Post by managermike99 on Jul 29, 2014 13:43:47 GMT -5
Los Angeles, CA - May 23, 2008
Sony & TBA Networks unveiled this morning a huge project which they have been working on secretly for over a year.
April 2009 will be the first ever Great Amateur Athletic Games or (GAAG), hosted in Southern California.
President of TBA sports Anthony (Tony) Steele said that these multi-national games will be centered on friendship, fair play, athleticism, equality, and fun. This initiative is different then the "Friendship Games" or other regional games such as the Commonwealth, in that they will present a totally different set of sports competitions.
"Which sports have been accepted will slowly be unveiled over the next couple of months" said Steele. "Truth be told the entire roster has not been set and we are still working with governing bodies to see what level of support they can provide."
Sponsorships will be kept to a minimal in the spirit of the games, but are required to help pay for athletes and officials travel costs.
While the exact roster of sports has not been settled a set of criteria for selection was unveiled. Steele said that "sports already in the other games (the Olympics) will not be included, and pro athletes will not be allowed to participate. A certain minimum of skill and athleticism must be apparent in the sport, and it must be competitive in nature. We are not looking for combat sports, and have a preference for team sports over individual sports, and will shy away from sports involving judges. In cases where a sport is not widely played across the globe, certain rules will be put into place to level the playing field between nations as to which of there athletes they can send."
The thinking right now is the roster of sports will see a combination of more traditional sports who just are not in the Olympics, along with some untraditional or fun fringe sports.
The games will be condensed to 9 days of competiton, covering two weekends and one week. TBA will have a complete 4 hour prime time package of events throught the games.
Los Angeles, CA - May 26, 2008
TBA Networks President of Sports Programming, Tony Steele today unveiled the "other" games (Great Amateur Athletic Games) new logo, the dates the games will be played, as well as two goodwill ambassadors.
The simple logo features connected hands of various colours, and the tagline showing when and where the games will be held.
The dates of the games have been unveiled as opening ceremonies taking place the evening of April 9th, and games being competed between April 10th and April 19th with the evening of the 19th being the closing ceremonies. Some events may require non-televised qualifying events prior to the games which fans can keep abreast of at TBA sports website, or the website of the GAAG.
Finally, Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards, the iconic Great Britain Ski jumper, who was the first ever athlete to be refeered to individually during the Olympics closing ceremony speach, and Devon Harris, a member of the famous original Olympic Jamaican Bobsled team, were named Goodwill ambassadors. Both men will be at the games to hand out medals and do meet and greets with the fans and media.
Steele also said to expect an announcement on the first 4 sports to be accepted into the games in the next day or two.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_%27the_Eagle%27_Edwards
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Bobsled_Team
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon_Harris
Los Angeles, CA - May 27, 2008
Ultimate named as first sport in GAAG; others rejected
President of TBA Sports Tony Steele was on hand today in the city of angels along with Juha Jalovaara the President of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) to officialy announce that "Ultimate" the team flying disc game is offically the first sport to join the GAAG.
Ultimate was formerly known as "Ultimate Frisbee" but Frisbee was dropped because it was a trademark, and the actual flying disc used in the game is now made by another company.
In Ultimate, two teams of 7 try and pass the disc from one to another into the other teams end zone, without a pass going out of bounds, being dropped, or intercepted by the opponents, all of which result in a turnover. Once a player catches the disc, they can not advance it by movement, only by making another pass. Every successful score is one point, and the games for the GAAG will go to 13 points with no clock in effect. Halftime break occurs at 7 points.
The sport of Ultimate was chosen by the organizers of GAAG to be their flagship sport based on the spirit of the game. The counterculture sport employs no on field officials; fouls and disputes are settled by the players. However, as has become common place in the sport, off field observers will be present but will only be relied upon if requested by the teams to make a decision.
In keeping with the spirit of the game and some of its traditions, the GAAG competition will feature mixed teams (4 men and 3 women with the ratio changing after every point scored). Another tradition of the sport is "hat" tournaments where teams are picked by pulling names out of a hat instead of pre-defined teams signing up. For the GAAG games all interested and registered Ultimate players can have their names thrown into the hat, and Mr. Jalavaaro will draw the names who will compete for their country. Team rosters will be 20, with 18 dressed for every game, and a fair-play rule employed meaning substitutions have to be done on a rotating basis.
Sixteen countries will take part set-up in 4 divisions of 4. Each division will play a 3 game round robin with the top team from each division going on to the medal round. The medal round will feature semi-final match-ups and then the winners going to the finals, and the losers going to the Bronze medal game.
The countries competing will be;
USA, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Japan, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Spain, Austria, South Africa, and Belarus.
Other Sports Rejected;
Tony Steele also announced today that "Rock, Paper, Scissors" was rejected as a possible GAAG sport. Steele said that although the "sport" has gained some recent notoriety due to its world championships being broadcast on ESPN, it does not meet some key GAAG requirements. First and foremost, it does not have the minimum athletic requirement. For the same reason "Poker" and "Chess" have also been confirmed as not being considered for GAAG. When a reported asked about "Darts", Steele was coy saying that it has not yet been ruled out.
Los Angeles, CA - May 30, 2008
TBA Sports today announced 3 more sports added to the GAAG games, one new goodwill ambassador, and some more rejections.
Tug of War, Unlimited Hydroplane Racing, and Murderball have all been added to GAAG, joining Ultimate in what is now 4 confirmed sports.
Tug of War was contested as a team event in the Olympics between 1900 and 1920. Each participating country will field a team of 8, consisting of 4 male and 4 females with a combined weight total of no more then 600KG (roughly 1320lbs, or an average of 165 lbs per competitor). Each country will be allowed to enter one team, and the tournament will be contested in a double knockout format.
Countries entered already include the USA, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Jamaica, and Barbados. The field is expected to expand.
Unlimited Hydroplane Racing is one of the most dangerous and exciting sports events in the world. Perhaps the sports greatest notoriety occured during the 1980's when George Michael's Sports Machine would regularly feature highlites of the races, and of course the memorable crashes, as the boats would often flip head over heels. For those not familiar with George Michael's Sports Machine, it was a nationally syndicated show on Sunday nights with highlites of not only the major sports but many others as well; including pro wrestling, arena football before it was popular, sumo wrestling, and racing. This was a time when most fans did not have access to ESPN, and so there sports highlites were limited to the local news packages. George Michael was an innovator. And for this reason he was on hand on Friday to unveil Unlimited Hydroplane Racing's entry into GAAG, and to be added as a goodwill ambassador for the event.
Countries already registered to compete, each allowed to send only one boat, will be the USA, Italy, Finland, Slovakia, Germany, England, Russia, Sweden, and the UAE.
George Michael
Murderball (wheelchair rugby) was also added as a sport on Friday. Teams will consist of 12 players, with 4 on the court at any given time. It is a mixed league with an even number of men and women, and there must be 2 of each on the court.
Countries already confirmed to be sending teams are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, USA, France, Germany, England, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea, and South Africa. There is still one open spot, and the sanctioning body is looking to grant that spot to a nation who is just devloping the sport if possible.
The competition will consist of 4 groups of 4 teams who will play a round robin within their group. The top team from each group will go on to the semi-finals, and then the finals.
In addition to the new goodwill ambassador, and the new sports added, there was also the announcement of some sports that have been rejected by Tony Steele, President of TBA sports.
"Ditchball" was rejected as being too chaotic and not properly sanctioned. "Four Square" was an interesting application, but it was decided that at this time there were more team sports available better suited to the spirit of GAAG. "Finger Jousting" was rejected primarily because of the lack of athleticism involved (its more of a skill), and also because the world finger jousting sanctioning body is currently filled with scandal and dissent.
Look for the addition of more sports next week.
Los Angeles, CA - June 17, 2008
TBA sports and the Great Amateur Athletic Games (GAAG) announced the addition of 4 more sports for the April 2009 games.
Roller Hockey, sometimes referred to as inline hockey, played with inline skates, not the quad rollerskate variety. It will be male teams competing at the GAAG. All 16 countries confirmed so far are Germany, Venezuela, Australia, China, USA, Canada, England, Italy, Korea, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, and Mexico.
Jai Alai has also been added. The fastest game on earth features two players hurling a hard goatskin ball while wearing a glove with an attached basket. The balls reach speeds of up to 300km an hour. The action takes place in a 3-walled court.
Countries confirmed to be sending players include the USA, Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Pakistan, Iran, and Ireland. Qualifying matches are still to be held to determine more participants.
Paintball, played with capture the flag by co-ed teams, is another interesting pick for the GAAG in 2009. Countries confirmed to compete include the USA, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Chile, Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Bulgaria, Switzerland, South Africa, and Spain. No word yet on what kind of format the competition will follow, as 20 teams is a lot to handle.
Finally, Women's Netball was also added. Similar to basketball, netball is the preeminent game for women in many countries around the globe. Similar to basketball but with zone restrictions.
Qualifying must still be held but look for countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Ireland, and many of the West Indies to be strong contenders.
That brings to 8 the total number of sports announced for the GAAG. These 4 join Ultimate, Unlimited Hydroplane Racing, Murderball, and Tug of War at the inaugural games.
Los Angeles, CA - June 27, 2008
Once again Tony Steele, from TBA Network was on hand as the Great Amateur Atletic Games unveiled new sports added to the games.
Lacrosse (field lacrosse) was announced amidst some fanfare, with representatives from several Native Canadian and American tribes on hand, as it is a traditional game for their culture. In 2009 it will be competed by male teams from Canada, USA, England, Australia, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Czech Republic, India, Spain, Slovenia, Bermuda, Mexico, Argentina, Finland, and the Iroquois Confederacy. The inclusion of the Iroquis team while not unique to Lacrosse competition, is yet another example of how the GAAG differs significantly from the Olympics.
Bowling has also been added with the interesting twist that the team of 4 must be immediate family members. There must be two parents, and two children under 15. Of the 4 team members there must also be two male and two female. The event will formally be called Family Bowling. And no, bumpers will not be used! Countries represented so far include USA, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Phillipines, Qatar, Argentina, Brazil, Barbados, Bermuda, Bahamas, England, and Scotland. Even more countries are expected to send a team as it is an open event for all nations to compete.
Polo was also added as a sport today. The games will be played on the traditional outdoor setting. Competing male teams will come from USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, France, England, Chile, Pakistan, India, Australia, Spain, and Ireland.
With the addition of these 3 sports it brings the GAAG's total number of sports to 11.
-Ultimate
-Tug of War
-Unlimited Hydroplane Racing
-Murderball
-Roller Hockey
-Jai Alai
-Paintball
-Women's Netball
-Lacrosse
-Bowling
-Polo
Officials say they expect to add between 12 and 15 more competitions.
The GAAG celebrations open April 9th, 2009 in Southern California.
San Diego, CA - July 8th, 2008
Tony Steele of TBA Sports took his show on the road this week to San Diego to unveil the next wave of sports added to the intriguing line-up of GAAG.
Surfing has been added to the games in what should be a very popular attraction. In the 2009 games it will be the women competing in the event. Countries already committed to sending a competitor include USA, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, South Africa, France, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, and Peru.
Dodgeball is another example of a non-olympic sport that is perfect for GAAG and is a sport that TBA executives have been besieged with calls to include in the games. Eight person teams will be a mix of 4 men and 4 women, with every nation able to send only one team, and some qualifying matches may be required prior to the games. The USA, Canada, Mexico, Phillipines, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Finland, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Estonia, Guatemala, Kenya, Panama, Romania, Hungary, San Marino, and Uzbekistan have all expressed interest in sending a team.
The next event added is Three-Legged Racing, the popular picnic event using burlap sacks. For the GAAG games teammates must be a male and female related either by blood or marriage. This is an open event with all nations invited to send one team to compete. None of the competitors will be allowed to have competed in a track and field sport at a high level of competition.
Net Footbag has also been added, featuring a mixed team of one male and one female who volley a footbag (hackey sack) over a 5 foot high net with primarily their feet. The game is a variation of tennis/badminton/volleyball but played with a footbag. Countries sending a team will be Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, and Venezuela in what promises to be the games biggest number of countries competing in one sport (40).
That brings to 15 the number of sports being competed at the GAAG.
-Ultimate
-Tug of War
-Unlimited Hydroplane Racing
-Murderball
-Roller Hockey
-Jai Alai
-Paintball
-Women's Netball
-Lacrosse
-Bowling
-Polo
-Surfing
-Dodgeball
-Three Legged Races
-Net Footbag
Sony & TBA Networks unveiled this morning a huge project which they have been working on secretly for over a year.
April 2009 will be the first ever Great Amateur Athletic Games or (GAAG), hosted in Southern California.
President of TBA sports Anthony (Tony) Steele said that these multi-national games will be centered on friendship, fair play, athleticism, equality, and fun. This initiative is different then the "Friendship Games" or other regional games such as the Commonwealth, in that they will present a totally different set of sports competitions.
"Which sports have been accepted will slowly be unveiled over the next couple of months" said Steele. "Truth be told the entire roster has not been set and we are still working with governing bodies to see what level of support they can provide."
Sponsorships will be kept to a minimal in the spirit of the games, but are required to help pay for athletes and officials travel costs.
While the exact roster of sports has not been settled a set of criteria for selection was unveiled. Steele said that "sports already in the other games (the Olympics) will not be included, and pro athletes will not be allowed to participate. A certain minimum of skill and athleticism must be apparent in the sport, and it must be competitive in nature. We are not looking for combat sports, and have a preference for team sports over individual sports, and will shy away from sports involving judges. In cases where a sport is not widely played across the globe, certain rules will be put into place to level the playing field between nations as to which of there athletes they can send."
The thinking right now is the roster of sports will see a combination of more traditional sports who just are not in the Olympics, along with some untraditional or fun fringe sports.
The games will be condensed to 9 days of competiton, covering two weekends and one week. TBA will have a complete 4 hour prime time package of events throught the games.
Los Angeles, CA - May 26, 2008
TBA Networks President of Sports Programming, Tony Steele today unveiled the "other" games (Great Amateur Athletic Games) new logo, the dates the games will be played, as well as two goodwill ambassadors.
The simple logo features connected hands of various colours, and the tagline showing when and where the games will be held.
The dates of the games have been unveiled as opening ceremonies taking place the evening of April 9th, and games being competed between April 10th and April 19th with the evening of the 19th being the closing ceremonies. Some events may require non-televised qualifying events prior to the games which fans can keep abreast of at TBA sports website, or the website of the GAAG.
Finally, Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards, the iconic Great Britain Ski jumper, who was the first ever athlete to be refeered to individually during the Olympics closing ceremony speach, and Devon Harris, a member of the famous original Olympic Jamaican Bobsled team, were named Goodwill ambassadors. Both men will be at the games to hand out medals and do meet and greets with the fans and media.
Steele also said to expect an announcement on the first 4 sports to be accepted into the games in the next day or two.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_%27the_Eagle%27_Edwards
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Bobsled_Team
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon_Harris
Los Angeles, CA - May 27, 2008
Ultimate named as first sport in GAAG; others rejected
President of TBA Sports Tony Steele was on hand today in the city of angels along with Juha Jalovaara the President of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) to officialy announce that "Ultimate" the team flying disc game is offically the first sport to join the GAAG.
Ultimate was formerly known as "Ultimate Frisbee" but Frisbee was dropped because it was a trademark, and the actual flying disc used in the game is now made by another company.
In Ultimate, two teams of 7 try and pass the disc from one to another into the other teams end zone, without a pass going out of bounds, being dropped, or intercepted by the opponents, all of which result in a turnover. Once a player catches the disc, they can not advance it by movement, only by making another pass. Every successful score is one point, and the games for the GAAG will go to 13 points with no clock in effect. Halftime break occurs at 7 points.
The sport of Ultimate was chosen by the organizers of GAAG to be their flagship sport based on the spirit of the game. The counterculture sport employs no on field officials; fouls and disputes are settled by the players. However, as has become common place in the sport, off field observers will be present but will only be relied upon if requested by the teams to make a decision.
In keeping with the spirit of the game and some of its traditions, the GAAG competition will feature mixed teams (4 men and 3 women with the ratio changing after every point scored). Another tradition of the sport is "hat" tournaments where teams are picked by pulling names out of a hat instead of pre-defined teams signing up. For the GAAG games all interested and registered Ultimate players can have their names thrown into the hat, and Mr. Jalavaaro will draw the names who will compete for their country. Team rosters will be 20, with 18 dressed for every game, and a fair-play rule employed meaning substitutions have to be done on a rotating basis.
Sixteen countries will take part set-up in 4 divisions of 4. Each division will play a 3 game round robin with the top team from each division going on to the medal round. The medal round will feature semi-final match-ups and then the winners going to the finals, and the losers going to the Bronze medal game.
The countries competing will be;
USA, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Japan, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Spain, Austria, South Africa, and Belarus.
Other Sports Rejected;
Tony Steele also announced today that "Rock, Paper, Scissors" was rejected as a possible GAAG sport. Steele said that although the "sport" has gained some recent notoriety due to its world championships being broadcast on ESPN, it does not meet some key GAAG requirements. First and foremost, it does not have the minimum athletic requirement. For the same reason "Poker" and "Chess" have also been confirmed as not being considered for GAAG. When a reported asked about "Darts", Steele was coy saying that it has not yet been ruled out.
Los Angeles, CA - May 30, 2008
TBA Sports today announced 3 more sports added to the GAAG games, one new goodwill ambassador, and some more rejections.
Tug of War, Unlimited Hydroplane Racing, and Murderball have all been added to GAAG, joining Ultimate in what is now 4 confirmed sports.
Tug of War was contested as a team event in the Olympics between 1900 and 1920. Each participating country will field a team of 8, consisting of 4 male and 4 females with a combined weight total of no more then 600KG (roughly 1320lbs, or an average of 165 lbs per competitor). Each country will be allowed to enter one team, and the tournament will be contested in a double knockout format.
Countries entered already include the USA, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Jamaica, and Barbados. The field is expected to expand.
Unlimited Hydroplane Racing is one of the most dangerous and exciting sports events in the world. Perhaps the sports greatest notoriety occured during the 1980's when George Michael's Sports Machine would regularly feature highlites of the races, and of course the memorable crashes, as the boats would often flip head over heels. For those not familiar with George Michael's Sports Machine, it was a nationally syndicated show on Sunday nights with highlites of not only the major sports but many others as well; including pro wrestling, arena football before it was popular, sumo wrestling, and racing. This was a time when most fans did not have access to ESPN, and so there sports highlites were limited to the local news packages. George Michael was an innovator. And for this reason he was on hand on Friday to unveil Unlimited Hydroplane Racing's entry into GAAG, and to be added as a goodwill ambassador for the event.
Countries already registered to compete, each allowed to send only one boat, will be the USA, Italy, Finland, Slovakia, Germany, England, Russia, Sweden, and the UAE.
George Michael
Murderball (wheelchair rugby) was also added as a sport on Friday. Teams will consist of 12 players, with 4 on the court at any given time. It is a mixed league with an even number of men and women, and there must be 2 of each on the court.
Countries already confirmed to be sending teams are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, USA, France, Germany, England, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea, and South Africa. There is still one open spot, and the sanctioning body is looking to grant that spot to a nation who is just devloping the sport if possible.
The competition will consist of 4 groups of 4 teams who will play a round robin within their group. The top team from each group will go on to the semi-finals, and then the finals.
In addition to the new goodwill ambassador, and the new sports added, there was also the announcement of some sports that have been rejected by Tony Steele, President of TBA sports.
"Ditchball" was rejected as being too chaotic and not properly sanctioned. "Four Square" was an interesting application, but it was decided that at this time there were more team sports available better suited to the spirit of GAAG. "Finger Jousting" was rejected primarily because of the lack of athleticism involved (its more of a skill), and also because the world finger jousting sanctioning body is currently filled with scandal and dissent.
Look for the addition of more sports next week.
Los Angeles, CA - June 17, 2008
TBA sports and the Great Amateur Athletic Games (GAAG) announced the addition of 4 more sports for the April 2009 games.
Roller Hockey, sometimes referred to as inline hockey, played with inline skates, not the quad rollerskate variety. It will be male teams competing at the GAAG. All 16 countries confirmed so far are Germany, Venezuela, Australia, China, USA, Canada, England, Italy, Korea, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, and Mexico.
Jai Alai has also been added. The fastest game on earth features two players hurling a hard goatskin ball while wearing a glove with an attached basket. The balls reach speeds of up to 300km an hour. The action takes place in a 3-walled court.
Countries confirmed to be sending players include the USA, Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Pakistan, Iran, and Ireland. Qualifying matches are still to be held to determine more participants.
Paintball, played with capture the flag by co-ed teams, is another interesting pick for the GAAG in 2009. Countries confirmed to compete include the USA, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Chile, Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Bulgaria, Switzerland, South Africa, and Spain. No word yet on what kind of format the competition will follow, as 20 teams is a lot to handle.
Finally, Women's Netball was also added. Similar to basketball, netball is the preeminent game for women in many countries around the globe. Similar to basketball but with zone restrictions.
Qualifying must still be held but look for countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Ireland, and many of the West Indies to be strong contenders.
That brings to 8 the total number of sports announced for the GAAG. These 4 join Ultimate, Unlimited Hydroplane Racing, Murderball, and Tug of War at the inaugural games.
Los Angeles, CA - June 27, 2008
Once again Tony Steele, from TBA Network was on hand as the Great Amateur Atletic Games unveiled new sports added to the games.
Lacrosse (field lacrosse) was announced amidst some fanfare, with representatives from several Native Canadian and American tribes on hand, as it is a traditional game for their culture. In 2009 it will be competed by male teams from Canada, USA, England, Australia, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Czech Republic, India, Spain, Slovenia, Bermuda, Mexico, Argentina, Finland, and the Iroquois Confederacy. The inclusion of the Iroquis team while not unique to Lacrosse competition, is yet another example of how the GAAG differs significantly from the Olympics.
Bowling has also been added with the interesting twist that the team of 4 must be immediate family members. There must be two parents, and two children under 15. Of the 4 team members there must also be two male and two female. The event will formally be called Family Bowling. And no, bumpers will not be used! Countries represented so far include USA, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Phillipines, Qatar, Argentina, Brazil, Barbados, Bermuda, Bahamas, England, and Scotland. Even more countries are expected to send a team as it is an open event for all nations to compete.
Polo was also added as a sport today. The games will be played on the traditional outdoor setting. Competing male teams will come from USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, France, England, Chile, Pakistan, India, Australia, Spain, and Ireland.
With the addition of these 3 sports it brings the GAAG's total number of sports to 11.
-Ultimate
-Tug of War
-Unlimited Hydroplane Racing
-Murderball
-Roller Hockey
-Jai Alai
-Paintball
-Women's Netball
-Lacrosse
-Bowling
-Polo
Officials say they expect to add between 12 and 15 more competitions.
The GAAG celebrations open April 9th, 2009 in Southern California.
San Diego, CA - July 8th, 2008
Tony Steele of TBA Sports took his show on the road this week to San Diego to unveil the next wave of sports added to the intriguing line-up of GAAG.
Surfing has been added to the games in what should be a very popular attraction. In the 2009 games it will be the women competing in the event. Countries already committed to sending a competitor include USA, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, South Africa, France, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, and Peru.
Dodgeball is another example of a non-olympic sport that is perfect for GAAG and is a sport that TBA executives have been besieged with calls to include in the games. Eight person teams will be a mix of 4 men and 4 women, with every nation able to send only one team, and some qualifying matches may be required prior to the games. The USA, Canada, Mexico, Phillipines, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Finland, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Estonia, Guatemala, Kenya, Panama, Romania, Hungary, San Marino, and Uzbekistan have all expressed interest in sending a team.
The next event added is Three-Legged Racing, the popular picnic event using burlap sacks. For the GAAG games teammates must be a male and female related either by blood or marriage. This is an open event with all nations invited to send one team to compete. None of the competitors will be allowed to have competed in a track and field sport at a high level of competition.
Net Footbag has also been added, featuring a mixed team of one male and one female who volley a footbag (hackey sack) over a 5 foot high net with primarily their feet. The game is a variation of tennis/badminton/volleyball but played with a footbag. Countries sending a team will be Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, and Venezuela in what promises to be the games biggest number of countries competing in one sport (40).
That brings to 15 the number of sports being competed at the GAAG.
-Ultimate
-Tug of War
-Unlimited Hydroplane Racing
-Murderball
-Roller Hockey
-Jai Alai
-Paintball
-Women's Netball
-Lacrosse
-Bowling
-Polo
-Surfing
-Dodgeball
-Three Legged Races
-Net Footbag