The suicide bombings in Russia serve as a chilling reminder of what the Winter Olympics represent to terrorists: A high-profile target with more than 2,500 athletes, some of them world-famous, waving the flags of nearly 90 nations. Although Canadian athletes are troubled by the 31 lives lost in the two bombings nearly 650 kilometres from Sochi, they are trying to focus on their Olympic goals and are placing their confidence in the security measures enacted by the International Olympic Committee, Russian organizers and government security agencies. "For the athletes, we feel like well be pretty protected over there," said Hayley Wickenheiser, the captain of Canadas womens hockey team, who will compete in her fifth Olympics in February. "But obviously you think about it and you hope that theyre going to figure out the security issue by the time we get over there." Indeed, the Russians vow the athletes will be safe, even though they will be competing in a city just 500 kilometres away from the roots of an Islamist insurgency that has triggered security concerns for the Games, which start Feb. 7. The country has spent a record US$51 billion preparing for its first Winter Games and has promised to make the Games "the safest in Olympic history." Olympic chief Alexander Zhukov said the bombings didnt spark a need for additional security measures because "everything necessary already has been done." The Canadian Olympic Committee issued a statement condemning the attacks and sending its condolences to the families of the victims. COC president Marcel Aubut also said he had confidence in Russias security measures for the Games. "We have complete faith in the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee in upholding the appropriate security levels at the Olympic Games," said Aubut. "We also believe in their ability to work collaboratively with other governments and National Olympic Committees to ensure that all necessary measures are in place." The threat of terrorism at the Olympics has been in the forefront since 1972, when members of a Palestinian terrorist group invaded the Olympic village in Munich, Germany and killed 11 Israeli athletes. Security rose to a new level at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, which came only five months after the Sept. 11 attacks. Improvements in technology, along with ever-present threats of terrorism, have turned security into a top priority for any country hoping to host the Olympics. "I think Ill be safe out there," said Reginas Kali Christ, a long-track speedskater who will be making her Olympic debut at the Sochi Games. "The IOC and the COC and everyone have taken precautions and it should be good. "Im going to be focused on me so Im going to try not to worry about any of that, really. Ill be just worrying about my process and its all there is to it." Among the security measures Russia has put in place for this years games is a requirement that all ticketholders obtain and wear "spectator passes" while attending events. To get a spectator pass, fans have to provide passport and contact information to authorities. On Monday, IOC president Thomas Bach wrote a condolence letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he expressed "our confidence in the Russian authorities to deliver safe and secure games in Sochi." Meanwhile, a number of Olympic leaders and federations signalled their confidence in the host country. "When we come to Sochi, it will be impossible for the terrorists to do anything," Norwegian IOC member Gerhard Heiberg said. "The village will be sealed off from the outside world. Security has been our priority No. 1 ever since Sochi got the games." The U.S. Olympic Committee works closely with the State Department on its security arrangements. A White House spokeswoman said the United States would welcome "closer co-operation" with Russia on security preparations for the Games. Canadians are also relying on the work of their police and security forces. "I know that the RCMP is in communications with their local police and the COC is in charge of keeping us safe and its not one of my worries and that someone is keeping me safe," said Ottawas Vincent de Haitre, a speedskater who will also be making his Olympic debut. "I think the Olympics are a great international event where everybody performs at their best and hopefully everything goes well." Since the widespread use of metal detectors was introduced to the Olympics in 2002, every subsequent Olympics has brought its own set of challenges and responses. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Chinese authorities introduced identity checks for opening and closing ceremonies. In London last year, there were no identity checks, but combat jets patrolled the city, and surface-to-air missiles were set up on rooftops. Russias security effort is greater than those of either of those countries, said Matthew Clements, an analyst at Janes, in a recent interview with The Associated Press. Three-time Olympic ski jumping champion Thomas Morgenstern of Austria said he remembers seeing sharp shooters roaming the woods in Sochi during a World Cup event last year. "Of course youre having thoughts about it. But when we are at the Olympic Games, that will be one of the safest places for sure," Morgenstern said. "I think they are in control." Logan Ryan Super Bowl Jersey Brandon Browner Super Bowl Jersey.S. Open womens doubles title. The fifth-seeded Czechs beat Australias Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night. http://www.patriotsjerseysauthentic.com/Nate-Solder-Super-Bowl-Jersey/. Major League Soccer postponed that game until Sunday, after the storm has moved out. As of midday Saturday, all four big college basketball games in the state and the Denver Nuggets game against the Minnesota Timberwolves were still on. The University of Colorado issued a statement saying its 2:30 p. Devin McCourty Super Bowl Jersey. As for replacing R.A. Dickey, that will take a team effort. "I think if all five starters go out there and do their job, stay healthy, get to the goal of 200-plus innings then I think just that will fill R. Rob Ninkovich Super Bowl Jersey. -- Cole Hamels allowed two runs and four hits in four innings, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat a Boston Red Sox split squad 10-5 on Saturday. ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Trey Burke grabbed the rebound and immediately took off toward the other basket. Down by one point with less than a minute to play, the Michigan freshman let his instincts take over. "After my third dribble I felt somebody hit the ball out of my hand, but he kind of popped it up and I caught it," Burke said. "Then I saw Stu out of the corner of my eye." Stu Douglass made a layup off Burkes pass with 36.5 seconds remaining, and the 20th-ranked Wolverines held on through a wild final sequence to beat No. 9 Michigan State 60-59 on Tuesday night. It was Michigans third straight victory in the series after the Spartans had won 18 of 21. "If you look in the last 10 or 12 years, it hasnt been much of a rivalry. Theyve been beating us," Wolverines coach John Beilein said. "Michigan State is so good, and I admire what they do so much -- the whole university, everybody. Its a great place. Youve got to beat places that you admire -- youve got to do that to win a Big Ten championship." It was the first meeting between the in-state rivals with both teams ranked since 1998. On Michigan States last possession, Keith Appling drove to the basket but had his shot blocked by Jordan Morgan. Brandon Wood of the Spartans came up with the ball, and Draymond Green was able to get another shot off from near the free throw line, but it missed. "I thought it had a chance to go in," Green said. "I got it up on the rim. I just couldnt get the bounce." Green was held to seven points. After the final shot, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo tracked down the officials to discuss something, but after a brief conversation the officials headed off the court. Izzo said he was still upset about a backcourt violation on his team with about 2 minutes remaining. "There were a lot of things," he said. "I thought that thing at halfcourt on the out-of-bound play, you have to have possession of the ball before you can be over and back and I dont think there was possession." Burke scored 20 points for Michigan, which shot 51 per cent from the field against the normally stingy Michigan State ddefence.dddddddddddd Zack Novak and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 10 points each for the Wolverines (15-4, 5-2 Big Ten). Derrick Nix had 13 points for Michigan State (15-4, 4-2). Michigan led by four early in the second half when Burke scored seven straight points. His three-pointer gave the Wolverines their largest lead, 47-36. Austin Thornton answered with a three-pointer, the start of a 16-2 run by Michigan State. A three-pointer by Wood -- his first field goal after five misses -- made it 47-44 and forced Michigan to take a timeout with 9:34 remaining. The Spartans finally took their first lead at 50-49 on a three-pointer by Brandan Kearney from the left corner. Michigan State led 57-53 when Burke made a free throw and Hardaway added a shot from the perimeter. Thorntons two free throws pushed the Spartans lead to three, but Hardaway made it 59-58 with a baseline drive. Michigan seemed to spend an eternity on defence toward the end, but Burkes play in transition to set up Douglass gave the Wolverines the lead. "I was making sure not even to hit the rim," Douglass said. "No question at all." Then Michigan had to hold on through the frantic final seconds. "That was the greatest feeling -- when that buzzer went off," Burke said. Beilein tweaked his starting lineup, inserting Douglass for the struggling Evan Smotrycz. The Wolverines were in a bit of a shooting slump in conference play, but Novak made two three-pointers, helping them take a 13-4 lead. Michigan State was playing catch-up throughout the first half, struggling to defend the Wolverines as they patiently spread the court on offence. Michigan went on a mini-run to push the lead to 10. Hardaway made two free throws and blocked a shot by Green. Morgan scored inside for the Wolverines, then Burke scored off a turnover to make it 30-20. The Spartans responded with nine straight points, pulling within one on a three-pointer by Kearney, but Douglass answered with a rare four-point play, making a three-pointer from the right wing while being fouled. Michigan led 36-29 at halftime. Hardaway began the second half with a dunk for his first field goal. wholesale jerseys　 Cheap Jerseys　 ' ' '