Athens, Greece, 6 June 2008

– After a week of intensive work and fruitful meetings, Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of the international organisation Peace and Sport, said that he was particularly proud and satisfied with the progress accomplished during the annual SportAccord convention 2008.

Peace and Sport received acclaims from the sport movement and the 100 International Federations assembled in Athens for this unique conference, a key event for all sports organisations throughout the world.

Joel Bouzou declared :
"Our aim at SportAccord was to convince actors from the sporting world that sport can and must go far beyond competition. It's a powerful vector for peace, social stability and for bringing communities together. We have had meetings with over 60 IFs during SportAccord. All, without exception, showed their deep interest for our initiative and their desire to contribute to the promotion of Peace through sport worldwide alongside our organisation”.
“Our approach, which aims at matching the needs of governments to the solutions brought by the sports movement, finds a real and sincere echo with members of the sports community who do not always know how to best mobilise their resources and their expertise to help vulnerable communities."

For more information
visit www.peace-sport.org/homegb.htm

Last year's winner's Loro Piana were knocked out by Sumaya in the first semi final.

Sumaya beat Loro Piana 12 goals to 9. Loro Piana were not as flaboyant as last year and although they played a good game, they could never quite get on terms with Sumaya. Both Sumaya's patron Aboughazale and Hilario Ulloa seem underhandicapped and with Milo Fernandez Araujo appearing to hit top form they must be strong candidates to lift the prestigious trophy on Sunday.
Ellerston only just managed victory over Azzurra (10 - 9 ) in what was a scrappy game. There was little to chose between the two teams. Ellerston have their patron, Jamie Packer, to thank for putting them into the final. Packer produced two cracking shots in the final chukka to secure Ellerstons place in the final. They will be going for a record-breaking seventh win on Sunday.
The 2008 Vivari Queen's Cup Final takes place at Guards Polo Club on Sunday 15 June at 3.00pm.

Courtesy of Polo Time
For more information visit www.polotimes.co.uk

“We know Beijing must strike the right balance between security and smooth running,’ said Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee at his last press conference before the Games. The press briefing wrapped-up an eventful week-long meeting of the IOC Executive Board at the Hilton Hotel in Athens.


“I’m looking forward to the Games, and the sport,” said President Rogge, who added his hope that the Games would be a real “moment of joy” for the Chinese people after the terrible earthquake in May. Ways to appropriately commemorate the victims at the Games are being discussed with the Beijing organisers.

The press conference was the last major opportunity for the media to ask questions before the meeting of the Board immediately prior to the Beijing Games.

Questions on irregular betting and commemorating victims of the Sichuan earthquake at the Beijing Olympic Games were among those put by reporters taking the chance to tackle a wide range of issues.

Pele and the Torch
He underlined that the ‘crisis’ faced by the Olympic movement in April, when the Olympic torch relay was beset by protests and demonstrations in some cities on its international leg, was now over.

The idea of the relay was inspiring, he added, and the 2004 Athens torch relay was hugely successful in bringing the Olympic ideal to the world. “I will never forget seeing Pele, surely the world’s most famous footballer, who had won every award in football, crying as he took hold of the torch. Even though he’d never competed at the Olympic Games. That is its power.”

Interpol advice on problem betting
Asked what was being done to combat the threat of irregular betting, the President said the IOC was taking advice from Interpol and was close to signing a contract with a monitoring organization.

One reporter questioned Wednesday’s 2016 Candidate City announcement, which saw the Qatari capital of Doha fail to make the shortlist, primarily due to the bid seeking an exception to the normal dates on which the Olympic Games are held. “It was in March 2007 that the IOC specified that the 2016 Games should be held in July/August,” explained President Rogge. “Doha sought an exception and the Executive Board did not grant it.” Otherwise, he added, it was a technically good bid.

The next IOC press conference will take place at the next meeting of the IOC Executive Board, prior to the Olympic Games in Beijing.

6 June 2008,
For more information www.olympic.org

A total of 8 teams, seven with 22 goals and one with 21, will participate this year in The Prince of Wales Trophy. The final is programmed for the 14th June.

The Teams:

BRONCOS
George Milton Haven 1
Santiago Chavanne 8
Pablo Mac Donough 9 
John Fisher 4
Total 22.

CADENZA
Tony Pidgley 1
Alejandro Muzzio 8
John Paul Clarkin 8
Santiago Laborde 5
Total 22.

GEEBUNG
Jason Stowe 0
Lucas Monteverde 9
Bautista Heguy 9
Gareth Evans 5
Total 22

ZACARA
Lyndon Lea 0
Eduardo Novillo Astrada 9
Javier Novillo Astrada 9
Tom de Bruin 4
Total 22

LECHUZA CARACAS
Víctor Vargas 1
Guillermo Ag|ero 7
Marcos Di Paola 8
Tomás García del Río 6
Total 22

YINDARRA
Spencer Young 0
Gonzalo von Wernich 7
Francisco Bensadón 8
Nicolás Espain 7
Total 22

TALANDRACAS
Edouard Carmignac 0
Guillermo Terrera 7
Alejandro Agote 8
Ignacio Toccalino 7
Total 22

BUCKING BRONCOS
Claire Milton Haven 0
Cristian Laprida (h) 7
Matías Mac Donough 8
Bautista Sorzana 6
Total 21.