WASHINGTON -- If Stephen Harper or Barack Obama plan to do any Olympics-watching next February, theyll be staring at a screen and not from the stands.
Steven Matz Jersey . The Canadian and American leaders both announced Wednesday that they will not be attending the
Games, prompting speculation of an international snub over Russias gay-rights
record. Harpers office announced the news discreetly, in a late-evening email.
The message from the Prime Ministers Office noted that Harper has gone to only
one Olympics since he took office, and that lone exception was for obvious
reasons. "He normally does not attend (Vancouver was an exception because Canada
was the host)," a prime ministerial spokesman said in an email. That news came
several hours after the United States delivered a more conspicuous message. For
the first time since 2000, the U.S. will not send a president, former president,
first lady or vice-president to the Games. Also, the small U.S. delegation for
the opening and closing ceremonies will include two openly gay athletes. Those
athletes, tennis legend Billie Jean King and hockey player Caitlin Cahow, will
be joined by figure skater Brian Boitano, former cabinet secretary Janet
Napolitano, a presidential advisor, and the U.S. ambassador to Russia. An Obama
spokesman was asked at the daily White House press briefing whether the
delegation was intended to make a political point. While he said such a message
would not be sent "through this manner," his response also repeatedly referred
to "diversity" -- a word Obamas spokesman mentioned seven times in his answers.
"This delegation represents the diversity that is the United States," said
presidential spokesman Jay Carney. "Every member of that delegation is extremely
accomplished, either in government service or in civic activism or, most
especially, in sports. So hes very proud of the delegation and the diversity it
represents. And he looks forward, as every American does, to the competition and
to the effort that American athletes will demonstrate when they compete in
Sochi." Obamas spokespeople said his schedule would not allow him to attend.
However, Carney also added that the president has been clear that he "finds it
offensive, the anti-LGBT legislation in Russia," as well as the harassment
caused to those who protest corruption there. Russia has come under fierce
criticism for passing national laws banning "gay propaganda." For its part, the
Canadian government said its delegation choices will be announced soon. When
asked whether they should be interpreted as carrying a human-rights message,
Harper spokesman Jason MacDonald replied: "No. Were not in a position to comment
on who our representatives will be." France and Germany are among the other
countries who will not send their presidents to Sochi for the Games. Earlier
this month, IOC President Thomas Bach said Russia would set up public protest
zones in Sochi for "people who want to express their opinion or want to
demonstrate for or against something." Meanwhile, the IOC approved a letter
going out to athletes reminding them to refrain from protests or political
gestures during the Sochi Games -- reiterating Rule 50 of the Olympic charter,
which forbids demonstrations on Olympic grounds. Bach had previously said hed
received assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin that gays will not be
discriminated against in Sochi. On Thursday, Putin reiterated those assurances,
saying it is Russias responsibility as host of the Games to ensure equal
conditions for all the athletes. "The main thing for us is the good organization
of these competitions, the creation of equal terms for all athletes," he told a
Moscow news conference. But the Russian law has raised questions about what
could happen to athletes who wear pins or badges or carry flags supporting gay
rights. The U.S. Olympic Committee made no comment about the sexual orientation
of the delegation Wednesday. In a nod to its disapproval of the law, however,
the USOC recently revised its non-discrimination policy to include sexual
orientation. Earlier this year, Obama rejected the idea of a U.S. boycott of the
Olympics despite a number of differences with Russia, including the anti-gay
law. Wednesdays announcement, however, represented an unmistakable break with
recent precedent: In Vancouver, Vice-President Joe Biden led the delegation, and
in 2012, first lady Michelle Obama held the honour. The announcement prompted an
enthusiastic response from the Human Rights Campaign, which recently sent a
letter urging Obama to include gays and lesbians in the U.S. delegation. "Its a
positive sign to see openly gay representatives in the delegation," said
spokesman Michael Cole-Schwartz. "Hopefully it sends a message to the Russian
people and the rest of the world that the United States values the civil and
human rights of LGBT people." King made an explicit point about human rights
Wednesday, saying she was "deeply honoured" to be named to the delegation. "I am
equally proud to stand with the members of the LGBT community in support of all
athletes who will be competing in Sochi and I hope these Olympic Games will
indeed be a watershed moment for the universal acceptance of all people," she
said. King, who won Wimbledon 20 times in singles and doubles categories, will
attend the opening ceremony.
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Yoenis Cespedes Jersey .C. - Nick Merkley and Damon Severson each had a goal and two assists as the Kelowna Rockets downed the
visiting Seattle Thunderbirds 6-3 on Saturday in Western Hockey League playoff
action. TORONTO -- Julio Cesar is the newest member of Toronto FC. The Brazilian
goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he
looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country.
The 34-year-old Cesar has been relegated to a backup role with second-tier
English club Queens Park Rangers and will join Toronto for the start of the 2014
season. General manger Tim Bezbatchenko would not confirm details of the loan
agreement, but it is expected that Cesar will be back with Toronto following the
World Cup. "We (found) an agreement, between me, QPR and my agent," said Cesar.
"My agent ... they were talking with them. We just (found) the best agreement
between everyone so thats the reason I can sign with (Toronto)." Toronto FC head
coach Ryan Nelsen is a former teammate of Cesars at QPR and had a big hand in
acquiring the goalkeeper. "I keep in contact with a lot of ex-players and it was
out of that an opportunity potentially that could arise that we could bring
Julio here," said Nelsen. "As soon as I got a sniff of that, it didnt take long
to register how important it would be to have a man like that." Cesar lost his
starting role with QPR to England international Rob Green once the Hoops were
relegated from the Premiere League last season and has appeared in just one game
for the club this season. Cesar, who has earned 77 caps for Brazil, won the Copa
America in 2004 and the Confederations Cup on two occasions. Before his stint at
QPR, he also played at Inter Milan, where he won five Italian league titles.
Additionally, he has won three Coppa Italia titles, the 2010 UEFA Champions
League and the 2010 Club World Cup. As for his first impressions of TFCs
training facility in north Toronto, Cesar was amazed. "Thee first thing when I
arrive here, I asked to visit the training grounds.
Travis dArnaud Jersey. I need to be honest here, I was impressed," he said. "Its much better than many, many clubs in
Europe that I have had the opportunity to know. Its an amazing training ground,
you have everything. You can do good work here." Cesar joins a TFC lineup that
has undergone a radical shift this off-season, including the acquisition of
England striker Jermain Defoe, American midfielder Michael Bradley, fellow
Brazilian Gilberto Oliveira Souza Junior and former MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario.
Gilberto, 24, just missed out on an opportunity to play with childhood idol, and
fellow Brazilian star, Ronaldo, and is looking forward to playing in front of
Cesar. "Im going to play with another legend and Im definitely looking forward
to that," he said through a translator. "(Cesars) played with the best strikers
in the world ... and I have nothing but things to learn from him." The signing
of Cesar moves fellow goalkeeper Joe Bendik, who had a 6-16-11 record in 2013,
to the backup role for the 2014 season. "Im only looking at it as a win-win
situation. He comes in and I get to learn from a legend," said the 24-year-old
Bendik. "Im going to compete with him every day and off the field, Ill pick his
brain for just about any piece of knowledge I can get. Seeing a guy whose played
in a couple World Cups, hes won champions league. "You can only learn so much
from him so its a win-win situation for the club and for myself." Added Nelson:
"When you have the opportunity to ply your trade day-in and day-out beside a man
whos obviously done what (Cesars) done, the age that he is and the experience
that hell be able to give to Joe you cant tell how valuable that is."
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