onth countdown to the start o

onth countdown to the start o

Gửi bàigửi bởi lw789 » Thứ 5 15/11/18 10:46

LONDON -- Tuesday marks the 1-month countdown to the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, a defining moment on the world stage for Russia and Vladimir Putin. These games are among the most contentious in Olympic history, embroiled in controversy over terrorist threats, human rights, gay rights, cost overruns, corruption and environmental damage. But is it all doom and gloom for Putins pet project? Before the Olympic cauldron is lit on Feb. 7, its time for a look at the good and the bad for Russias first Winter Games. ------ The negatives: TERROR THREAT: The two bombings in Volgograd -- which killed 34 people in suicide attacks on the rail station and a trolley bus -- have escalated the security alarm. Sochi is located on the edge of the Caucasus region, where insurgents are seeking to create an Islamic state. Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov has urged his fighters to attack the Sochi Olympics, which he described as "satanic dances on the bones of our ancestors." A massive security apparatus will be in place for the games, meaning painstaking metal-detector, X-ray and other checks for athletes, spectators and media. Ticketholders will need to obtain "spectator passes," providing passport and other information to authorities. Email, phone and internet usage will reportedly be monitored by Russian security agencies. Putin is expected to attend many Olympic events, causing further security lockdowns. A heavy presence of Russian security forces could turn the games into an armed camp and undermine any prospect of a welcoming, festival atmosphere. GAY RIGHTS: The Russian law banning gay "propaganda" has caused a furious backlash in the West and tarnished the countrys international reputation heading into the Olympics. While Russia has promised there will be no discrimination at the games, critics continue to bash the law. The IOC has been assailed for not pushing Russia to repeal the legislation. Some athletes are planning to make their views known in Sochi, either by speaking out or carrying or wearing symbols promoting gay rights. Thats something which could land athletes in trouble with the IOC, which prohibits any political gestures at the games. HUMAN RIGHTS: Russias human rights record remains under scrutiny. With the games approaching, Putin has launched a charm offensive of sorts -- pardoning former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and granting amnesty for Pussy Riot punk band members and Greenpeace activists. He has even rescinded an order banning any demonstrations in or around the games. Critics call the moves window dressing. Will protest applications be granted? Will anyone dare come out to demonstrate? Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has accused Russian authorities of mistreating migrant workers and harassing activists and journalists. PUTINS POLITICS: Putins prickly relations with the West have soured any "feel-good" factor about the Olympics. Tensions with the U.S. and President Barack Obama grew after Putin granted temporary asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. Putins policies on Syria and Iran, and Russias backsliding on democratic reforms have antagonized Western leaders. For the first time since 2000, the U.S. delegation to the Olympics will not include a president, vice-president or first lady. Obama is sending several openly gay athletes, including tennis great Billie Jean King and figure skater Brian Boitano. French President Francois Hollande and German President Joachim Gauck are not going to Sochi, either. WEATHER WORRIES: Sochi is a subtropical resort on the Black Sea. Temperatures on the coast, where the indoor ice events will be held, will be mild. Thats fine, but there is uncertainty over conditions in the mountains for the snow events. While there is already a good layer of snow in place, a spell of warm or wet weather could cause problems. As a precaution, organizers have stored up 450,000 cubic meters of snow. Also worth noting: flooding and avalanches are common in the region. RECORD COST: $51 billion. Thats the overall price tag for the games, by far the most expensive in history, summer or winter, and more than three times the budget of the 2012 London Games. The cost includes the long-term investment in roads, tunnels, railways and ski facilities. Everything has been built from scratch as Russia seeks to turn Sochi into a year-round tourist destination. The costs have soared way above previous projections amid allegations of financial mismanagement, corruption and favours doled out to oligarchs and Putins friends. ------ So whats the good news then? Yes, there are things to look forward to. Heres a sampling: NEW SPORTS: Twelve new events are on the sports program in Sochi, with womens ski jumping perhaps the biggest attraction. Female jumpers are making their debut after being rejected for inclusion in Vancouver four years ago. In a nod to the young X Games generation, the IOC has also added ski halfpipe and ski and snowboard slopestyle events. Snowboard star Shaun White, aka the Flying Tomato, will unveil a new trick -- a frontside double-cork 1440. Its a variation of the Double McTwist 1260 he nailed at the 2010 Vancouver Games. HOCKEY FEVER: The NHL players are back. Hockey is the sport Russia really cares about and the host nation will be out to make amends after the disaster in Vancouver. The Russians failed to medal in hockey, knocked out in the quarterfinals by Canada. It was symbolic of Russias worst overall showing at a Winter Games, winning only 15 medals and finishing 11th in the table. Sochi will offer a chance of redemption for superstar Alex Ovechkin, who is desperate to lead Russia to its first Olympic title since a "Unified Team" of former Soviet republics took gold in Albertville in 1992. Of course, Canada and the U.S. might have something to say about that. SKI STARS: Alpine skiing features the anticipated returns of American stars Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller from knee injuries, though Vonns status remains uncertain. High-profile medal contenders include 18-year-old American Mikaela Shiffrin, as well as Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway and Tina Maze of Slovenia. COMPACT LAYOUT: All the indoor venues and the stadium for the ceremonies are located in the Olympic Park in the coastal cluster. Its possible to walk or take a short shuttle bus between all the venues. The mountain cluster is only about 45 minutes away. Its a much more compact setup than previous games in Vancouver and Turin. Spectators can use a brand new train service to travel between the coast and the mountains. THE VENUES: Theyre brand new, theyre ready and theyll look great on TV. Gleaming arenas are in place for hockey, curling, speedskating and figure skating. THE BOSS: Dmitry Chernyshenko, a native of Sochi, is the affable head of the local organizing committee. The bespectacled Chernyshenko, who comes from the world of advertising, loves technology. He carries an iPad wherever he goes and is an enthusiastic user of Twitter ((at)DChernyshenko, www.twitter.com/DChernyshenko). He led Sochis winning bid for the games and has spent the last seven years getting the city ready for its big moment. THE STAKES: National pride and Putins personal prestige are on the line. Theres simply too much at play for Russia not to make the games a success. Besides, once the competition begins, the athletes take centre stage and the host nation begins winning medals, the atmosphere invariably takes off. AND FINALLY: Hey, the mascots are kind of cute. Braves Mike Foltynewicz Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Braves Tyler Flowers Jersey . Goodell said in an ESPN Radio interview Monday (http://es.pn/1gkbauy ) that participants played harder and made the game very competitive. Goodell says he had fun watching the game Sunday and thinks fans did, too. http://www.cheapbravesjerseysauthentic. ... man-jersey. -- Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will be out three to six weeks with a stress fracture of the third finger of his right hand. Atlanta Braves Jerseys Cheap . Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris, city natives, handled the catering for teammates that begged them for the tasty postgame feast. Braves Rio Ruiz Jersey . -- Terry Francona likened the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to a playoff game in October. MIAMI -- The Miami Dolphins have a deal in place to renovate their stadium and will begin work this summer on the $350 million project, which will help South Floridas chances of hosting future Super Bowls. County commissioners gave final approval Tuesday to the plan, which will pay incentives to the Dolphins for hosting the Super Bowl and other major events. In exchange, team owner Steve Ross will pay for the renovations, with help from the NFL and possibly from a state subsidy. Planned renovations include a canopy over the stands but not the field, and upgrading the lights, sound system and seats, with the goal to have work completed before the start of the 2016 season. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear South Florida wouldnt get another Super Bowl without significant improvements to the stadium, which opened in 1987. Ross has been lobbying for renovations since he became majority owner in 2009, and he called the agreement with Miami-Dade County "unique and creative." "We have one of the worlds most aspirational cities, and as such deserve a stadium that will provide significant economic impact to Miami-Dade County," Ross said in a statement. "This will not only secure the future of the Dolphins, but will ensure that Miami has one of the worlds best venues to host events of this magnitude going forward." South Florida and New Orleans are tied for the most Super Bowls with 10. The most recent one in Miami was in 2010, and the Dolphins intend to bid next spring for the next available Super Bowl, which will be played in 2019. "That was part of the intent of trying to get it done," president and CEO Tom Garfinkell said.dddddddddddd "We want to bring in as many marquee events as we can as soon as we can." The county will use tourist development money to pay the Dolphins $4 million for each Super Bowl at the stadium, $3 million for each college football national championship game and $2 million for a college playoff game. The county also will pay for events such as soccer matches and major concerts. "It shows the commitment that our owner, Steve Ross, has to make this a world-class organization," Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said. "Its exciting for everybody in the organization, and I think its exciting for everybody in the South Florida region. Im sure well be able to attract some great events. Its a big day for us." Ross is now eligible for NFL money given to teams that secure government help in stadium deals. Hes also pursuing a new state program that could bring as much as $3 million a year to the stadium beyond the $2 million the state already pays. The team will continue to pay property taxes on the stadium. The Dolphins delegation at the commission meeting included Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Larry Little, along with former players Jason Taylor, Dick Anderson and Nat Moore. Marino played in the first game at the stadium. "Im excited that its going to be around and get a new look," he said. "Its great for the community." The deal with the county came together after efforts by Ross to secure county and state tax money failed last year. Without legislative approval of that proposal, the Dolphins were unable to go forward with a planned referendum on the issue in Miami-Dade County. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Nike Baseball Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Authentic Cheap NHL Jerseys Canada Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Nike NHL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Football Jerseys Store Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Jerseys NCAA China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys ' ' '
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Re: onth countdown to the start o

Gửi bàigửi bởi donguyen23 » Chủ nhật 02/12/18 4:23

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Gửi bàigửi bởi minhnguyen1408 » Thứ 6 14/12/18 21:23

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