| - Marco Antico |
| Copyright© 2007 Canadian Mixed Martial Arts Association (CMMAA). |
Ontario's Ministry of Health Promotions Requests Additional Info
by Marco Antico
We've received numerous inquiries as to the status of our application with Ontario's Ministry of Health
Promotions (MHP) for recognition of amateur mixed martial arts. We originally submitted our application in
October 2007. While it is now three months later, before chastising the tortoise speed at which the
government works, one must keep in mind that it took us approximately two years to compile the darn thing.
It is still too early to have a good indication of our likelihood of success. While the Board of OMMAA & CMMAA
remain cautiously optimistic that we will begin sanctioning amateur MMA events in the very near future,
nothing is certain. This past week our sports consultant completed her review of our application and is now
requesting more information. In fact, much more information from our insurance provider details, to our
relationship with Sport Canada, to our certification for officials, a detailed description of how we intend to
develop athletes from grass roots to high performance and more. Mind you, all of which we must concede
are indeed very good questions!
So for the moment, the proverbial (that's Mauro Ranallo's favorite word in the whole wide world by the way)
ball has been lobbed back into our court. But do not despair because we have anticipated substantially all of
the additional requests thanks to our familiarity with what other Provincial Sport Organizations have done and
are being asked to do. Thus, our goal is to put pen back to paper and respond to these additional requests
by the end of next week.
Make no mistake, the government is definitely going to cross all their "t"s and dot all their "i"s before jumping
into bed with such a scandalous and controversial sport as MMA. That's more sarcasm by the way. All
silliness aside for a moment, allow us to repeat for the umpteenth time that OMMAA & CMMAA are the ONLY
organizations working with the government, doing what is required, to bring this great sport to Ontario.
While watching "The Hour" on CBC tonight, Angelo Dundee, the great former trainer of Muhammad Ali, made
the statement that he sees the next great fighters coming from Canada's amateur system and that amateur
sport is what produces quality as opposed to quantity. Unfortunately he was referring to boxing, but we at
OMMAA & CMMAA are committed to making those words also come true for MMA! If you've been to any MMA
gym in Ontario lately and observed the number of gifted, young athletes with a passion for MMA you'll have no
doubt that with the proper amateur circuit in place that we'll help make their dreams become reality.
Stay tuned to CanadianMMA.com
ps. I'm still waiting for your call Mauro!
by Marco Antico
We've received numerous inquiries as to the status of our application with Ontario's Ministry of Health
Promotions (MHP) for recognition of amateur mixed martial arts. We originally submitted our application in
October 2007. While it is now three months later, before chastising the tortoise speed at which the
government works, one must keep in mind that it took us approximately two years to compile the darn thing.
It is still too early to have a good indication of our likelihood of success. While the Board of OMMAA & CMMAA
remain cautiously optimistic that we will begin sanctioning amateur MMA events in the very near future,
nothing is certain. This past week our sports consultant completed her review of our application and is now
requesting more information. In fact, much more information from our insurance provider details, to our
relationship with Sport Canada, to our certification for officials, a detailed description of how we intend to
develop athletes from grass roots to high performance and more. Mind you, all of which we must concede
are indeed very good questions!
So for the moment, the proverbial (that's Mauro Ranallo's favorite word in the whole wide world by the way)
ball has been lobbed back into our court. But do not despair because we have anticipated substantially all of
the additional requests thanks to our familiarity with what other Provincial Sport Organizations have done and
are being asked to do. Thus, our goal is to put pen back to paper and respond to these additional requests
by the end of next week.
Make no mistake, the government is definitely going to cross all their "t"s and dot all their "i"s before jumping
into bed with such a scandalous and controversial sport as MMA. That's more sarcasm by the way. All
silliness aside for a moment, allow us to repeat for the umpteenth time that OMMAA & CMMAA are the ONLY
organizations working with the government, doing what is required, to bring this great sport to Ontario.
While watching "The Hour" on CBC tonight, Angelo Dundee, the great former trainer of Muhammad Ali, made
the statement that he sees the next great fighters coming from Canada's amateur system and that amateur
sport is what produces quality as opposed to quantity. Unfortunately he was referring to boxing, but we at
OMMAA & CMMAA are committed to making those words also come true for MMA! If you've been to any MMA
gym in Ontario lately and observed the number of gifted, young athletes with a passion for MMA you'll have no
doubt that with the proper amateur circuit in place that we'll help make their dreams become reality.
Stay tuned to CanadianMMA.com
ps. I'm still waiting for your call Mauro!
