Post by tall_one on Aug 5, 2004 2:06:24 GMT
Women may boycott Olympics
Women tennis players are threatening to boycott the Olympics if Germans Anca Barna and Marlene Weingaertner are not allowed to compete in Athens.
The German Olympic Committee has not selected the women even though they have met the International Tennis Federation's qualifying standard.
"There is a real chance of a boycott," French player Nathalie Dechy told the Toronto Globe and Mail.
WTA boss Larry Scott is attempting to avert the threat, the paper said.
Barna and Weingaertner, ranked 46th and 52nd qualify for Athens based on the ITF's criteria which dictate that the top 56 ranked players earn automatic entry into the Olympics.
But the German Olympic Committee had its own criteria of reaching a semi-final of a Grand Slam or the final of a tier-one event, which neither player has met.
There is a real chance we won't be able to resolve the matter before the entry deadline at the end of the week
Scott has travelled to the Montreal Cup to discuss the problem with the WTA Tour players.
"We've been doing everything possible (to solve the problem)," Scott told the Globe and Mail.
"We're working with the ITF and with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and (IOC president) Jacques Rogge has been involved.
"But the final veto is with the German Olympic Committee because they name the players and they are not willing to budge.
"There is a real chance we won't be able to resolve the matter before the (entry) deadline at the end of the week.
"This is an injustice to our players, so we're lobbying the IOC and the German Olympic Committee to reverse their decision in the interest of our sport."
The situation is further complicated by the fact the WTA and ATP will award Tour ranking points based on the results at the Olympics.
WTA advises players not to boycott Olympics, but wants overlooked players in
WTA Tour players were advised Wednesday not to boycott the Athens Olympics, but bonus points might be withdrawn if two qualified German players are left out of the games.
Larry Scott, CEO of the Tour, met with about 30 players bound for the Olympics at the Rogers Cup tournament to discuss the German Olympic Committee's decision to keep Anca Barna and Marlene Weingartner off its team.
Some players this week suggested an Olympic boycott if the two players were not included.
"I made it clear to the players that missing the Olympics -- not playing in the Olympics -- is not in the interests of women's professional tennis and our sport in general," Scott said.
He said the WTA would consider not awarding Tour points, which count toward players' rankings, if an agreement is not reached before the deadline for entries this week.
Scott said he would continue to lobby the International Olympic Committee and the International Tennis Federation to pressure the Germans to revise their qualifying standards.
"I'm not suggesting that's what the decision will be, but I can't say it's not a possibility," Scott said. "The agreement between the WTA and the ITF allows the WTA to withdraw ranking points if (the Germans) do not send these two players."
The WTA had an agreement with the ITF and the IOC to award points. The top 56 in WTA rankings, with a maximum of four per country, were to be admitted to the games.
Barna and Weingartner, Germany's top two women players, were ranked 46th and 52nd, respectively, on the July 15 list of Olympic entrants.
However, Germany set its own very steep standards -- that players must have reached the final of a Tier-1 tournament, such as the Rogers Cup, or the semifinals of a grand slam event to qualify.
So far, the Germans have not budged from their position.
Scott said the Germans were "unfair" because they made an exception for one of their male players, Florian Mayer, after he reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Mayer was ranked 53rd, but had not met German standards.
Elena Dementieva of Russia, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, supported the German players but did not appear ready for a boycott.
"For me, it's the most special event in the world," she said. "I've been dreaming of going to Athens and try to win gold this time.
"I'm sure we'll find a way for them to go there. They did everything by the rules. They deserve to be there."
Women tennis players are threatening to boycott the Olympics if Germans Anca Barna and Marlene Weingaertner are not allowed to compete in Athens.
The German Olympic Committee has not selected the women even though they have met the International Tennis Federation's qualifying standard.
"There is a real chance of a boycott," French player Nathalie Dechy told the Toronto Globe and Mail.
WTA boss Larry Scott is attempting to avert the threat, the paper said.
Barna and Weingaertner, ranked 46th and 52nd qualify for Athens based on the ITF's criteria which dictate that the top 56 ranked players earn automatic entry into the Olympics.
But the German Olympic Committee had its own criteria of reaching a semi-final of a Grand Slam or the final of a tier-one event, which neither player has met.
There is a real chance we won't be able to resolve the matter before the entry deadline at the end of the week
Scott has travelled to the Montreal Cup to discuss the problem with the WTA Tour players.
"We've been doing everything possible (to solve the problem)," Scott told the Globe and Mail.
"We're working with the ITF and with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and (IOC president) Jacques Rogge has been involved.
"But the final veto is with the German Olympic Committee because they name the players and they are not willing to budge.
"There is a real chance we won't be able to resolve the matter before the (entry) deadline at the end of the week.
"This is an injustice to our players, so we're lobbying the IOC and the German Olympic Committee to reverse their decision in the interest of our sport."
The situation is further complicated by the fact the WTA and ATP will award Tour ranking points based on the results at the Olympics.
WTA advises players not to boycott Olympics, but wants overlooked players in
WTA Tour players were advised Wednesday not to boycott the Athens Olympics, but bonus points might be withdrawn if two qualified German players are left out of the games.
Larry Scott, CEO of the Tour, met with about 30 players bound for the Olympics at the Rogers Cup tournament to discuss the German Olympic Committee's decision to keep Anca Barna and Marlene Weingartner off its team.
Some players this week suggested an Olympic boycott if the two players were not included.
"I made it clear to the players that missing the Olympics -- not playing in the Olympics -- is not in the interests of women's professional tennis and our sport in general," Scott said.
He said the WTA would consider not awarding Tour points, which count toward players' rankings, if an agreement is not reached before the deadline for entries this week.
Scott said he would continue to lobby the International Olympic Committee and the International Tennis Federation to pressure the Germans to revise their qualifying standards.
"I'm not suggesting that's what the decision will be, but I can't say it's not a possibility," Scott said. "The agreement between the WTA and the ITF allows the WTA to withdraw ranking points if (the Germans) do not send these two players."
The WTA had an agreement with the ITF and the IOC to award points. The top 56 in WTA rankings, with a maximum of four per country, were to be admitted to the games.
Barna and Weingartner, Germany's top two women players, were ranked 46th and 52nd, respectively, on the July 15 list of Olympic entrants.
However, Germany set its own very steep standards -- that players must have reached the final of a Tier-1 tournament, such as the Rogers Cup, or the semifinals of a grand slam event to qualify.
So far, the Germans have not budged from their position.
Scott said the Germans were "unfair" because they made an exception for one of their male players, Florian Mayer, after he reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Mayer was ranked 53rd, but had not met German standards.
Elena Dementieva of Russia, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, supported the German players but did not appear ready for a boycott.
"For me, it's the most special event in the world," she said. "I've been dreaming of going to Athens and try to win gold this time.
"I'm sure we'll find a way for them to go there. They did everything by the rules. They deserve to be there."
