Sports44 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014 Russia seeks to soothe security jitters

SOCHI: Russia said yesterday its President Barack Obama has said he Olympics were as safe as any place in the believed Sochi was safe, but behind the West from militant attacks after Washington scenes there has been tension between warned airports and some airlines that tooth- Russian and US officials, including over con- paste tubes could be used to smuggle bomb- cerns that the host nation might react with making materials onto a Russia-bound plane. excessive force in the case of an attack and Russian forces are on high alert over endanger civilian lives. threats by Islamist militant groups based in A senior US security official said on the nearby north Caucasus to attack the Wednesday Washington had issued a warning Winter games, which begin on Friday. Twin to airports and some airlines flying to Russia suicide bombings killed at least 34 people in for the Olympics to watch for toothpaste December in Volgograd, some 400 miles (700 tubes that could hold ingredients to make a km) northeast of Sochi. bomb on a plane. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, The official did not say why such a specific speaking on the eve of the opening ceremo- warning was being issued now. Airlines and ny, told journalists in Sochi that Russian secu- airports have been aware for several years of rity services were working with colleagues the dangers of bombs being concocted on from Europe and North America. “There is no aircraft from liquids smuggled aboard and reason to believe that the level of danger in have strictly limited the carriage of all liquids Sochi is greater than at any other point on the and pastes by passengers. planet, be it Boston, London, New York or Washington. LAW ON HOMOSEXUALITY “We can guarantee the safety of people as Putin, accused in the West of abusing the well as any other government hosting any rights of minorities and of critics, faces other mass event,” he said, speaking through a hazards at the games. His legacy could be tar- SOCHI: A member of a Russian honor guard salutes during a welcoming ceremony at the translator. nished by rows over anti-gay propaganda . —AP President Vladimir Putin, who launched a laws, which athletes, rights groups and politi- time, has come under mounting criticism ing. “My confidence is never really my issue,” war to crush a rebellion in nearby Chechnya cal leaders have condemned, allegations of since the government passed legislation last he grinned afterwards. “Unfortunately they in 1999, has staked his reputation on the corruption, cost overruns and concerns over year which critics say curtails rights of homo- don’t give any medals for training because if Games, which at around $50 billion will be the security. Organisers have also been scram- sexuals and discriminates against them. they did I’d be psyched today. most expensive in Olympic history. Islamist bling to deal with teething problems, includ- “We must oppose the arrests, imprison- “But it certainly doesn’t hurt. To come out guerrillas seeking an independent Islamic ing complaints about accommodation and an ments and discriminatory restrictions they here and ski hard, ski well, first run is great,” state in Chechnya and neighbouring regions outcry over the fate of stray dogs being face,” Ban said. Putin has defended the law as added the five times Olympic medallist, who of southern Russia, have aimed threats at the rounded up in Sochi. protecting minors and said homosexuals will aims to become the oldest man to win an games, which they argue take place on land Russia’s contentious “gay propaganda” law not face discriminated at the Sochi Olympics. Alpine gold. seized from Caucasus tribes in the 19th centu- was again in the spotlight on Thursday, when The women’s downhill training was cut ry. Despite a “ring of steel” around venues and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki- SPORTING ACTION short due to concerns over a jump close to the some 37,000 security personnel on alert, moon condemned discrimination and attacks The president will hope the world’s media finish, a day after ’s decision to Russian forces fear a woman suspected of on people based on their sexual orientation. now turns their lenses on sporting exploits on pull out of the event for safety rea- planning a suicide bombing may have slipped “Hatred of any kind must have no place in the snow and ice, and there was early qualifi- sons. “I felt like, ‘You’re welcome, I’ll be your through. However, security officials believe the 21st century,” he said, addressing an cation action in slopestyle, where medals are test dummy’”, said 25-year-old American the risk of an attack is far greater elsewhere in International Olympic Committee (IOC) ses- up for grabs for the first time. In Alpine skiing, Laurenne Ross, one of only three of the 56 rac- Russia than in Sochi or the Caucasus moun- sion in Sochi. US veteran Bode Miller, at his fifth Winter ers to descend the 2,713 metre long course. “I tain cluster nearby. Russia, hosting a Winter Games for the first Games aged 36, set the fastest time in train- was definitely intimidated.”—Reuters

Parrot perched on top after slopestyle heats

ROSA KHUTOR: Canada’s insane level in the second heat,” he told scorched the competition in the second heat Reuters. of the men’s snowboard slopestyle yesterday First heat winner Staale Sandbech’s 94.50 to book his place in the Olympic final. would only have been good enough for third Parrot’s score of 97.50 was the best of the spot in the second heat as the competitors day as the competition burst into life in the upped the ante in the bright Sochi sunshine. second heat. Roope Tonteri of Finland snared Those who missed out on automatic quali- second with 95.75, which would also have fying still have the chance to grab one of four been good enough to win the first heat. remaining berths when they compete in a The laconic Finn was impressed with the semi-final on Saturday. standard in the second heat, but told Reuters Earlier, Sandbech put in a blazing second that it didn’t affect him as he prepared for his run to win the opening heat on Thursday, the second run. first day of competition at the Sochi Olympics. “I don’t really think about the level, I just Sandbech’s first run scored a modest 45.25 want to stomp that run, I just want to do my but the Norwegian notched 94.50 on his sec- own stuff, and it’s turned out pretty well.” ond. Finland’s Peetu Piroinen took second Sweden’s Sven Thorgren led after the first place, with Sebastien Toutant of Canada com- run and held on for third place in the second ing in third. heat, with Norwegian Gjermund Braaten in America’s Charles Guldemond missed out fourth as the two Scandinavians grabbed the on the fourth spot by just 0.75 of a point after final two automatic places for Saturday’s final. Britain’s Jamie Nicholls used his final run to “The riding in this heat is just beyond,” sneak past and snatch the berth in the final. Braaten told Reuters as he waited to see if his “I definitely had a good time this morning KRASNAYA POLYANA: Canada’s Maxence Parrot takes a jump during the men’s snow- run would be enough for a final place. until I just got bumped out on that last run, board slopestyle qualifying at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. —AP Braaten’s final spot came at the expense of which was very disappointing, but I’ve got to Belgium’s Seppe Smits, who was just 0.25 of a stay positive and move on to semi-day,” ‘OK, I’ve seen this before!’” Australian Scotty injury was actually in a much more tender point further back in fifth. Guldemond told Reuters. James recovered from a heavy fall to make his place. “I’m a little bummed. I was hoping that this “Obviously I wanted to make that top-four second run but failed to qualify automatically “I was really embarrassed, I actually hurt run would be enough to make it straight to cut and it didn’t work out, I just need to clean for the final. my ‘man parts’ real bad and I was in a lot of the finals but apparently everyone was ready things up a little bit. But nothing ever came Seen clutching his ribs as he left the slope pain, and I didn’t really know where to put my to throw down, everyone went all-in. It was an easy to me, but when it happened I thought, after the first run, James revealed that his hands,” he said.—Reuters