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Monday, December 04, 2023
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Gold Coast Withdraw Hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games
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Gold Coast is the second Australian city to withdraw from the race to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the Australian state of Victoria unexpectedly stepped back in July of this year, citing an exorbitant cost increase.
Gold Coast, a coastal city with around 600,000 inhabitants in Queensland, offered to step in, but only if the federal government helped cover the expenses, an idea that did not impress officials. However, last Sunday, Mayor Tom Tate announced that his attempt to save the Games had come to an end. "We did our best, and that's all people can expect," he said in a statement to the Australian media. "Unfortunately, at the same time, our country's reputation as a place that reneges on a global sports contract remains in tatters," he added.
Commonwealth Games officials said last month that they were working under tight deadlines to find a replacement and would prefer to keep the event in Australia. Katie Sadleir, head of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said at the time that there was a possibility the delay could push the Games to 2027.
This situation could provide an opportunity for resolution, as with longer timelines, everything could be facilitated. The federation, in turn, has previously expressed "great disappointment" at Victoria's surprising decision to withdraw, as stated in statements to AFP. "We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours' notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached by the government in July," organizers said.
With this situation, the organization faces increasing challenges to maintain its relevance, and with fewer countries interested in hosting the event, the long-term fate of the Games remains uncertain. The province of Alberta in Canada withdrew its support for a possible bid to host the 2030 edition weeks after Victoria's announcement.
The event typically attracts more than 4,000 athletes from the 54 countries of the Commonwealth, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. The last Games, in 2022, were held in England after Birmingham decided to step in at the last minute.
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Sunday, December 03, 2023
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Bermuda Awarded Points for Saint Vincent No Show
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Bermuda and the Republican Dominican face for the top spot in Group C of League B as the Road to W Gold Cup tournament plays its final matchday on Tuesday.
Bermuda was awarded a 3 - 0 victory over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the match that was not played on Friday, to remain the group leaders.
The Dominican Republic can jump into first place with a victory and take the Prelims ticket that comes with it. Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines face off in the group’s other match of the day.
The Dominican Republic welcomes Bermuda at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Jaden Masters scored twice to lead Bermuda to a home victory when these sides last faced off in the opening matchday. The undefeated start is intact for Bermuda and a victory would seal first-place and the trip to the Preliminaries.
The Dominican Republic is coming off a dominant away win over Barbados to stay in the race for first place. Mia Asenjo and Lucia Marte each had two goals and are in top form.
Bermuda has goal scorers of its own in Masters and Aaliyah Nolan, both of whom boast three goals this season to lead the team. Jazmin Jackson is the leading scorer for the Dominican Republic with four.
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Saturday, December 02, 2023
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines FA Statement
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The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Football Association released a statement with regards to them not traveling to Bermuda.
“We regret to inform you of a significant issue concerning the Senior Women’s team participating in the CONCACAF Women’s Nations League Qualifiers, Road to Gold Cup away match against Bermuda, slated for today, Friday December 1st, 2023, in Bermuda.
All travel arrangements were confirmed until Tuesday, November 29th, 2023. However, a communication from the Travel Agency revealed that the aircraft failed to secure necessary permissions for the planned route.
Despite efforts made by Wednesday, November 30th, 2023, to engage an alternative travel company, awaiting both a quote and permits confirmation, the situation unfortunately remained unresolved. Consequently, the Senior Women’s Team couldn't reach their destination within the necessary timeframe to compete in the upcoming match.
CONCACAF will conduct a review regarding the circumstances leading to our travel inability. The SVGFF will be briefed on the decision concerning the outcome of match, which will then be conveyed to the public.
We, at the SVG Football Federation, sincerely regret the inconvenience caused.”
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Friday, December 01, 2023
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Bermuda vs. Saint Vincent Match Cancelled
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The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) was informed late on Thursday, November 30th, by the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Football Association that their Senior Women’s National Team will be unable to travel to Bermuda for the scheduled Road to Concacaf W Gold Cup match scheduled for Friday, December 1st. The circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the match will be reviewed by Concacaf, with the Bermuda Football Association expected to receive further details in due course.
Refunds and Ticket Process:
For those who purchased tickets in anticipation of the canceled match, refunds will be processed via GPASS. BFA understands the disappointment this may cause and is committed to addressing concerns promptly.
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Thursday, November 30, 2023
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Bermuda - Saint Vincent Match Possibly Called Off
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Word is reaching www.islandstats.com that the match between Bermuda Women’s National team and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines scheduled for December 1st at the Flora Duffy South Field Stadium at the National Sports Center will not be played.
It has been rumored that Visa issues prevented Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from entry into the United States of America on the way to Bermuda.
More on this developing story coming soon…….
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