) 2:00pm EST Derek Drouin (high jump)
21:35 (local) 3:35pm EST Matt Hughes (steeplechase).
livestream on Trackie.ca or Eurosport.

FIBA Americas Basketball Championship
August 30-September 11
Caracas, Venezuela
More info
Team Roster
Ten teams. Top 4 qualify for 2014 World Cup
August 30 11:30am EST vs Jamaica
August 31 2:00pm vs Puerto Rico
Sept 1 11:30am vs Brazil
Sept 3 2:00pm vs Uruguay
Sept 5-8 Second Round
Sept 9-11 Semi finals and Finals

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Heartbeat

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Change The Laws Don't Punish

An Open Letter to Stephen Fry, Rupert Everett, George Takei and others wanting to boycott, move or cancel the 2014 Olympics as well as to the IOC:

This is an elaboration of an August 9th post that you can read here and prompted by the continuation of a call to boycott the 2014 Olympics most recently by Rupert Everett.

I am in complete agreement that the anti-gay (GLBT) laws in Russia are not acceptable. I don't believe however that boycotting the Olympics is the avenue for change.

Is our goal to punish the athletes and Russia or to have the laws changed and ensure the safety of gay and GLBT people (around the world)?

Boycotting or cancelling does not get the laws changed.

Speaking out, raising awareness and getting our leaders involved can make a change.

My suggestion (to celebrities in particular) who want change is to use the skills you have and speak out instead of asking athletes to sit out and do nothing. I don't mean to speak out on Twitter, or on a blog or in the media.

Be the Bob Geldof for gay rights. Organize an event to raise awareness, to educate and to demand change from the leaders of the world and Russia like Geldof did when he organized Live Aid and Live 8. Invite musicians, celebrities, world leaders, activists and athletes. Wave as many rainbow flags as possible.

Nelson Mandela was not freed and apartheid in South Africa abolished because some countries boycotted the 1976 Olympics. The result came in part because of the Free Mandela concert that was staged in 1988 (organized by Tony Hollingsworth).

The 1980 Olympic boycott did not result in the Soviet Union withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Don't wait to boycott the Olympics, act NOW for change.

There are 76+ countries in the world where homosexuality is illegal (Russia is not one of them by the way) - that is almost 40% of the world's countries that have worse laws than Russia! Let's include them in the discussion. Russia hosting the Olympics has given us the opportunity to have the discussion and challenge them. Without this stage, Russia's laws may not have gotten the attention it has.

There are a lot more ways to give Russia (and anti-gay countries) the message that discrimination is not acceptable like:

Governments and leaders (prime ministers, presidents and elected officials)
Foreign affairs ministers
Organizations for change (Amnesty International, GLAAD, Change.org, etc.)
Athlete Ally who empower athletes to be role models and challenge homophobia and transphobia in sports.
Artists/celebrities who can stage events or concerts for awareness, education and change (Free Mandela, Live Aid, Live 8, etc.)
Media (by reporting about the issue and not glamorizing the host country)
Sponsors

They are the ones to lead the cause for change - for equal human rights, not only gay rights.

The International Olympic Committee should also give Russia (and other hosts and participating nations) a clear message that discrimination is not acceptable by education and reminding them of the Olympic ideal.

"The IOC wants to contribute to the search for peaceful and diplomatic solutions and spread the idea that sport and peace are a 'winning pair'.

To meet its objectives, the International Olympic Truce Foundation has established an International Olympic Truce Centre (IOTC) based in Athens, which is responsible for implementing projects related to the worldwide promotion of a culture of peace through sport and the Olympic ideal."

My suggestion is that a project for human rights be formed (if it's not already) which would include gay rights, women's rights, minority rights, and human rights.

The Olympics are based on three core values: excellence, friendship and respect.

"The Olympic Games inspire people to overcome political, economic, gender, racial or religious differences and forge friendships in spite of those differences."

The Olympic Games can not inspire people to overcome differences if they are boycotted.

Countries who host the Olympics should be held accountable for their actions. The IOC and Sports Organizations should be active in ensuring that their events are safe for athletes and that human rights are respected.

I hope that after hearing protest calls regarding the 2008 and 2014 Olympics in particular, the IOC will look at human rights as one of the attributes for future Olympic hosts.

Hosting the Olympics should be an avenue for countries to review their policies. There were calls to boycott the London and Vancouver Olympics (among many more). Brazil and South Korea will be next. The perfect country is rare so let's take the opportunity to make changes instead of calling for boycotts.

The IOC (and as we saw the International Track and Field Federation last week) have rules about making political or religious statements during competitions. If rainbow flags (or rainbow coloured finger nails combined with #pride tweets) are not allowed at past Olympics, I don't believe that they should change the rules to allow them this time.

The Olympics is an opportunity to put our differences aside for two weeks and focus on the competition. That's not to say that we ignore what is happening in host countries but the time to do something is before and after.

I would hope that strong messages to Russia in the next few months would make them change the laws before the Games, but if it doesn't, the media should help by giving the athletes the attention during the Olympics instead of glorifying the host country and its leader. Let's focus on the competitions and not televise the Opening and Closing Ceremonies (as a small gesture of protest). Our world leaders should not sit in the "dignitary box" with Putin. The media should report on the life of gays in Russia. There are multiple ways that the message can be made that are much better than boycotting the Olympic Games and there are individuals much more qualified to find those ways than I am. Speak out rather than sit out.

Let's make that message clear while letting the athletes do what they have worked their whole lives for with the support of their families and friends.

Let's focus on the end goal - to get the laws changed - rather than focusing on punishing Russia (and athletes) by ruining their potential moment in the spotlight.

Friday, August 16, 2013

The Heartbeat

For readers used to this post being published weekly, it will now be posted before the weekend focusing on weekend events and after the weekend focusing on week long events.

Don’t forget to check the new SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

Canada Summer Games
August 2-17
Sherbrooke, QC
Event website
livestream
schedule

Short Track Speed Skating
Olympic and World Cup Team Selection
Sunday August 18
Montreal, QC
More info
livestream
S kater list

Field Hockey Pan Am Cup
August 10-17
Brampton, ON
More info
livestream
Canada has made it to the final where they will play Argentina on Saturday at 7pm EST.

Para Swimming World Championships
August 12-18
Montreal, QC
More info
livestream
Canadian team members
Event schedule and results

Mountain Bike Canada Cup
August 14-18
Whistler, BC
More info

Beach Volleyball Sand Jam
August 15-18
Halifax, NS
More info
livestream
Canadian competitors: Women: Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley Men: CAN1 Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter CAN2 Grant O’Gorman and Samuel Pedlow
Canada schedule:
Friday Aug 16 7pm (women) CAN vs ENG
Friday Aug 16 8pm (men) CAN1 vs CAN2
Saturday Aug 17 1pm (women) CAN vs USA
Saturday Aug 17 2pm (men) CAN1 vs USA
Saturday Aug 17 3pm (men) CAN2 vs ENG
Semi-finals Saturday evening Finals and Consolation Sunday afternoon

Sailing Canadian Championships
August 17-21
Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
Kingston, ON
More info

Olympic Sports On Television

Canada Summer Games
Daily coverage on RDS and RDS2 (french)
Friday Aug 16 11am TSN Men's Soccer - seminfinals (repeat 7:30pm TSN2)
Saturday Aug 17 11:30am Beach Volleyball - medal round
Saturday Aug 17 8:30pm Closing Ceremony

IAAF World Championships (Daily Highlights)
Friday August 16 11pm EST (SN Pacific/West) midnight (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East)
Saturday August 17 11pm (SN West) 12am (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East) 4am EST (SN Pac)
Sunday August 18 10pm EST (SN Pacific) midnight (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East) 3am EST (SN West)

IAAF on NBC
Saturday August 17 12pm-12:30pm and 2:30-4pm
Sunday August 18 2:30-4pm

Canoe Slalom World Cup
Saturday Aug 17 10:30am Sportsnet ONE
Sunday Aug 18 6pm Sportsnet ONE (repeat on other Sportsnet channels at 9pm EST)

Rugby Canada vs USA
August 17 6:30pm on TSN2 (repeat 12:30am TSN2)

Mountain Bike World Cup
Sunday August 18 2am and 2:30am Sportsnet ONE

World Para Swimming Championships
Sunday August 18 11pm EST Sportsnet ONE
Vendredi 16 août 13h30 TVA Sports lundi 19 août 13h30 TVA Sports
livestream

Livestreams and Other Events

IAAF Athletics World Championships
August 10-18
Moscow, Russia
More info

Softball Pan Am Championships (women)
Aug 10-18
San Juan, Puerto Rico
More info

Water Polo Junior World Championships
Szombathely, Hungary
Aug 12-18
More info
livestream

Wrestling Junior World Championships
August 13-18
Sofia, Bulgaria
More info
livestream

Basketball 4-team exhibition tournament
August 13-18
various cities in Brazil
More info

UCI Road Women World Cup VI
August 16-18
Vargarda, Sweden
More info

Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe World Cup
August 16-17
Cardrona, New Zealand
More info

Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup
August 16-18
St. Petersburg, Russia
More info
Competing for Canada: Patricia Bezzoubenko

Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup
August 18-19
Cardrona, New Zealand
More info

Friday, August 9, 2013

Speak Out Rather Than Sit Out

Photo credit to Chantal Kissick.

There has been a lot of talk, writing and link sharing on social media about the Sochi Olympics and Russia's new anti-gay (GLBT) laws.

I am against the laws in Russia. I believe in equal rights for all humans. I love that Olympic athletes march in pride parades in Canada where it is safe to do so.

I feel compelled to write because people are suggesting that the Sochi Olympics should be boycotted (or moved). I don't believe that this will lead to change in Russia.

I often write too long so here are the "Coles Notes":

Boycotting (or moving) the Olympics would lead to more boycotts in the future. It does not lead to change.
People hurt in the boycotts are the athletes.
More than 200 nations are attending the Track and Field World Championships in Russia next week (more than double the number of nations attending the Sochi Olympics). Why is this event acceptable but not the Olympics?
Governments, companies, organizations for change, artists, athletes can do more by speaking out than athletes can by sitting out.
Instead of demanding a change for the Sochi Olympics, Stephen Fry should organize a concert to raise awareness, to educate and to demand change in Russia like the Free Nelson Mandela concert, Live Aid, Live 8, etc. did.
Concerts for change give (multi-millionaire) artists world wide attention and allow them to do what they are trained to do.
Boycotts give (mostly) amateur athletes nothing and prevent them from fulfilling their dreams and doing what they are trained to do.
We should put pressure on the IOC to better choose host countries (and hold them to international standards after they are chosen).

If I piqued your curiosity... or my Coles Notes aren't clear...here is the novel ;-)

It seems that every two years, there are calls to boycott the Olympic Games, but this year is the loudest perhaps because the social media voice is becoming louder.

What is the goal of the protests? The goal is to change the laws in Russia. Russia will not change their laws because of an Olympic boycott/change of venue.

What will happen if countries boycott the Sochi Olympics? Russians will win more medals and the country will celebrate even more. Russia will then boycott future Games in retaliation. We saw this happen in 1980 and 1984.

If the Games get moved like is being suggested (but is not very realistic), Russia (and possibly others) may boycott the 2014 Games.

The people who are hurt by boycotts are the athletes, this includes the Russian athletes some of whom are GLBT. We are for equal rights no matter where an athlete is from right? A Russian boycott is not any better. It's the athletes who suffer.

Russia is hosting over 200 nations and almost 2000 athletes next week for the Track & Field World Championships. At the 2010 Olympics, there were 2500 athletes from 82 nations. If people protest about Russia hosting the Olympics, why aren't they about the Track and Field World Championships? Not that I want them to, I am just wondering, why the Olympics? Some people would even argue that Track & Field is more popular than Winter Olympics.

If you're making a stance on an issue, shouldn't it be for more than one event?

If we're okay with sending athletes to the World Championships, we should be okay with sending them to the Olympics.

Sochi will also be hosting a number of test events before the Games. If athletes are attending all these events, shouldn't they also attend the most important event of their careers, the Olympics?

I met a woman recently who had qualified for the 1980 Olympics. She should have been an Olympian. She never got the chance. Her Olympic dream was gone. I'm sure this was the case for many Soviet athletes who missed the 1984 Games.

When I say speak out rather than sit out, I do believe that there is a place to speak out and I don't believe that doing it in Russia is the answer.

Some people are suggesting that athletes should attend the Olympics but wave a rainbow flag or show some other sign in support of GLBT rights. If I was visiting a country where women have to be covered in public or couples are not allowed to kiss in public, I would respect their laws (even if I don't agree with them) and decrease my personal risk.

I wouldn't want to see an athlete defy the law and face the consequences. Some argue that Russia wouldn't dare react in front of a world stage. I wouldn't want to take the chance. They don't seem concerned about giving asylum to a wanted American. They also haven't freed the Pussy Riot band members who received a two year jail sentence for protesting against Putin even after receiving international pressure to do so.

Athletes attend the Olympics in order to compete. Sport brings countries together. It is a place for peace and fair play (in most cases). It is a place where enemies (by country allegiance or religion) compete and shake hands afterwards.

Even boycotting Russian vodka and other goods will hurt the Russian people, employees and manufacturers who are perhaps against the anti-GLBT laws. It will not necessarily bring change to the laws.

Stephen Fry, a very popular actor/author/director, etc. has written an open letter to GB Prime Minister David Cameron and the IOC that has been retweeted over 6000 times, brought his website down and read by possibly millions demanding that the Sochi Games do not happen.

I don't argue the facts (or opinions) on the atrocities of the Russian laws.
I am arguing that the Olympics is not the avenue that will lead to change.

He argues that Hitler gained momentum by hosting the 1936 Olympics, but I believe the information highway of today is much wider and a simple Olympics Games would not give Putin the "confidence" that Fry says it gave Hitler. There are a lot more ways in 2014 to give Russia the message that discrimination is not acceptable and that the laws must be changed.

Governments.
Elected officials and foreign affairs ministers.
Organizations for change (Amnesty International, GLAAD, Athlete Ally, Change.org, etc.)
Artists/celebrities who can stage concerts for awareness, education and change (Free Mandela, Live Aid, Live 8, etc.)

They are the ones to lead the cause for change.

Stephen Fry also argues that Russia hosting the Olympics would put a stain on the Olympic rings. Did he forget that China hosted in 2008? Are gay rights more important than human rights? I believe they are as important and Russia is not the only country with human rights issues. Countries who host the Olympics should be held accountable for their actions.

The IOC and Sports Organizations should be active in ensuring that their events are safe for athletes and that human rights (for all humans) are respected. I hope that after hearing protest calls regarding the 2008 and 2014 Olympics, the IOC will be more diligent in choosing host countries.

Preventing mostly AMATEUR athletes of doing what they have trained their lives to do, whose only glory is Olympic gold (or Olympic attendance) is not the way to get change.

Nelson Mandela was not freed (and apartheid abolished) from the 1976 Summer Olympics boycott but in part by the 1988 Free Nelson Mandela concert. The artists that performed at that concert got world wide attention. The athletes who boycott get no attention.

If Stephen Fry wants to fight the Russian laws, he should organize a concert, event or march. Invite artists, celebrities, athletes and world leaders who will take the stage, who will share facts, who will educate and who will demand change.

Speak out rather than sit out!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

The Heartbeat

Photo credit: Suzanne Sewell

Coming up this week in Canada:

Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke
Archery Canadian Championships in Woodstock, NB
Shooting National Championships in Calgary
Rogers Cup Tennis in Montreal and Toronto
Short Track Speed Skating in Montreal
Team Canada Men's Basketball in Toronto
Mountain Bike in Mont-Sainte-Anne
Golf amateur championships in Victoria
Lawn Bowling in Fredericton
Wheelchair Tennis in Ottawa
Open Water swimming in Lac Megantic
Para Swimming World Championships in Montreal
Mountain Bike in Whistler

Don’t forget to check the new SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured in The Heartbeat, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

Canada Summer Games
August 2-17
Sherbrooke, QC
Event website

Archery Canadian Championships
August 2-10
Richmond Corner, Woodstock, NB
Event website

Shooting Canadian National Pistol Championships
August 2-9
Calgary, AB
More info

Rogers Cup Tennis
August 3-11
Women in Toronto
Men in Montreal
Event website
Competitors in Toronto include Canadians Eugenie Bouchard, Stephanie Dubois and Sharon Fichman.
Competitors in Montreal include Canadian Olympians Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil and Daniel Nestor as well as Canadian Filip Peliwo, the world's best junior male player in 2012 reaching all four Grand Slam junior finals and winning Wimbledon and US Open.

Short Track Speed Skating
Olympic and World Cup Team Selection
August 7-18
Montreal, QC
More info

Canada Basketball
Team Canada vs Jamaica
August 8 and 10th
Mattamy Athletic Centre (previously Maple Leaf Gardens)
Toronto
More info

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup VI
August 8-11
Mont-Saint-Anne, QC
More info
televised on Sportnet ONE 11am (women) 1:30pm (men) Aug 10

Golf Canadian Amateur Championships
August 6-9
Victoria, BC
More info

Lawn Bowling Juniors/U25 Canadian Championships
August 7-14
Fredericton Lawn Bowling Club
Fredericton, NB
More info

Wheelchair Tennis OAC Capital City Classic
August 9-11
Ottawa, ON
More info

FINA 10km Open Water Swim
August 10
Lac Megantic, QC
More info

Field Hockey Pan Am Cup
August 10-17
Brampton, ON
More info

Para Swimming World Championships
August 12-18
Montreal, QC
More info
livestream
Canadian team members

Mountain Bike Canada Cup
August 14-18
Whistler, BC
More info

Olympic Sports On Television

Canada Summer Games
Daily coverage on RDS and RDS2 (french)
Thursday Aug 8 2pm TSN2 Women's Volleyball - Gold Medal Game (repeat 3am)
Thursday Aug 8 5pm TSN2 Men's Volleyball - Gold Medal Game (repeat 5am)
Friday Aug 9 8pm TSN2 Men's Basketball - Gold Medal Game (repeat Sat 8:30am)
Monday Aug 12 1pm TSN Women's Basketball - Alberta vs Quebec (repeat 7:30pm TSN2)
Wednesday Aug 14 11am TSN Men's Soccer - Quebec vs BC (repeat 10pm TSN2)
Thursday Aug 15 3:30pm TSN Athletics (repeat 11pm, 2:30am TSN2)
Friday Aug 16 11am TSN Men's Soccer - seminfinals

Rogers Cup Tennis
Starting Monday Aug 5 Men's and Women's
daily 11am and 6pm Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE
August 10-11 on CBC

Mountain Bike World Cup
from Mont-Sainte-Anne
Saturday Aug 10 11am Sportsnet ONE (women)
Saturday Aug 10 1:30pm Sportsnet ONE (men)
Sunday Aug 11 3:15pm Sportsnet ONE (Downhill)

Canada Basketball

from Toronto

Thursday Aug 8 Canada vs Jamaica 7pm on Sportsnet 360 (previously The Score)

Saturday Aug 10 Canada vs Jamaica Game 2 7pm on Sportsnet 360

Mountain Bike World Cup from Mont-Sainte-Anne
Saturday Aug 10 11:15 am on Sportsnet ONE (Cross-Country Women)
Saturday Aug 10 1:45am on Sportsnet ONE (Cross-Country Men)

IAAF World Championships (Daily Highlights)
no details found, but may be live streamed at sportsnet.ca/live
Saturday August 10 11pm EST (Sportsnet Pacific/West) 12am (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East)
Sunday August 11 10pm EST (SN Pacific) 1am EST (East/ON)
NBC coverage on Saturday and Sunday afternoon
Monday August 12 11pm EST (SN Pacific/West) midnight (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East)
Tuesday August 13 11pm EST (SN Pacific/West) midnight (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East)
Wednesday August 14 11pm EST (SN Pacific/West) midnight (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East)
Thursday August 15 9pm EST (SN ONE) 11pm EST (SN Pacific/West) midnight (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East)
Friday August 16 11pm EST (SN Pacific/West) midnight (SN ONE) 1am (SN ON/East)

Canoe Slalom World Cup
Saturday Aug 17 10:30am Sportsnet ONE

Livestreams and Other Events

FINA Swimming World Cup
August 7-8
Eindhoven, Netherlands
More info
livestream

FINA Swimming World Cup
August 10-11
Berlin, Germany
More info
livestream

Rowing World Junior Championships
August 7-11
Trakai, Lithuania
More info

UCI Junior Track World Championships
August 7-11
Glasgow, Great Britain
More info
livestream

Rugby Women's Nations Cup
July 30-August 10
Denver, USA
More info
livestream

Triathlon World Cup
August 10-11
Tiszaujvaros, Hungary
More info
Canadian competing: Alexander Hinton

Wheelchair Basketball Americas Cup (Men)
Aug 4-11
Bogota, Columbia
More info

Badminton World Championships
August 5-11
Guangzhou, China
More info
Canadians competing: Michelle Li, Adrian Liu and Derrick Ng.

Fencing and Wheelchair Fencing World Championships
August 5-12
Budapest, Hungary
More info
livestream

Beach Volleyball Grand Slam
August 6-11
Berlin, Germany
More info
livestream

IAAF Athletics World Championships
August 10-18
Moscow, Russia
More info

Softball Pan Am Championships (women)
Aug 10-18
San Juan, Puerto Rico
More info

Water Polo Junior World Championships
Szombathely, Hungary
Aug 12-18
More info

2 Year Countdown to Pan Am/Parapan Am Games

With two years to go until Toronto hosts the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, ten communities who will be hosting events celebrated with athlete appearances, dignitary speeches and activities for young and old. The Pan Am events were held a couple of weeks ago in:

Ajax - baseball/softball
Caledon - equestrian
Hamilton - soccer
Markham - aquatics, badminton, table tennis, golf
Milton - track cycling
Mississauga - judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling and Para events goalball, powerlifting and wheelchair rugby
Oshawa - boxing
St. Catharines - rowing
Welland - canoe/kayak sprint
Toronto - various sports

I attended the Toronto event at Commerce Court where Paralympian Josh Cassidy was Master of Ceremonies.

Roger Garland, TO2015 Chairman of the Board accepted a certificate from the mayor of Toronto declaring today Pan Am/Parapan Am Day in Toronto.

Also present were Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut and Gaétan Tardif, recently elected Canadian Paralympic Committee President.

The highlight was seeing Olympic silver medallist Jason Burnett perform on the trampoline. For over two hours, he would demonstrate his routines every 10-15 minutes.

Jason was also very gracious with his silver medal from the Beijing Olympics, showing it to anyone who wanted to see it (and even get to hold it).

There were opportunities for people to try their hand at some sports like fencing (as part of the modern pentathlon exhibit).

The pentathletes also demonstrated their skills and posed for photos.

Beatrice Cigagna lunges at Christopher Rudolph

Alyssa Yu and Hillary Elliott

There were murals painted by David Arrigo that were unveiled and will be on display at the various venues.

I love that some of the athletes have autographed the paintings (Justyn Warner and Benoit Huot in the two above (I believe)- Rosie Maclennan also signed the one on the far right "Welcome to Toronto").

Yesterday, there were two events being held to celebrate two years to go to the Parapan Am Games in Whitby (host for boccia and judo) and Toronto.

The Toronto event involved a celebrity wheelchair basketball game that included :

Richard Peter - 5-time wheelchair basketball paralympian (winning 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal)
Marnie Abbott-Peter - 5-time wheelchair basketball paralympian (winning 3 golds and 1 bronze)
Tamara Steeves - wheelchair basketball paralympian
Amanda Yan Team Canada wheelchair basketball
Suleiman Muse - Team Canada para canoe
Sammi Joe Small - 3 time Olympian (2 gold) hockey
Josh Cassidy - Paralympic marathoner and winner of Boston Marathon and London Marathon.
and many more

Although it was great to see the politicians/organizers/celebrities struggle at playing to show us the difficulty of wheelchair basketball, I loved seeing the wheelchair athletes show their skill - although this was in the minority of the moments. Most of the wheelchair basketball players preferred to pass to their "celebrity" teammates to give them a chance at playing or in Richard Peter's case, stand at the bottom of his opponent's net to not let the short shots go out of bounds and pass the ball back to keep the play going. He did take the limelight near the end of the game with an effortless 3-pointer that had supporters for both teams cheering.

Those few moments of brilliance have made me want to go see a live wheelchair basketball game.

One of the highlights for many of the kids was the appearance of Pachi, the Pan/Parapan Am Games mascot.

I especially loved the side/back view of the 41 colourful quills, one for each of the country represented at the Pan Am Games.

With two years to the Pan Am games, I can't wait to follow our summer athletes on the road to the Pan Am Games followed by the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Where's The Canadian Content?

Photo credit: Suzanne Sewell
Why is Sportsnet showing the Canoe Kayak U23/Junior World Championships? Who is their target audience? If you watched yesterday's highlights show at midnight (repeated this morning at 11am) and enjoyed the races Sportsnet chose, you either know a lot about the junior canoe/kayak world or don't care who you see race.

I wanted to see our Canadian racers compete on the world stage in Canada. I want to follow Canada's junior paddlers as they rise to the senior team and beyond. Only one of the races that was telecast had Canadians racing. It's not like our paddlers didn't do well or they didn't have videos from their races.

Canada had four boats advance to A-finals yesterday. (You can read about the full Canadian results here) The only Canadians shown on television was the team of Lissa Bissonnette, Andreanne Langlois, Alexa Irvin and Sarah Vegas-Dubois who finished second in their K4 women's 500m semi-final. At the end of the telecast, the commentators, Tom Hall and Geoff Laplante, discuss the highlights of the day (obviously recorded from the full day online streaming of the event not for the one hour highlight show). They mention the women's K4 as well as Marshall Hughes who advanced in the K1 Junior Men 1000m by finishing second in his semi-final. Another highlight for them was Jeremy Stott and Evan Bezemer (pictured above at the team trials last month) who advanced directly to the final by finishing third in their morning heat in the Junior Men's C2 1000m. Another pair, Roland Varga and Marc Tarling advanced directly from their heat to the final of the C2 U23 men's 1000m.

These were the "highlights" of the day (for Canada) so why didn't Sportsnet show these races? I thought that the highlights show of an event held in Canada on a Canadian channel would show Canadian content.

Sometimes when Sportsnet show World Cup events, the telecast will only show finals (and will not be a Canadian-made broadcast). If Canadians don't make the finals, we don't get to see them. That wasn't the case this time though, they were showing heats - but not the heats that the Canadians were in.

They showed the 1st heat for the C2 Junior Men 1000m, for example. Jeremy Stott and Evan Bezemer finished 3rd in heat 2.

Marshall Hughes was second in the 3rd semi-final in the K1 Junior Men 1000m. Sportsnet showed the 2nd semi final.

I could give similar examples for every race they showed. Did they just randomly choose races without checking to see the start lists?

Most Canadians stumbling upon the program or amateur sports fan who would have made a point of watching this world event being held in Canada would want to see up and coming Canadian athletes and our future Olympians.

I hope Sportsnet show more Canadian content in the next few days. I am away tomorrow so won't be able to watch online. I'll be relying on Sportsnet to show the day's highlights and hopefully they will show the ones that matter to Canadians.

I do have to say that I've very thankful for amateur sports coverage on Sportsnet, so although disappointed by the lack of Canadian content, still thankful for the ability to watch canoe/kayak.

[later edit: I'm happy to add that the telecasts improved over the weekend with many Canadian teams and competitors being shown]

To watch the livestream daily, click here.

To see the schedule, start lists and results, click here.

To watch the event live in Welland, Ontario, visit the Canoe Niagara website for more info.

Sportsnet schedule:
Friday Aug 2 midnight Sportsnet ONE (repeat 11am Friday)
Saturday Aug 3 midnight Sportsnet ONE (repeat Sat. 11am)
Sunday Aug 4 3am Sportsnet ONE (repeat 8:30am)
Monday Aug 5 midnight Sportsnet ONE (repeat 10am)

Thursday, August 1, 2013

The Heartbeat

Photo credit: Suzanne Sewell

Coming up this week in Canada:

Canoe Kayak Sprint Jr and &23 World Championships in Welland
Canoe Kayak Whitewater Canadian Championships in Kananaskis, AB
Road Cycling in Rimouski
Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke
Archery Canadian Championships in Woodstock, NB
Shooting National Championships in Calgary
Open Water Swimming in Lac Magog
Rogers Cup Tennis in Montreal and Toronto
Short Track Speed Skating in Montreal
Team Canada Men's Basketball in Toronto
Mountain Bike in Mont-Sainte-Anne

Don’t forget to check the new SportCafé calendar (www.sportcafe.ca/events) for ongoing event information with links and updates.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured in The Heartbeat, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

Canoe Kayak Sprint Junior & U23 World Championships
Aug 1-4
Welland, ON
More info (including list of Canadian competitors)
Event website
livestream

Canoe Kayak Whitewater Canadian Championships
August 1-5
Kananaskis, AB
More info
event website

Le Tour de la Relève Internationale de Rimouski
July 31-August 4
Rimouski, QC
Event website
Live stream of stage 3 Saturday 9am

Canada Summer Games
August 2-17
Sherbrooke, QC
Event website

Archery Canadian Championships
August 2-10
Richmond Corner, Woodstock, NB
Event website

Shooting Canadian National Pistol Championships
August 2-9
Calgary, AB
More info

FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix
August 3
Lac Magog, QC
More info

Rogers Cup Tennis
August 3-11
Women in Toronto
Men in Montreal
Event website
Competitors in Toronto include Canadians Eugenie Bouchard, Stephanie Dubois and Sharon Fichman.
Competitors in Montreal include Canadian Olympians Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil and Daniel Nestor as well as Canadian Filip Peliwo, the world's best junior male player in 2012 reaching all four Grand Slam junior finals and winning Wimbledon and US Open.

Short Track Speed Skating
Olympic and World Cup Team Selection
August 7-18
Montreal, QC
More info

Canada Basketball
Team Canada vs Jamaica
August 8 and 10th
Mattamy Athletic Centre (previously Maple Leaf Gardens)
Toronto
More info

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup VI
August 8-11
Mont-Saint-Anne, QC
More info
televised on Spotsnet ONE 11am (women) 1:30pm (men) Aug 10

Olympic Sports On Television

Aquatic World Championships
Daily highlights
Thursday August 1 8pm Sportsnet (11pm SN ONE, later West/Pacific)
Friday Aug 2 8pm Sportsnet Ontario (11pm SN ONE, later West/Pacific and 2pm Sat)
Saturday Aug 3 9:30pm Sportsnet ONE (repeat later on other SN and at noon on Sunday)
Sunday Aug 4 9pm EST Sportsnet (

Canoe Kayak Junior/U23 World Championships
(note midnight times - set PVR's on previous night)
Friday Aug 2 midnight Sportsnet ONE (repeat 11am Friday)
Saturday Aug 3 midnight Sportsnet ONE (repeat Sat. 11am)
Sunday Aug 4 3am Sportsnet ONE (repeat 8:30am)
Monday Aug 5 midnight Sportsnet ONE (repeat 10am)

Saskatoon Triathlon Chase
(previously recorded)
Saturday August 3 1:30pm EST TSN
repeat Monday August 5 2pm

Canada Summer Games
Friday Aug 2 7pm EST TSN2 Opening Ceremony (repeat 11am Sat)
Saturday Aug 3 2:30pm TSN Women's Soccer BC vs NB (repeat on TSN2 8:30pm)
Sunday Aug 4 1pm TSN2 Men's Basketball - SK vs QC (repeat 6am Mon)
Monday Aug 5 11am TSN Men's Volleyball - ON vs AB (repeat 8:30pm TSN2)
Tuesday Aug 6 4pm TSN2 Men's Basketball - ON vs NS (repeat midnight)
Tuesday Aug 6 6pm TSN2 Men's Basketball - BC vs QC (repeat 2am)
Wednesday Aug 7 11am Women's Soccer - Semifinals (repeat midnight TSN2)
Thursday Aug 8 2pm TSN2 Women's Volleyball - Gold Medal Game (repeat 3am)
Thursday Aug 8 5pm TSN2 Men's Volleyball - Gold Medal Game (repeat 5am)
Friday Aug 9 8pm TSN2 Men's Basketball - Gold Medal Game

Rogers Cup Tennis
Starting Monday Aug 5 Men's and Women's
daily 11am and 6pm Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE

Mountain Bike World Cup
from Mont-Sainte-Anne
Saturday Aug 10 11am on Sportsnet ONE (women)
Saturday Aug 10 1:30pm on Sportsnet ONE (men)

Canada Basketball

from Toronto

Thursday Aug 8 Canada vs Jamaica 7pm on Sportsnet 360 (previously The Score)

Saturday Aug 10 Canada vs Jamaica Game 2 7pm on Sportsnet 360

Livestreams and Other Events

Aquatic World Championships
July 20-August 4
Barcelona, Spain
Event website
livestream
Events include
Swimming (July 28-August 4)
Open Water (July 20-27)
Synchro (July 20-27)
Diving (July 20-27)
High Diving (July 29-31)
Men Water Polo (July 22-Aug 3)
Women Water Polo (July 21-Aug 2)

The World Games
July 25-August 4
Cali, Columbia
Event website
livestream
Multi-sports event meant for non Olympic sports or events under the patronage of the IOC.

FINA Swimming World Cup
August 7-8
Eindhoven, Netherlands
More info

Rowing World Junior Championships
August 7-11
Trakai, Lithuania
More info

UCI Junior Track World Championships
August 7-11
Glasgow, Great Britain
More info

Rugby Women's Nations Cup
July 30-August 10
Denver, USA
More info

Badminton World Championships
August 5-11
Guangzhou, China
More info
Canadians competing: Michelle Li, Adrian Liu and Derrick Ng.

Fencing World Championships
August 5-12
Budapest, Hungary
More info