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| 802 Beiträge - Forenjunkie
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LONDON -- What if they held an Olympics and nobody came? The situation isnt that bleak, of course, for the Sochi Games. Yet, with less than three weeks to go until the opening ceremony, hundreds of thousands of tickets remain unsold, raising the prospect of empty seats and a lack of atmosphere at Russias first Winter Olympics. There are signs that many foreign fans are staying away, turned off by terrorist threats, expensive flights and hotels, long travel distances, a shortage of tourist attractions in the area, and the hassle of obtaining visas and spectator passes. "Some people are scared it costs too much and other people are scared because of security," senior International Olympic Committee member Gerhard Heiberg of Norway told The Associated Press. "From my country, I know that several people and companies are not going for these two reasons. Of course, there will be Norwegians there but not as many as we are used to." Sochi organizers announced last week that 70 per cent of tickets have been sold for the games, which run from Feb. 7-23 and represent a symbol of pride and prestige for Russia and President Vladimir Putin. So what about the remaining 30 per cent? "We are keeping a special quota for those who come for the games, so that they can indeed buy tickets for the competitions," organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said. Chernyshenko said about 213,000 spectators are expected at the games, with about 75 per cent likely to be Russians. "Tickets are being snapped up fast with the most popular events being hockey, biathlon, figure skating, freestyle and snowboard," the organizing committee said in a statement to the AP. "With 70 per cent of tickets already sold and another ticketing office opening shortly, we are expecting strong last-minute ticket sales and do not envisage having empty seats." Sochi officials have refused to divulge how many tickets in total were put up for sale, saying the figure would only be released after the games. However, according to IOC marketing documents seen by the AP, Sochi had a total of 1.1 million tickets on offer. That would mean about 300,000 tickets remained available. By comparison, 1.54 million tickets were available for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and 97 per cent (1.49 million) were sold. For the 2012 Summer Games in London, organizers sold 97 per cent (8.2 million) of their 8.5 million tickets. Heiberg, who chairs the IOC marketing commission, said the Russians have cut down by 50 per cent on the number of spectators originally planned for the mountain events for security reasons. "That means there will be less people and probably less enthusiasm than we had, for instance, in Lillehammer," he said. "I hope the Russians will fill not only their indoor stadiums but there will be enough people in the stadiums for the Nordic events." Heiberg organized the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, which stood out for the colorful atmosphere generated by passionate Norwegian fans. Sochis ticket sales began in February 2013, a year before the games. Tickets have been sold on Sochis official website on a first-come, first-served basis. Box offices are now open in Moscow and Sochi. The cheapest tickets go for 500 rubles ($15), the most expensive for 40,000 rubles ($1,200). More than half of all tickets cost less than 5,000 rubles ($150). The average monthly salary in Russia is 30,000 rubles ($890). The one and only authorized ticket office in Sochi was busy on a recent afternoon, with three dozen people lining up at what once was a waiting room at the citys railway station. Many, however, complained that all the cheap tickets were already gone. "Prices leave much to be desired, but what can you can do?" said Sochi resident Yana Ivolovskaya, who bought two tickets for bobsled for 2,000 rubles ($60). "Were not going to get another Olympics in Sochi so I thought I should go." Fans outside Russia buy tickets from authorized dealers appointed by their national Olympic committees. Attracting foreign visitors has been a challenge amid all the headlines about Russias law banning gay "propaganda," human rights issues and -- particularly -- the risk of terrorism. Back-to-back suicide bombings killed 34 people last month in Volgograd, about 400 miles (640 kilometres) from Sochi. On Sunday, an Islamic militant group in Russias North Caucasus claimed responsibility for the bombings and posted a video threatening to strike the Sochi Games. CoSport, the official ticket reseller in the United States and six other countries, said the Sochi Games generated "good demand" for tickets and packages. "We experienced demand at expected levels," spokesman Michael Kontos said, without giving figures. Flights to Sochi are expensive, and most international travellers have to go through Moscow, with direct flights to Sochi only available from Germany and Turkey. Western travellers must navigate the time-consuming visa process and requirement to obtain a "spectator pass" along with their tickets. This requires providing passport details that allow authorities to screen all visitors. "What we are hearing is that the bureaucratic complexity, with spectator passes and visa and so on, is what scares off fans, more than worries about security," Austrian Olympic Committee spokesman Wolfgang Eichler said. Jan Serenander, managing director of Jet Set Sports in Norway, cited a lack of tourist attractions in the Black Sea resort. "When Sochi was announced no one had even heard of the place," he said. "They had to get out their atlases." Die-hard winter sports fans, however, will not be discouraged. Orange-clad speedskating fans from the Netherlands are always among the most visible spectators at any Winter Games. "I expect it to be orange," Jeroen de Roever, manager of official Duch ticket seller ATPI, said of Sochis speedskating venue. "We have been sold out for quite a while." Authentic Cameron Jordan Jersey . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Rickey Jackson Saints Jersey . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. http://www.jerseysaintssportsauthentic.com/saints-drew-brees -gold-jersey/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Authentic Brandin Cooks Jersey .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Bobby Hebert Jersey . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU.TORONTO -- With teammate Kyle Lowry ailing, DeMar DeRozan put the Toronto Raptors on his shoulders Wednesday night. DeRozan had a career-high 40 points to rally the Raptors to a 93-85 home win over the Dallas Mavericks, their first victory in three games. And with fellow guard Lowry struggling with the stomach flu -- he went 0-for-10 from the field, including 0-for-6 from beyond the arc -- it was DeRozan who led Toronto to its third straight decision over the Mavs. "Once I saw Kyle with his head hanging down and holding his stomach, I knew he wasnt feeling too well," DeRozan said. "This loss wouldve hurt and we didnt want to lose three in a row. "I just told myself to try do as much as I can to win, try to pull this one off and keep my team in it." DeRozan finished 15-of-22 from the field, nine-of-14 from the free-throw line and hit the only three-pointer he tried. He put an exclamation point on his outstanding performance by recording the steal and going the length of the court to score and give Toronto (21-20) a 92-85 lead with 1:48 remaining. "He got into the flow of the game," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "In the first quarter we werent getting those flow shots. "After that we started getting into our offence, we ran the pick and rolls. They started blitzing them and he (DeRozan) did a good job finding others and the ball found him. It was growth on his part from being double-teamed and being patient enough to get the ball back and be able to score." Although Lowry only managed three points -- off free throws -- Casey praised his guards contributions in other areas of the game. "Kyle didnt stop playing," Casey said. "He dove on the floor, go his hands in there defensively on loose balls. "He affected the game without scoring. You dont expect him to go 0-for-10 but he affected the game." Grievis Vazquez scored 17 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 12 for Toronto, which rebounded from a horrid start as Dallas stormed out to a 34-15 first-quarter lead. "After the first quarter I thought it was going to be a blowout," Casey said. "But in the second half we got the game back under control and got defence in the game. "You get in a free-flowing game with a great offensive team like that and youre in trouble. Our starts are concerning . . . but for us to score only 15 points is alarming." Monta Ellis had 21 points for Dallas (25-19) while former Raptors Jose Calderon and Vince Carter had 13 and eight points, respectively. Brandan Wright also had 13 points as all-star forward Dirk Nowitzki (rest) was inactive despite scoring 17 points in a 102-97 road win over Cleveland on Monday night. Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle said DeRozan was tough to pin down. "He was doing a little bit of everything," he said. "He was driving and he was making shots. "They got in transition a lot because of turnovers and hes a really good transition player." Dallas committed 21 turnovers, including nine in the fourth quarter, and Toronto took advantage with 25 points off the Mavericks miscues. The Raptors improved to 11-2 when holding an opponent to under 90 points. "Yes, too many turnovers," said Carlisle. "We played two good quarters and they played three good quarters..dddddddddddd. "Its a 48-minute game and we have to do it for four quarters and thats the story. Carter spent his first six-plus NBA seasons with the Raptors, winning the 98-99 top rookie award and slam dunk contest (2000) while with the club. But the player dubbed Air Canada for his high-flying performances while in Toronto was routinely booed every time he touched the ball on Wednesday but had a thunderous first-half dunk over DeRozan. "It surprised me, I wasnt expecting it," Carter said. "I said sorry, I didnt know it was still possible." Added DeRozan: "He said he didnt know it was me, if he knew it was me he wouldve tried a layup but he got me. I was kind of upset with that a little bit but he got me." Calderon received a solid ovation in the pre-game introductions. He spent eight years with the Raptors before being dealt to Detroit last January and ultimately signing as a free agent in the summer with Dallas. "We couldnt match their intensity," Calderon said. "Then they made their run and we couldnt keep up with that." DeRozans layup and free throw put Toronto ahead 85-82 with 3:38 left before Amir Johnsons three-pointer with 2:59 remaining gave the Raptors an 88-84 advantage. Valanciunass field goal with just under five minutes left put Toronto ahead 82-81, their first lead of the contest since early in the first. DeRozans 15-point outburst in the third pulled Toronto to within 73-68 of the Mavericks heading into the third. Vazquezs three-pointer with under a minute remaining cut Dallass lead to 71-68 but Elliss field goal rounded out the scoring and gave the visitors their five-point advantage. Vazquezs 11 points helped Toronto outscore Dallas 31-17 in the second to cut the Mavericks half-time advantage to 51-46. After failing to register a three-pointer in the first, the Raptors were 4 of 6 from the arc in the second to turn a game Dallas led by 21 points at one time into a much closer affair. DeRozan led the way for the home side with 16 points while Calderon and Carter had 12 and eight points, respectively, for the Mavs. Calderon and Carter helped stake Dallas to its 19-point lead after the first, scoring 10 and five points, respectively. Calderon anchored a 13-0 run with eight points that put the Mavericks ahead 21-8 before Derozan -- who had 12 of Torontos points -- scored the Raptors first basket in nearly five minutes. Carter added insult to injury with the dunk over DeRozan and subsequent free throw that put Dallas ahead 24-10. The Mavericks shot 14 of 24 (58.3 per cent) from the field and 3 of 5 from the arc while Toronto was 0-for-5 from three-point range and 5 of 19 (26.3 per cent) overall. NOTES -- Carter, who averaged 23.4 points per game in his 403 career appearances with Toronto, turns 37 on Sunday . . . Calderon remains Torontos all-time leader in assists (3,770) and free-throw percentage (.887) . . . Raptors head coach Dwane Casey spent three seasons as an assistant with Dallas under Carlisle, helping the squad capture the 2011 NBA title. Casey improved to 3-2 as a head coach versus his former team . . . Also on Dallass roster is veteran centre Samuel Dalembert, a native of Haiti who grew up in Montreal and is in his 11th NBA season . . . Toronto entered action having made 105 three-pointers this month, third-most in the NBA. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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| Beitrag vom 10.08.2016 - 08:40 |
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