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FRANCE : PRESIDENTIAL PLANS AND HOPES FOR 2016

President Hollande, while presenting his annual New Year's "Good Wishes" to French citizens, announced that his two main objectives in 2016 are to ensure the security of France against further Terrorist Attacks and, but not least, to take more new measures to reduce or prevent more Unemployment. 

The year 2015 has been catastrophic.  It started badly with the Terrorist attack on the satyrical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" on January 7 + 9, 2015.  It ended with the attack on November 13,    (11-13-15) on the Bataclan theater.  There were several other alerts during the year. 

The economic condition of France has also suffered  since the election of President Hollande in May 2012.   Government spending in 2015 will outstrip income by about 700 Million Euros, but the reasons for any overruns, even in 2016, will be ascribed to higher costs for tighter security. 

However, what is quite clear is that Hollande wants to stand for a second term as President in May 2017.   Whether he will be able to, depends really on whether he can convince the Socialist Coalition that he is the best Candidate who could beat even Opposition Party candidates ! 

The 2017 Presidential Election is on the minds of all politicians in France ! 

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ATHLETICS : PUNISH DRUG CHEATS AND TRAINERS !

The IAAF (International Association of Athletic Fédérations) and WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) each have two problems but no real options -

1   Catch and punish Drug Cheats

2   Professionalise their Organisations 

Previous articles in this Blog have drawn attention to the fact that banning or excluding Russia, or any other country, from international Competitions like the Olympic Games or World Championships, is the right punishment !   This is because neither the IAAF nor WADA can ever be sure that any banned country has finally taken ALL the steps necessary to irradicate the use of illegal doping products in its country.  

To be caught and punished, Drug Cheats  must be systematically tested just before each event : if they are clean, they can participate in the event.  If they are not "clean", they are automatically banned for a long period of time or until they appeal ! 

This implies that the IAAF and WADA must each re-assess their  responsibilities and co-operation. 

 

Furthermore, it appears that neither the IAAF nor WADA has the guarantee of the financial means required to attain its all its objectives.

All the permanent officers should be remunerated reasonably and their reasonable expenses reimbursed.  These Organisations cannot be considered to be "charities" with benevolent, unpaid, "Managers" !   They in fact have the same responsibilities as international Politicians or Ambassadors !

If they are not financed by the members they serve and who profit financially from Sports Events, a complete "MESS" will soon arise, similar to the one which FIFA is experiencing ! 

The next Olympic Games are on the horizon and solutions must be found for a new start.  

A NEW START is what every sports enthusiast wants !       

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IAAF MUST REINFORCE DRUG TESTING !

The IAAF (International Association of Athletic Federations) seems to be completely lost since the publication of the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) report which severely criticised Russia and just a few other countries. 

The use and abuse of Drugs in all Sport has risen sharply during the last fifty years, not only in Athletics. Not enough sportsmen have been punished or simply banned !  At present many World or National records are openly suspected !

The Wada Report presented the perfect opportunity to the IAAF (and other similar sports bodies) to decide to introduce strict new "Drug testing obligations",  which sportsmen should have to respect before they  can compete.

Is it not the lack of "fool-proof" and rigorous testing at ALL major competitions, which encourages cheating ?   The IAAF must "oblige athletes to submit themselves" for a Drugs Test shortly before an event if they want to compete.  Likewise,  the first three past the post of the event, should also be tested again.

Tests will never be 100% fool-proof but disqualifications should always be immediate.  Likewise Trainers as well as the athlete should be barred !   Any appeals could be heard at a later date. 

Such a system seems to be the only real solution, but will cost money.  The IAAF and WADA also need funds to ensure they can perform their functions.   They must be funded correctly, probably by the Organisers of Sports Events !

The IAAF must act quickly with determination.  The success of the 2016 RIO Olympics is the Prize !   

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BLATTER'S SPEECH EXPLAINS NOTHING !

In his speech, after he had been banned from football for 8 years, Sepp Blatter revealed why he considers that he has been wrongly condemned !  

Basically he considers that in accordance with the Articles of FIFA, the only way he can be deposed as President of FIFA, is by a secret vote of all the 209 member countries of FIFA.  This means that he considers that he cannot be judged by the laws of any country, including those of Switzerland, where he was born and where he is also a resident !

Blatter says he will appeal to Neutral Courts to have the 8 year ban lifted, to restore him as President of FIFA.  Why is this so urgent ?  Has he not declared that it is his intention to resign before the next Presidential Election of FIFA on February 26, 2016 ?  Or is it only for reasons connected with his vanity ?

Or does Blatter not accept that the payment he made to Platini could be considered as being suspicious ? For example, did Blatter or FIFA benefit from the services rendered by Platini ?  Should Blatter personally, or FIFA, bear the cost ?

While Blatter has been at the Helm, nothing has ever been totally transparant. There have always been surprises !  When Blatter retires many will heave a sigh of relief !

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A MERRY XMAS and a HAPPY "NEW FIFA" YEAR !

After the "Latest News", that the FIFA Ethics Committee yesterday banned both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for 8 years from all "football related activity", is this not the moment to wish everyone 

                       A Happy "NEW FIFA"  Year ?

Is the turbulance of the last 12 months (2 ongoing Investigations and several sittings of the FIFA Ethics Committee + High Court Appeals), now over ? 

NO !  Some accused are still fighting to protect their good reputations because they say they are CLEAN !   There will be hasty and desperate appeals against judgements, even though several accused have admitted their guilt and decided to give evidence to Prosecutors !

The basic problem is that no one in FIFA, in Switzerland or anywhere in the World, knew anything of what was going on !  Neither the President nor anyone around him !

Perhaps the FIFA Ethics Committee has seen the light.  FIFA must be liberated of all its former Executives and Officers, who should be barred from any future office in FIFA !  The English maxim is,

      "OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW"

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WAR AGAINST IS TERRORISTS : IS THE EU READY ?

France has declared war on IS Terrorists and other countries like Britain, USA and Russia have also launched Drones or bombed Terrorist strongholds in the Middle East.

However, have all members of the EU passed legislation in their own country to permit the rapid arrest of suspected IS activists or terrorists ?  The IS never respects any "human rights" when attacks are launched in the Middle East, in the EU or anywhere else !   It kills civilians and destroys everything in its path.

Have all countries created special laws for arresting and detaining Terrorists ?  In France a "State of Emergency" has been declared to help the detection of crime by organised gangs of Terrorists.

Even this is not enough !  Where do you put suspected terrorists while investigations are ongoing ?   In France there are not enough prisons for even normal criminals. 

In fact, Terrorists should not be detained in normal Prisons.  They must be housed in purpose built prisons and in separate cells.  If they are convicted and sentenced to serve many years in jail, that Jail should not be in a populated town but on a remote island !     

Building secure Prisons takes time and should be undertaken as soon as possible.  Stopping IS in the Middle East will take time but wiping out independent Terrorist cells in all EU countries and elsewhere, will take much longer !  

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