Written by Holger Czukay from Asymm Project
  
  Good night, ladies and gentlemen. Wilkommen et bienvenues to the OCM Season 15 Awards here in Castries, Saint Lucia. The international peloton meets these days in that beautiful tourism destination to recognize the big names from the finishing season. The gala, held in the modest city hall of the capital, is about to start, so we are going to explain briefly the innovations of this year’s voting.
  
  As every season, the winners are chosen by the managers of the teams, but this time Tim Johnson (Gradient Levellers) delegated his role from previous editions to a ‘Committee of Five’. That Committee, formed by three managers from Top Division, one from Zyte and one from Third, had to select short lists of nominees previous to the ‘community vote’, something similar to the Oscar Awards, to make an easy comparison.
  
  The Committee was created very quickly as a last hour idea to attract more managers to vote, and we can say that the system has been working frankly well, as there have been more votes this time than the previous five seasons all together. In the words of Mr. Johnson, “After the lacklustre turnout for the Season 14 Awards voting and the grumblings of a few managers, it was suggested that the Awards could be jazzed up to inspire more managers in OCM to contribute and vote. Hence the Committee of 5 was set up with the responsibility of streamlining the voting process and also to add a bit of 'oomph'”.
  
  Some managers and officials complained about the money spent on it, as it’s known that the five members passed an entire week in Saint Lucia, flying in business class and staying in a five-star hotel, paid by the OCM, organization to which all teams contribute. We asked about that to Yuri, no other than the Committee President: “That was the minimum they could do to us. You just can't imagine the work we had organizing the biggest event this world has ever seen! As we haven't received any kind of salary (canteens, energy bars, free-scouts...) this

privileges cover that absence of salary. I must say that the sun in Saint Lucia is great!”
  
  He also justified the new system “(…)for a more democratic event and to make it easier for everyone to vote, we decided to adopt this system where the Committee had all the work (that single managers had before) and no one can see the other votes, making them think all by themselves. And this system is a lot more simple and interesting.”
  
  We also talked for a brief moment with Delion (Drapeau Noir), member of the Committee, just when he was going to the beach this morning. He joked a bit to the camera: "The Committee? The greatest thing that ever happened to the world! The 5 most brilliant geniuses of our time united in one goal: making the OCM Awards successful. With one more day, they could have ended world hunger." Also itisix (Torreira) reacted with emotion: “It's a milestone for the OCM and will only make us better managers and better as a community.”
  
  A big part of the nominees are attending the gala, switching the bike for the suit for one day. We can also see two groups of managers at both sides of the auditorium, supposedly those groups are The Syndicate (union of European teams) and SNAOTR (union of American teams), and of course, a very popular Nick Lissner, this year congratulated by the riders for his changes in the rules that now allow a rider to rest if he’s injured. Just minutes ago he commented about that for us: "The change was made as a compromise with the race organizers on one side and the riders on the other, ensuring that the riders would show up and honour the race despite of an injury. That situation is better both for sponsors and fans."
  
  The last interview we want to talk about before the gala starts can’t be other than Eli from Equipo Easy On. We are here in Saint Lucia because of his guys and his Caribbean politics, and once again his team is the one with more nominations. He seemed very comfortable here and gave us long responses. In fact, someone told us

that he’s also been in Saint Lucia the entire week…
  
  Q: How was season 15 for you?
  
  A: Season 15 was definitely a good season for our team. We achieved the main goal, which was to be top of the ranking for one full season. In season 14, we lost this spot for one or two days to skills. However, towards the end of the season, things didn't run as smooth any more. We achieved a main goal, but we still never won a classic nor the WC.
  
  The team also changed quite a bit, we had Marzec's debut, trained Delmas and are still training Castulo and Patrick. However, there is a whole bunch of talent scouts now who drive fancy cars from our money. And still, we only found one single new talent.
  
  As a consequence, I announce that EEO is officially changing it's strict policy on riders' nationalities in the future.
  
  Q: What can you tell us now from Levis' reaction in the strike?
  
  A: Not a lot. (…) Levis DID talk to a number of riders, and he is a real leader. (…) But I doubt he foresaw what would ensue. There is one more thing I have to add. It is interesting to note that the OCM authorities made Levis' team mate Darius Delmas pay for the strike in not allowing him to take a break, which meant he was without a chance in the WC. This was truly bitter for an old rider like Delmas and Levis was very sorry.
  
  And here we have the presenters, Truman Vancil (Equipo Easy On) and Arvel Lebreton (The Doomsday Bunnies), the two highest ranked riders from Saint Lucia, where they are true heroes. After a big applause for Vancil, last winner of the Best Rider Award, the show starts!
  
   (Remember that you can vote until Day 6 (7/4-2011) at 12.00 GMT+1. Please do that! Vote!!! If we reach 100 votes, something big will happen!)
  
  Click here for Season 15 awards thread