BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Threats to a string of European Olympic offices are reviving a question that has haunted preparations for t

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BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Threats to a string of European Olympic offices are reviving a question that has haunted preparations for the Winter Games next month: Is it safe to go to Sochi? European Olympic authorities, whose countries have faced terrorist threats and attacks in the past, largely shrugged off the new menacing messages as a hoax, a marginal phenomenon that security experts say is common ahead of big events. Joe Smith Pistons Jersey . Some members of the U.S. Congress arent so sure. They say Russia isnt doing enough to assure that athletes will be protected at the Feb. 7-23 games, happening not far from an Islamic insurgency that Russias huge security apparatus has struggled for two decades to quell. Russia may run greater risks in towns outside the tightly controlled Olympic zone. Suicide bombs last month a few hundred kilometres (miles) away have increased concerns, and an Islamic warlord has urged his followers to attack the Sochi Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putins pet project. The threats reported Wednesday appeared to be more anodyne. They were first revealed by Hungarian sports officials, who announced they had received an email in Russian and English threatening Hungarian athletes with terrorist attacks. The International Olympic Committee insisted it takes credible threats seriously, but "in this case it seems like the email sent to the Hungarian Olympic Committee contains no threat and appears to be a random message from a member of the public." International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said he remains confident in Russias Olympic organizers. Talking to reporters in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, he said: "Security is always a matter of concern, not only in the Olympic Games but at every big event, whether its sport or any other. That is unfortunately the world we are living in. "But we are very confident and we know the Russian authorities together with their many partners internationally are doing everything to organize the games in a safe and secure way." The Hungarian Olympic Committee said it had received a message from the organizers of the Sochi Games saying: "Threat described in the email sent to your address is not real." It turned out that Olympic committees from several other European countries, including Britain, Germany, Italy and Austria, had received similar messages but hadnt publicly reported them. The Canadian Olympic Committee would not say whether it had received a similar message. However, the COC did release a statement later Wednesday. "The safety of our entire Canadian Olympic team including our athletes, coaches, support team and volunteers is always our main priority," the statement said. "We have the utmost confidence that the International Olympic Committee and the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee will deliver outstanding Olympic Winter Games. "The Canadian Olympic Committee has and continues to work very closely with government and security forces in Canada as a cornerstone of our preparation for Sochi 2014. This preparation extends to a close collaboration with the Organizing Committee in Sochi and the host nation, Russia, who are responsible for all security matters relating to Sochi 2014. As with other Olympic Games, our safety and security measures are always adapted to each environment." Wolfgang Eichler, spokesman for the Austrian National Olympic Committee, said the email was a hoax that officials had seen before. "Its a fake mail from a sender in Israel who has been active with various threats for a few years," Eichler told Austrian news agency APA. "Its been checked out because it also arrived two years ago." Germanys national Olympic association, the DOSB, also said it had received "several times the same mail with unspecific, general warnings" and it had sent it onto security officials. "We are not aware of any threats that have been deemed as credible being directed toward our delegation," British Olympic Association spokesman Darryl Seibel told the AP. "Organizations such as ours receive email correspondence all the time -- some of which seem to lack in credibility." A spokeswoman for Switzerlands Olympic committee said similar threats were common so close to the Winter Games and athletes and officials would base their travel plans instead on the assessment of security officials -- not on threats. Across the Atlantic, some are viewing the Sochi Games with more trepidation. Members of Congress expressed serious concerns Sunday about the safety of Americans at next months Olympics in Russia and said Moscow needs to co-operate more. While FBI Director James Comey said earlier in January that the Russian government "understands the threat and is devoting the resources to address it," the U.S. has offered air and naval support to the Russian government as it conducts security preparations for the Olympics. The U.S. State Department has advised Americans at the Olympics to keep vigilant about security because of potential terrorist threats, crime and uncertain medical care. By contrast, the French Foreign Ministry for example has not issued any particular terrorism warnings for travellers to Sochi, and a French official said Wednesday that the government has seen no reason to adapt its advice for now. All national Olympic committees "take security seriously and a number travel with their own security. It is not unusual to see the USA expressing greater concerns than other nations," said Andrew Amery, who oversaw security for the 2012 London Olympics, noting that the U.S. sends one of the largest teams and many of the top sponsors are American companies. Amery said intelligence services will be crucial to the games. "It is not unusual to see an increase in hoax calls during the build up to such events and the security agencies will be prepared for them. I do not feel this increases the risks in Sochi and am confident that the security agencies are well-placed to assess these threats." Russia has responded to the Islamic threat by introducing some of the most sweeping security measures ever seen at an international sports event, including an estimated 100,000 police, army and other security forces. Rick Mahorn Pistons Jersey .J. -- After getting permission from his 7-year-old daughter, New York Giants offensive lineman David Diehl has retired after an 11-year career that included two Super Bowl championships. Grant Hill Jersey .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience. http://www.basketballpistonsauthority.com/grant-long-pistons-jersey-c-28/ . Heavily-criticized after allowing a dozen goals on 58 shots in two games in Boston, Luongo continued his dominance at home. Hes now allowed two goals in three home games in this series.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Ryan Miller made a statement to USA Hockey while helping the Buffalo Sabres avoid matching a dubious NHL record. Miller outplayed fellow American Olympic goaltending hopeful Jonathan Quick, making 43 saves as Buffalo edged Los Angeles 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday night to avoid tying the worst home start in NHL history. "Its nice to get a win," said Miller, the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. "We obviously needed to do that at home. These are the kind of games where guys hang around and understand that we need to do little things to stay in hockey games when things dont go our way, and we can get a win." Cody Hodgson scored twice in regulation while Matt Moulson and Tyler Ennis scored in the shootout for the Sabres (4-15-1). Miller stopped both Los Angeles shooters. "It felt great to win a game like that when youre outshot bad and outplayed," Hodgson said. "But when you have one of the best goaltenders in the world thats what happens, you know?" Buffalo was winless in its first nine home games, one short of the NHL record set by Pittsburgh in 1983-84. Justin Williams and Dwight King scored in regulation for the Kings (11-7-0), who had won their previous two games. Despite the loss, Los Angeles was the dominant team and controlled most of the play. The Kings outshot the Sabres 45-17, holding a 15-4 advantage after one period and 30-7 after two. Quick wasnt tested much until the third period and left the game with 1:20 to go in overtime with an injury. Kings coach Darryl Sutter said he "didnt really check" on Quick and did not have an update on the injury. Ben Scrivens played the remainder of the game and faced the unusual task of not seeing a shot on goal until the shootout. "Its obviously tough going into the game late like that and going into the shootout but Ive got to find a way to make a save in the shootout there," Scrivens said. "Thats my job." The Kings scored just over a minute into the game when Justin Williams shot deflectted off Sabres defenceman Mark Pysyk, beating Miller low and right. Detroit Pistons Jersey. . The Sabres didnt register their first shot until 5:22 into the game, a moment met with one of the many jeers from the crowd. Buffalo trailed 1-0 after the first period, continuing a trend thats seen the Sabres outscored 27-3 this season in the opening 20 minutes. Hodgson tied the game in the second period off pass from Steve Ott and then gave the Sabres their first lead since Nov. 5 when he tipped home a pass from Ville Leino. "He was outstanding tonight for us, big in all areas," said Sabres head coach Ron Rolston. "He did good job out against their best players defensively and obviously he got two goals driving the net, both of them hard net drives." King forced overtime with 3:34 to play when he found a rebound in the crease and shot it past Miller. The Sabres nearly got the game-winner with under a minute to play when Ott found a streaking Moulson, who tapped the puck off the outside of the net. Millers 30th save was perhaps his finest, sticking his right pad out to deny Mike Richards look at an open net less than a minute into the third period. Miller downplayed the Olympic talk. "Hopefully theyre just looking at the way they think youre playing," Miller said. "Again, its not really about making the team right now for me, its about coming off of Anaheim and making a statement coming back that Im going to be a pro and rebound with these guys and help give them a chance to win." The Kings did not convert on any of their five power play chances, making them 0 for their last 10. Moulson also had two assists, while Ott was credited with 10 of Buffalos 31 hits. NOTES: Los Angeles D Matt Greene and C Jarret Stoll each missed their third-consecutive game with upper body injuries. ... Buffalo LW John Scott was scratched for the second-straight game after serving a seven game suspension. ... It was the first of a four-game road trip for Los Angeles, which continues Thursday against the New York Islanders. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '