Well, clearly, Speedskating Canada is as rife with politics as USS.
Sadly, it sounds like Guillaume got hosed.
Here is the google translate versions. Imperfect, I know. But I think you'll get the gist.
For those whose grasp of French is better than mine, here is a direct link to the article.
www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/sports/dossiers/jeux-de-sotchi/201312/17/01-4721687-patinage-courte-piste-lequipe-canadienne-doit-sexpliquer.phpTranslation:Québec ) Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is located on the spot, while a referee asks him to explain his decision to have chosen the skater Francois Hamelin before Guillaume Bastille as discretionary choice within the Olympic team short track .
The Sun has learned that speed skater Guillaume Bastille of Rivière- du- Loup, appealed the choice of PVC elect François Hamelin as the fifth and final member of the Olympic team. Bastille was chosen as a reservist .
While the first four team members are appointed by the results of the Olympic trials in August , the fifth skater is a discretionary choice elected by the Committee of Olympic selection. To guide this appointment , guidelines are established in advance by PVC.
However, Graeme Mew , the referee Centre Sport Dispute Resolution of Canada heard the appeal raises questions about the justifications given by PVC elect Hamelin.
In its decision on December 13 , he said that the primary criterion of selection guide PVC is the analysis of international performances of 12 months before the Olympic selection.
Especially , he added that the committee was given the right to look at the results before that period if, and only if , it was impossible to separate the two best athletes on the analysis of these results.
Nevertheless, this analysis clearly identifies the skater who had better performance : Guillaume Bastille.
During this period, World Cups, the athlete Rivière- du- Loup collected a gold medal in the 500 m, and two bronze in the 1,500 m, taking part in four finals and final six A B. In the same year , François Hamelin displayed as better results in the final two entries in the final three A and B.
But now , in the document explaining its choice, the selection committee discusses the relay team for the 2010 Olympics . Bastille and Hamelin were the gold medal team, but Hamelin was on the ice for the final, not Bastille. The committee justifies and explains the decision to place no reliance on a so old competition over three and a half years.
No "justification"
A practice condemned by the referee, Graeme Mew , in its judgment. " The selection committee is being relied on an outcome outside the qualifying period , and having done so without justification , I can not be convinced that he has applied the rules correctly and fairly ," writes there .
According to him, to trust in a competition prior to the period of 12 months, the committee should have indicated that it was impossible to separate the skaters without otherwise.
Guillaume Bastille, currently in Italy , did not comment , wishing await the decision of PVC.
Yves Hamelin, Short Track Program Director and member of the Olympic team was not able to comment on the matter last night. The father of François Hamelin, he withdrew from the beginning of the decision-making process . However, he suggested that the committee would meet shortly to consider the outcome of the appeal .
Male skaters Olympic team for Sochi are Charles Hamelin, François Hamelin, Olivier Jean Charle Cournoyer and Michael Gilday .
Also:
blogues.lapresse.ca/roberge/2013/12/17/courte-piste-la-discorde-discretionnaire/Translation:Short Track : discretionary discord
As revealed in our pages Tuesday , a referee asks to Speed Skating Canada (SSC) to explain the selection of François Hamelin before that of Guillaume Bastille as discretionary choice of the Olympic team skating short track speed.
I can already hear you: "Another call short track ..." Those who follow the sport in recent years that this has happened several times.
Why is this so? Discretionary choices is with the national team to elect a skater in the group there is no doubt for many.
Olympic selection played over several days ; Canada's top athletes struggling to ten availability to represent the country at the Olympics. Five women and five men .
"The athletes are fighting on the ice, it's war , but at the same time there is a lot of respect between us. May the best win , we're all in the same boat. On Sunday, after the competition, we look at the standings, it was successful or failed , and the page " is turned.
Thus Rémi Beaulieu, a member of the short track national team for years and now long track skater , describes the sporting rivalry of his former sport.
However, he insists on the harmful effects of adding it a few years ago , a discretionary choice. "It is clear to me that the discretionary choices brought so many problems ! The team established that to ensure the best possible team is their argument. But for athletes, it brings politics and conflict , "says one who was the athlete representative within the Canadian federation.
Beaulieu , it is important to have the opportunity to give a bye ( a pass ) to an injured athlete who previously clearly demonstrated its superiority. The systematic use of a discretionary choice allowed , however, like many of his former colleagues, stunned. "It spoils the atmosphere ! "
At the Olympic trials in August , three men got their ticket to Sochi with the classification of the competition Charles Hamelin, Olivier Jean Charle Cournoyer . Injured , Michael Gilday asked a pass that was granted by PVC.
Finally, the Olympic Selection Committee had to choose between his last skater Francois Hamelin, Guillaume Bastille , François- Louis Tremblay , Vincent Cournoyer and Alexandre St- Jean . Hamelin was appointed.
According to the guide Olympic Selection PVC , factors to elect the skater with the best chance to contribute to the collection of medals of the team are: performance and international experience ( criterion identified as a priority ), national results , performance in training, competition preparation , the dynamics within the team , commitment to the training program and medical status.
In theory , these criteria have been established to minimize the subjectivity of the selection. But how objectively judge the strength within a group? Tell me, where can I find an objective scale of commitment to the training program ?
I am a supporter of " let slip ". The results on the ice are the only reference .
