Inline Hockey Removed from Pan Am Games?

[MartyAlexander]

Dear IHC readers:

I hear that inline hockey has been removed from the 2007 Pan Am Games. Is this true? If so, I can't seem to find anything official about it.

Anyone out there point me in the right direction.

Thanks very much. Greatly appreciated.

Marty Alexander

[DannyG]

by the time you read this from me, it's third hand, but I have no reason to doubt a word of it...source contact is at the end:

...press release from the Canadian Olympic Committee website:

Canadian Olympic Committee Disappointed in PASO Decision to Remove In-line Hockey, Men's Softball and Racquetball from 2007 Pan American Games


TORONTO, August 31, 2005 - The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) expressed disappointment at the Pan American Sports Organization's (PASO) decision to remove in-line hockey, men's softball and racquetball from its 2007 Pan American Games program during the PASO General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this week.


"The Canadian Olympic Committee is disappointed that in-line hockey, men's softball and racquetball will not remain on the 2007 Pan American Games program in Rio de Janeiro," said COC President Michael Chambers. "Canada has a strong history of medal success in all three sports and the removal of these sports may diminish our overall medal count at future Pan American Games."


"The Canadian Olympic Committee openly expressed its support for the inclusion of these sports at the assembly as they are a part of the diverse sporting culture in Canada," added Chambers. "It is extremely unfortunate that these sports will no longer be showcased at the Pan American Games."


The Olympic discipline of slalom canoeing was also removed from the 2007 Pan American Games program after organizers could not justify the projected costs to construct an artificial whitewater venue.


Bowling, futsal, individual roller sport, karate, squash and water skiing were added to the list of 28 Olympic sports that were already set to be played in Rio de Janeiro in 2007 and in Beijing in 2008.


At the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Canada finished third overall with a total of 127 medals, including 29 gold.


The Canadian Olympic Committee is a national, private, not-for-profit organization committed to sport excellence. It is responsible for all aspects of Canada's involvement in the Olympic movement, including Canada's participation in the Olympic and Pan American Games and a wide variety of programs that promote the Olympic Movement in Canada through cultural and educational means. For more information, see the COC website: www.olympic.ca.


Media Contact:


Eric Michalko
Manager, Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
Office: (416) 324-4146
Cell: (416) 528-6742
Email: [email protected]



<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[patrick14]

weren't the last pan am games a total joke for inline hockey anyway. played on rinks the size of old roller rinks, with hardly any room for stands, and bad lighting, or something like that.

i'm not happy to hear that the sport being removed, but do we really want to have another misrepresentation of our great sport? *cough cough* pro beah hockey *cough cough* speed hockey * cough cough* any current league the has had multiple teams not shot up for games this season *... welll you get it already.

[johnny2suede]

A guy I know who has been involved with USARS/AAU for years told me that FIRS and USARS made the decision to keep speed skating and artistic skating as the two Pan Am sports and throw out inline. Apparently there was a lot of infighting at USARS between the ball and cane short pants hockey on quad power base and the inline people. The politicaly correct solution was to just throw inline out and go with speed and figure. Remember how USARS and AAU used to make a big deal that they would get inline into the Olympics? That's not gonna happen as I would think a good first step is keeping the sport in the Pan Am games. I have heard that the sport that USARS always gets behind and ultimately promotes is speed skating.

[MDE3]

Maybe yet another good reason to lobby for USA Hockey Inline to be the governing body? Actions DO speak louder than words....

[Predators13]

You guys are great, I love that part about the USARS people fighting which each other over which sport was going to be in the Pan Ams. God, this is good, btw, who is your source at USARS?

MDE, Yea USAHIL is what we need maybe they can put together a team like they did for the Olympics, sorry I think already did that for the inline part of the IIHF.

[johnny2suede]

Pred, I just can't reveal my source to you. Can't let you into the elite that knows this stuff...sorry bro.

But I can tell you his code name is "Blue Blazer".

[MDE3]

If I recall USAHI as opposed to USAH did win the Gold last year at the World cup....maybe we should not lump them all in the same boat... And yes I do think that the "old boy network" that created both team USA and Team Canada...needs to rethink who they need to play at the Olympic level

[NLane]

It's hard to find an adult tournament under the AAU banner. And at USARS (or whatever it is now)inline had been the redheaded (sorry Rebecca) stepchild for years, in my opinion. I have to admit I haven't had the chance to deal with them in a few years and hopefully respect for inline has increased. I still would like to see the majority of players on World Inline teams to come from the inline sport itself. There are many adult national tournaments that could be scouted and invitations sent accordlingly.

[teamlabeda]

Setting the record straight-
USARS does not dictate what sports it enters into the Pan Am Games the Pan Am's dictate what sports they want. The PA's are trying to get away from non-olympic team sports and focus on the individual sports. While we are out right now that does not mean it will remain the same by the time the Pan Am's come around.

USA Inline finished in 3rd last year for a bronze medal behind Finland and gold medaling Sweden.

The USARS/FIRS Team USA mens world team is comprised mostly of roller hockey players. So while you are hoping a World team steps up to do that, it is already being done. Check out last years roster-

Eric Weichselbaumer
Zigmund Marszalek
Greg Thompson
Oliver David
Travis Fudge
Dan Costanza
Ron Tracy
CJ Yoder
Jamie Yoder
JP Beilsten
Taj Melson
Mike Ciolli
Rob Laurie-G
Ryan Viamontes-G

If you are not sure who those players are check out any significant roller tournament over the last 10 years and you will see their names pop up in some age division.

[Hystyk28]

I think I recognize some of those names from my local bar! :)