Kreativecke » y -- and the Americans were in crush-mode

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- New sports could be added to the Summer Olympics by cutting less competitive events within existing sports, IOC presidential candidate Denis Oswald said Monday. Oswald said a "more creative approach" is needed to establish the sports program in the wake of the IOCs handling of wrestlings Olympic status. "If you streamline some sports and keep only their events which are really universal, you could go further," Oswald said at a news conference to detail his campaign platform in the six-man race to succeed Jacques Rogge. "This space can go to different sports so that we can really create fresh blood within the program." Oswald said he is "pretty convinced" that wrestling will return to the Olympics after being eliminated in February from the core list for the 2020 Games in a process that was designed to bring in a new sport to fulfil the 28-sport limit. Wrestling, squash and a joint baseball-softball bid made the IOC shortlist last week for inclusion as an additional sport in 2020. A final decision will be made at the IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, two days before the Sept. 10 presidential election. If wrestling wins the vote, no new sport will be brought in. "I was very surprised that was wrestling was eliminated," Oswald said. "I think there were other ways to warn them. At the end, the wish was to have a new sport." Oswald is competing against IOC vice-presidents Thomas Bach of Germany and Ng Ser Miang of Singapore, Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico, C.K. Wu of Taiwan and Sergei Bubka of Ukraine to replace Rogge, who steps down after completing a full 12-year mandate. Oswald picked up on widespread dissatisfaction with the sports program review, which left youth-oriented sports such as wakeboarding and roller sports shut out. The IOC has imposed a cap of 28 sports and 10,500 athletes to help host cities control costs and prepare for staging the 16-day event. "Its not necessary to stick to 28 sports," Oswald told reporters. "Every sport can make a certain effort, then you could have more than 28. There are some events which are pretty similar in which the athletes can win." Even in established sports, only "four or five nations" were likely to win medals in some events, the longtime rowing federation president said. Oswald also spoke against a proposed "United World Championship" to be held every four years for Olympic and non-Olympic sports. The project was put forward by judo federation president Marius Vizer after his election last Friday as head of the umbrella body SportAccord. "I dont think there is any city in the world which can accommodate such a games," said Oswald, who oversaw preparations for the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2012 London Games. "Everyone being a bit realistic realizes it is not possible." Oswald also proposes simplifying the process of cities bidding to host an Olympics, which currently involves bid officials travelling to make presentations to sports conferences and regional Olympic meetings. The 100-plus IOC members who will elect Rogges successor could also be given more work and responsibility under Oswalds leadership. "I think we should make better use of the members we have. I know many of them are willing to do more," he said. Oswald said it was "very difficult to know" how his election prospects shaped up. Still, his commitment to an IOC campaign has ruled him out of consideration for the presidency of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which becomes vacant in November. Oswald, with a background in sports law and as an arbitrator on the Court of Arbitration for Sport, has been mentioned as a possible WADA candidate, along with IOC vice-president Craig Reedie of Britain and former IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch. "The two things are not compatible. I had to make a choice," Oswald said. "WADA is no longer a consideration for me." Oswald calls his platform "My 5 Rings." He said he will present his detailed manifesto to IOC members in the next few weeks. All six candidates will speak to the members in Lausanne on July 4. Cheap Jordan Retro 1 For Sale . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Air Jordan 1 Retro For Sale . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.saleairjordan1.com/jordan-1-retro-black-toe.html . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Jordan 1 Authentic . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Jordan 1 Pinnacle Black . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- You dont think of Diana Taurasi as the sentimental type -- or at least thats not something she shows externally. But the greeting from the fans in Connecticut, the all-Huskies starting lineup, the crisp and familiar way they played together ... that prompted some thoughts from the warm and fuzzy side.You know, I walked out to shoot before the game, and they were going crazy, Taurasi said after scoring 14 points to lead the U.S. Olympic womens basketball team to an 83-43 exhibition victory over Canada on Friday. And it just makes you think, Its such a special place to play basketball. Because they never forget you.Now, before you non-UConn fans -- especially those who favor an Orange hue -- get your gag reflex tripped, try to pull back the lens and really see the big picture here. So much has been written about Geno Auriemmas program and its 11 NCAA titles, the success of former Huskies in the WNBA, the massive UConn presence and influence on the U.S. national team.And, again, if youre not a UConn follower, you might feel that you overdosed on all this years ago. Understandable. UConn has won the last four national championships. There were six Huskies on the 2012 Olympic team, and there are five on this years squad for the Rio de Janeiro Games. Auriemma has been the national team coach for two editions of the world championship, and will soon preside over his second Olympics.Yet if you are fan of the unique nature of the emotional bonds that sports creates between those who play/coach and those who watch, then this remains a compelling story, regardless of how often its told. Not just because its about excellence, but because it encompasses so many stars of different backgrounds and personalities who have competitive natures that are so much in alignment.It is pretty incredible, said Sue Bird, who started Friday along with fellow guard Taurasi, Breanna Stewart at center, and Maya Moore and Tina Charles at forward. Youre talking about some of the best basketball players in the world. Yes, they happen to come from the same program. A coincidence? I dont think so. But I dont think its anything to necessarily hate on.No, its not -- although some people still will do that. Its part of sports; we get it. But Tennessee grad Tamika Catchings -- like Taurasi and Bird, shes on her fourth Olympic team -- appreciated the vibe from the crowd lauding both its long-ago and recent Huskies superstars.Its awesome, Catchings said. Being here with the UConn [fans], being in Delaware with [Elena] Delle Donne on Wednesday with her crowd ... we go to college, we get four years to experience that, and then we go to our WNBA teams. And its a little bit different.But whenever we come close to where our schools are, the fans show out. And having games in these two cities -- and Madison Square Garden, I think, will be great on Sunday -- its great to have our fans here who supported us through college.Catchings said she ddid spy a little orange in the crowd, too, at Webster Bank Arena.ddddddddddddHey, we had a couple of Tennessee people in here, she said, chuckling. I said, Oh, you guys have to be brave wearing these orange shirts in here. But its all for a good cause.Indeed, its the cause that the best American womens basketball players have been devoted to for quite a long time now. During halftime of Fridays game, two members of the 1996 Olympic team -- Dawn Staley, now a U.S. assistant to Auriemma, and Lisa Leslie, who was doing television commentary -- were announced on court and received a standing ovation.The fans here were well aware of their USA Basketball history: how the 1996 team trained together on a months-long tour and then took Atlanta by storm, winning the first of what now is five consecutive gold medals.That appreciation of contributors to Olympic glory fits with the mindset that Taurasi was talking about of not forgetting. And when you think about it, thats particularly important to cultivate in womens sports, which is generally less-covered and less-celebrated.You could also say this: Huskies players -- at UConn and long after -- regularly deliver the goods. Friday, the whole U.S. team did that. Auriemma wanted a better effort than the United States had in beating the U.S. select team Monday in Los Angeles and France on Wednesday in Delaware. He got it.The UConn starting five set the tone -- Auriemma has varied the starters over the three exhibition games and probably will again Sunday -- and the Americans were in crush-mode the rest of the way. Canada never got anything going offensively.The UConn player for the Maple Leaf side, rising junior Kia Nurse, had a particularly tough night, going 0-for-3 from the field and being held scoreless. Nurse was part of the Canadian team that beat a Stewart-led U.S. squad in the Pam Am Games final last year, but there was none of that Friday.Nurse, who is coming back from surgery for a sports hernia, said that today was not a good day in regard to how she performed. But she brightened up when asked about the crowd.Connecticut is a basketball state, Nurse said. Its a great atmosphere to play in.There was another link between Fridays game and how it usually feels at Huskies games: It wasnt exactly a nail-biter. UConn fans are used to blowouts, where the action on court is appreciated, but doesnt really produce much of a rush.Thus, affection, not adrenaline, is what the crowd mostly experienced. Thats OK, though, because this entire team is worth that. And to this part of the country, especially, Fridays starting five was perfect.It really is just a different level of family, Taurasi said. Theres just so many layers. And you dont understand the layers until you leave. As Ive gotten older, Ive kept it closer to my heart every day a little bit more. ' ' '