BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Within minutes of being elected to the top job in the Olympics, Thomas Bach got a phone call from a po

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Within minutes of being elected to the top job in the Olympics, Thomas Bach got a phone call from a powerful leader hell work with closely in the next few months: Russian President Vladimir Putin. Esa Lindell Stars Jersey . Bach, a 59-year-old German lawyer, was elected Tuesday as president of the International Olympic Committee. He succeeds Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 years. Bach, the longtime favourite, defeated five candidates in a secret ballot for the most influential job in international sports, keeping the presidency in European hands. The former Olympic fencer received 49 votes in the second round to secure a winning majority. Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico finished second with 29 votes. One of the first congratulatory phone calls came from Putin, who will host the IOC in less than five months at the Winter Olympics in the southern Russian resort of Sochi. The Sochi Games are one of Putins pet projects, with Russias prestige on the line. "He congratulated and (said) there would be close co-operation to make (sure of) the success of the Sochi Games," Bach told The Associated Press. The buildup to the Feb. 7-23 games has been overshadowed by concerns with cost overruns, human rights, a budget topping $50 billion, security threats and a Western backlash against a Russian law against gay "propaganda." Bach and the IOC have been told by the Russians there would be no discrimination against anyone in Sochi, and that Russia would abide by the Olympic Charter. "We have the assurances of the highest authorities in Russia that we trust," Bach said. It remains unclear what would happen if athletes or spectators demonstrate against the anti-gay law. Rogge said this week the IOC would send a reminder to athletes that, under the Olympic Charter, they are prohibited from making any political gestures. "We will work on our project now and then it will be communicated to the NOCs (national Olympic committees) and then athletes," Bach said. "It will be elaborated more in detail." At his first news conference as president, Bach was asked about how the IOC would deal with human rights issues in host countries. The IOC has been criticized for not speaking out against abuses in countries like China and Russia. "The IOC cannot be apolitical," Bach said. "We have to realize that our decisions at events like Olympic Games, they have political implications. And when taking these decisions we have to, of course, consider political implications. "But in order to fulfil our role to make sure that in the Olympic Games and for the participants the Charter is respected, we have to be strictly politically neutral. And there we also have to protect the athletes," he said. A former Olympic fencing gold medallist who heads Germanys national Olympic committee, Bach is the ninth president in the 119-year history of the IOC. Hes the eighth European to hold the presidency. Of the IOCs leaders, all have come from Europe except for Avery Brundage, the American who ran the committee from 1952-72. Bach is also the first gold medallist to become IOC president. He won gold in team fencing for West Germany in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. He received a standing ovation for nearly a full minute after Rogge opened a sealed envelope to announce his victory. Bach bowed slightly to the delegates to acknowledge the warm response and thanked the members in several languages. "This is a really overwhelming sign of trust and confidence," Bach said. "I want to be a president for all of you," he told the members. "This means I will do my very best to balance well all the different interests of the stakeholders of the Olympic movement. This is why I want to listen to you and to enter in an ongoing dialogue with all of you. You should know that my door, my ears and my heart are always open for you." Bach was viewed as the favourite because of his resume: former Olympic athlete, long-serving member of the policy-making IOC executive board, chairman of the legal commission, head of anti-doping investigations and negotiator of European TV rights. "It is what I and many of the others had anticipated," said IOC member Prince Albert of Monaco. "I think it was very clear. You cant argue with his experience and his leadership and his great knowledge about the Olympic movement and the world of sports, and also the outside world. I think we are getting a great president." Bach was elected to an eight-year term. In 2021, he would be eligible to run for a second and final four-term term. Bach presented the 71-year-old Rogge with the IOCs highest award, the Olympic gold order. After awarding the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo and bringing wrestling back into the games, the IOC completed the last of its three critical votes — choosing the person to lead the body for the most powerful job in international sports. Bachs supporters had hoped for a first-round win, but a second-round victory still showed that he had a big base of support. Carrion, who chairs the IOCs finance commission and negotiates lucrative U.S. TV rights deals, wound up being Bachs only serious challenger. The votes fell off after that with Ng Ser Miang of Singapore getting six, Denis Oswald of Switzerland five and Sergei Bubka of Ukraine four. C.K. Wu of Taiwan was eliminated in the first round after an initial tie with Ng as low vote-getter. In the first round, Bach got 43 votes, followed by Carrion with 23, Bubka eight, Oswald seven and Ng and Wu six each. Ng then beat Wu 56-36 in a runoff. Ng had been considered a strong contender, but his chances were dented after Tokyos win because the IOC was unlikely to give Asia two major prizes in a row. Much of the pre-election talk among the members has been about the power of Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti who heads the Association of National Olympic Committees. The sheik was a key backer of Bach. With his influence in Asia and among the national Olympic committees, the Kuwaiti was seen as playing a key role in Tokyos victory, even helping Istanbul get to the second round of voting to keep Madrid out of the final. ___ AP Sports writers Stephen Wade and Tales Azzoni contributed to this report. ___ Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap Jamie Benn Jersey . The three goals bring Messis career tally for Barcelona to 371 in all games -- including friendlies -- breaking the club record of 369 held by Paulino Alcantara since 1927. The 26-year-old Messi was already the clubs all-time leading scorer in official games. Messi assured Barcelonas fans they will enjoy his goals for years to come, saying "as long as people want me, I will stay here. Dallas Stars Jerseys .The Hanwha Eagles said the team was impressed with Morgans contact ability and base-running skills.The 34-year-old debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007 and hit . http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/martin-hanzal-hockey-jersey/ .That sight softened the blow of what ended up as a 4-3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.Knowing their teammate was fine after a scary headfirst fall in the opening minute of the game helped calm the Maple Leafs.TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun have the latest on the possible movement involving the Canucks Ryan Kesler, the Rangers Ryan Callahan, and the Senators Jason Spezza. Of all the names out there who could realistically be dealt by Wednesdays deadline, Ryan Kesler remains No. 1 on the most desired list. And while were not sure if theyre any closer to a deal, we now have a defined price. What is that? Bob McKenzie: We also know hes got the No. 1 highest price on the trade market right now of anybody. And that defined price is three significant components. No. 1, a 20 to 25-year-old established National Hockey League centre, who could immediately step into the lineup and fill much of the void created by the loss of Kesler. No. 2, a top-end prospect. Preferably a forward, but if it was a defenceman it would give the Canucks flexibility to trade one of their existing defenceman down the road. And No. 3, a first-round pick. If the Vancouver Canucks dont get close to that package for Ryan Kesler, I do not believe theyll trade him. If they do get offers along those lines they are going to seriously consider it. Darren Dreger: You can add the Toronto Maple Leafs to the list of many teams who have expressed interest and have talked to Vancouver Canucks mangement about Ryan Kesler, but as Bob identifies, the asking price is very, very lofty. So in Toronto Maple Leafs terms, if a deal were to be reached it would likely include Nazem Kadri. It would likely include either Jake Gardiner or Morgan Rielly and that first-round draft pick. And if Morgan Rielly is must as part of this deal then its unlikely it happens. Ryan Callahan and the Rangers continue to try and get a contract done and the message has always been, sign a contract or youre gone. Has that perhaps forced them to move a little closer? Pierre LeBrun: Well the Ryan Callahan camp has moved. Theyve been doing the movement here of late. Theyve gone from seven years to six years, which was a major sticking point. Theyve reduced their asking price financially, its south of $6.5 million now. So really, theres less than half a million between the Rangers offer of $6 million a year times six and Callahans latest offer. As far as Callahan is concerned its up to the Rangers now to respond from that offer that was made on Friday. But again, the clock is absolutely ticking. Most people around the Rangers believe they will not budge from six times six. Callahan feels hes just made his move. Ottawa GM Bryan Murray quick to deny Jason Spezza trade chatter out of Ottawa, but his name did come up in conversations? Dreger: Right, and a bit of a sketchy denial by Bryan Murray of the Sens, but in saying that I think we have to keep it in perspective here. Are the Ottawa Senators shopping their captain? Absolutely not. But a couple of teams have recognized that Spezzas name was brought up in a general sense, in a bigger dialogue. Noww is there a time to create a trade of this magnitude before Wednesday? Very, very unlikely. Mattias Janmark Jersey. But do we see a day where Jason Spezza absolutely gets traded? No question about that. But Bryan Murray and the Sens have spent a lot of time this season trying to find a winger to play with Spezza, so this is all part of the general dialogue that happens this time of year. McKenzie: Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray trying to get Chris Phillips signed. Theyve extended a one-year offer to Phillips, hes looking for a two-year deal. If they cant come to an agreement on a one-year deal then Chris Phillips could very well be in play between now and 3pm at the deadline. Also on the Ottawa front, when the Buffalo Sabres acquired Chris Stewart from the St. Louis Blues on Friday, a lot of us thought there was going to be a very quick flip where Stewart would go to Ottawa and prospects would come back the other way. Right now the talks are very cool between Buffalo and Ottawa. Not to say that it couldnt happen, but its not close to happening at this point. And Stewart is not the only newly-acquired Sabre who might be flipped. LeBrun: Lets put it this way, I dont think Buffalo wants to acquire a rental, which is what they got in Jaroslav Halak. They are trying to move him. Minnesota has poked their nose in there, but the Minnesota Wild trying to look for a goalie has looked at a number of options. Halak is one, Martin Broduer is another option. Now, no one knows what Lou Lamoriello has in his mind when it comes to Martin Brodeur. I dont know if Martin Brodeur, at this hour, knows himself in terms of whether or not Lou Lamoriello will trade the NHLs all-time winningest goalie, but Minnesota I think would be a fit that Marty Brodeur would accept a move to. Buffalo might be the epicentre of TradeCentre. Might Ehrhoff be traded? Dreger: Well theres a lot of interest in Christian Ehrhoff, as there is in Tyler Myers. In Ehrhoff you get a bit more experience. I know the Detroit Red Wings would like to beef up their blue line. Theres some interest in Christian Ehrhoff but Kenny Holland is trying to hold on to what he has in his youth, so the asking price is going to have to come down. What about L.A.s search for a scorer? LeBrun: Well theyve been at it longer than anyone but havent made that deal. The price is too high is what I was told today. Yes theres still interest in Matt Moulson in Buffalo, yes theres still interest in Mike Cammalleri and a couple other rentals, but unless the price comes down I think L.A. wont do anything. It really has to come down by Wednesday for them. And a new name on the list. McKenzie: Stephane Robidas of the Dallas Stars. Injured until mid-March, not expected back in the lineup, but a lot of contending teams, teams like the Anaheim Ducks, the Boston Bruins would like a veteran defenceman prsence on a contedning team. Lot of interest in Robidas. ' ' '