The World University Games 2017 run by International University Sports Federation (FISU) is under way in Taipei. Today is the last day of the 29th Summer Universiade. The competition sees students from over 170 countries competing in up to 15 different sporting codes.
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World University Games – Missing Sprinter
South African students have been doing their best, scooping up a few medals along the way. The games have not been without drama, however. Pieter Conradie got into trouble with the University Sport South Africa (USSA) for not showing up for the start lists. Instead, the sprinter went and picked up a late invitation to the Diamond League final.
Not All That Bad
The South African students’ performance was not all that bad. Tatjana Schoenmaker obtained the first medal for the South African students in the women’s 200m breast stroke swimming race. She finished in second place, close behind Kanako Watanabe.
Sprinter, Thando Roto finished in second place last week on Thursday. He was very close to getting a gold medal as well, missing it by a mere 0.02 seconds.
On the very first day of the game, the South African Women’s Soccer team won against the UK team with an impressive 3 – 1. They finished 4th place and are the only African team that gave a stellar performance at the games.
Justine Palframan also took home a silver medal from the women’s 400m race.
World University Games – Top Performers
Lithuania scooped up a gold medal, beating the United States of America’s basketball team 44 – 32. In baseball, Japan also claimed their gold medal from the USA team beating them fair and square with a 10 – 0 score. The American water polo team did well and claimed their gold in the category. Taipei took home 4 gold medals for billiards, Russia dominated the rhythmic gymnastics winning every event and walking away with six golds.
SA Jockeys, Brandon Lerena and Raymond Danielson have been suspended for spending their off-time in Mauritius with a bookmaker. The South Africa jockeys were on a boat with the bookmaker sometime last month.
This is following a YouTube video circulating on social media of three South African jockeys, including a racing personality.
SA Jockeys Not Abiding by Mauritian Rules
Director of the Mauritius Turf Club (MTC), Benoit Halbwachs stated that considering the size of the Mauritian racing community, jockeys are not allowed to associate with bookmakers. A rule that had to be strictly applied.
Lerena and Danielson have been suspended for three months even though there is no rule against jockeys associating with bookmakers in South Africa. The SA jockeys and company were cruising in the bookmaker’s catamaran in the viral video.
A question had been raised as to how the jockeys would have known the rule and Mr Halbwachs’ response was “He is one of about thirty bookmakers operating on course for many years at the Champ de Mars, and is known in the racing community,” referring to the bookmaker the SA jockeys were hanging out with.
What Are the Implications on the Bookmaker?
What happens to the bookmaker if the SA jockeys have faced suspension? MTC’s Halbwachs said that the bookmaker could be reproached by the Gambling Regulatory Authority but has no further details.
Lerena and Danielson have both appealed while another SA jockey, Muzi Yeni is being investigated by police for WhatsApp messages on his cell phone. Although he was not charged, he could still be as he was also on the catamaran.
The MTC’s Expatriate Jockey License states:
“No Jockey is permitted to contact, deal or otherwise associate or be in any way connected with any bookmaker, bookmaker’s clerk, betting agent or anyone connected thereto. Whenever the Racing Stewards have reason to believe that a jockey has transgressed this clause, the Racing Stewards shall immediately open an inquiry and may take such sanctions as are open to them under Rule 11(d) of the Rules of Racing and make such recommendation as they think fir to the Licensing Committee.”
National Horseracing Authority of South Africa
If the SA Jockeys’ suspension by MTC are upheld, then they will be recognised by the National Horseracing Authority of South Africa. This could have a lot of negative implications.
Gambling operators in Kenya are in for a financially taxing surprise. President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed a 35% gambling tax rate into law earlier in June 2017.
The rate is much lower than the initial proposal by the Secretary for the National Treasury, Henry Rotich. Rotich had originally proposed that the tax rate is raised to a massive 50%. The president, however, signed the Finance Bill for 2017 a few days after he had refused a previous proposal which he felt was not high enough.
The Effects of the Gambling Tax in Kenya
Before the new gambling tax law was passed, gambling operators were paying a much lower rate. Lotteries were paying 5% tax, bookmakers, 7.5% tax, casinos, 12% and competitions were paying 15% tax.
At an online town hall in April 2017, the president had said that “We were very concerned about betting among school-goers so we made it difficult for the people to bet. We want people who bet to have their money go to constructive projects through tax.”
Gambling Operators Pullback
One of Kenya’s top sports betting firms, Sportspesa, has ended all local sports sponsorships with national sports bodies and clubs.
Ronald Karauri, who is the firm’s CEO told Kenyan news sources that “The expected financial projection will force the closure of firms and that there’s no company in the country which has the capacity of complying with the tax. The tax bracket is not fair as some operators can barely sustain their businesses.”
Wanja Gikonyo, Betway’s Kenyan head, said that the impact of the tax increase may stretch beyond current gaming providers and may discourage investors, leading them to neighbouring countries.
Kenyan Tax Law Effects
Gambling operators feel that the change will instead side-track Kenyan gamblers to international operators as well illegal gambling practices. On the job front, operators foresee job losses which may negatively impact other industries.