LONDON -- After all the talk of terror threats, corruption, overspending and anti-gay legislation, the head of the Sochi Olympi

LONDON -- After all the talk of terror threats, corruption, overspending and anti-gay legislation, the head of the Sochi Olympics is determined to show the world the games will be a huge success. Tony Oliva Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. "History will be made," he said of Russias first Winter Games. With Sochi facing threats of terrorist attacks from insurgents from the North Caucasus, Chernyshenko said the city is the "most secure venue at the moment on the planet" and promised that tight security measures will not detract from the atmosphere of the games. "I can assure you that Sochi will be among the most security-friendly games and all the procedures will be very gentle and smooth," he said in a conference call with reporters. Russia is deploying more than 50,000 police and soldiers to guard the Olympics. A Muslim militant group claimed responsibility for back-to-back suicide bombings that killed 34 people in Volgograd in late December and threatened attacks on the games. "You will see thousands of (security) people around but its important to understand that the Olympics is a global event and the security is also a global multi-national event and state authorities are doing (their) utmost to deliver Sochi as safest for everyone," Chernyshenko said. Referring to the Russian law banning gay "propaganda" among minors, he repeated assurances that Russia will not discriminate against anyone at the Olympics on the basis of sexual orientation. However, Chernyshenko appeared to contradict IOC President Thomas Bach, who said Monday that athletes -- prohibited by the Olympic Charter from political demonstrations or gestures on the medal stand and other venues -- would be free to express their personal political views at news conferences. "I dont think they are allowed by charter to express those views that (are) not related to the sport at the press conference room," Chernyshenko said, adding that organizers had set up a protest zone -- or "Speakers Corner" -- in the city. The uproar over the gay law, as well as criticism of Russias human rights record and Vladimir Putins policies, has led a number of Western political leaders to shun the Feb. 7 opening ceremony and the games. Chernyshenko, however, said the number of world leaders attending the ceremony would be "the highest in the history of the Winter Games." He declined to give the number. The Sochi organizing committee said later in an email that heads of state or government from 52 countries would be attending. Russia is spending a record $51 billion on the games, including the long-term infrastructure investment in roads, tunnels, railways and hotels to turn Sochi into a year-round resort. Critics allege that billions of dollars have disappeared in kickbacks and other corrupt deals. Chernyshenko dismissed suggestions that claims of misspending had tainted the games. "If you come and look around, this is the most state-of-the-art sports facilities in the world," he said. "Everything will be the cutting edge. This would not have been possible if these allegations of so-called corruption were true. The stadiums, the roads, the new hotel rooms -- this infrastructure speaks for itself." Ticket sales have also been an issue, with many foreign fans staying away, raising concerns over the prospect of empty seats. Chernyshenko said more than 70 per cent of the tickets have been sold, with 20 per cent set aside for fans to buy on site at box offices. "Its high demand, long queues," he said. "Im quite confident that the stands will be full." Chernyshenko, who comes from Sochi and has worked on the Olympic project for a decade, said he had no regrets despite all the criticism that has been levelled at the games. "Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and now Sochi has really become brilliant and a showcase of new Russia," he said, calling it "the role model, the blue print for the rest of the country to follow." Meantime, Chernyshenko said, Sochi has plenty of snow and the three Olympic Villages will open to the athletes on Thursday. "Were fully ready," he said. "Were in a great shape. Everything is in place. The only thing remaining is for the athletes to come and shine at the venues. Everything so far is perfect." Marwin Gonzalez Jersey . Johns IceCaps erased an early two-goal deficit to come from behind and defeat the host Portland Pirates 5-4 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. Tyler Duffey Twins Jersey .com) - The Minnesota Twins made it official on Wednesday, announcing the signing of outfielder Torii Hunter to a one-year contract. https://www.cheaptwins.com/1532t-tom-brunansky-jersey-twins.html . The Brazilian heads into Saturday afternoons race coming off a close runner-up finish to Ryan Hunter-Reay in the Indianapolis 500.PHILADELPHIA -- With one errant stick to the face, Teemu Selanne went down in a heap, losing teeth and blood. Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Andrew Cogliano also scored for the Ducks and Jonas Hiller had 26 saves. "We were able to start to get it going in the second and then poured it on them in the third," Palmieri said. The Ducks won it without Selanne, in his 22nd season, on the ice after he took Luke Schenns high stick to the face. Selanne went down on the corner ice, then skated off on his own power straight to the locker room. His mouth was bloody and swollen, and the Ducks had no idea if hed miss any games. They play again Thursday at Boston. The Ducks hope for a quick return. "Hes a great athlete and a great person, just great to have around," defenceman Hampus Lindholm said. Palmieri scored on a tip-in with 4:09 left in the game to help the Ducks win their third straight game. He also scored the tying goal early in the period. Hiller and the Ducks killed one final Philadelphia power play that extended into the final minute to hang on for the win. Matt Read and Vinny Lecavalier scored for the Flyers. The Ducks answered an early 2-0 deficit with three straight goals to get their latest road win. The Ducks improved to 3-2 on their eight-game road trip, with games at Boston, Buffalo and the New York Rangers still ahead. "Its big for us to start to link together these wins," Palmieri said. "Especially on the road, its huge." Palmieri tied the game when he stripped Lecavalier of the puck and knocked it through Steve Masons legs to make it 2-2. "I was able to get in front of it and keep him in front of me and the puck took a nice bounce for me," Palmieri said. "I was able to get down to the races." He converted a perfect pass in the slot from centre Nick Bonino to score thee winner. Custom Minnesota Twins Jerseys. The Ducks outworked and outhustled a Flyers team that showed little spark until the final power play. They pulled Mason for the 6-on-4 edge and still couldnt get the score. "I think we didnt have the effort we needed to close out the game," Mason said. Cogliano cut it to 2-1 in the second period when a fortuitous bounce off the backboards hit his stick at the right time to poke one past a stunned Mason. Mason had 34 saves. Read gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead when his first shot came straight off Hillers pads and back to him, allowing him to punch it in for his third goal in three games. Lecavaliers fifth of the season, this one on the power play, made it 2-0. Lecavalier was coming off a three-goal performance in Philadelphias 5-2 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday night. The Flyers went the first nine games without scoring more than three goals, and they hoped to build off Saturdays outburst. Instead, it was back to the scoring drought, and a dearth of opportunities. They attempted 15 shots in the first period, and only 13 more the rest of the way. They had no response to Anaheims attack in the third -- the Ducks at one point had outshot them 13-3 and finished with a 16-6 edge. "We stood around and we were watching," Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds said. "Thats all I can really say. We stood and around and started watching them instead of playing ourselves." They caught a break when Mathieu Perreaults goal was waved off upon review because of a high stick, an expected call after he pretty much bunted the puck into the net. Notes: The two teams played each other for the first time since 2011 and the first time they played in Philadelphia since Oct. 21, 2010. ... The Flyers 28 shots matched their per-game average, which was 25th in the league. ... The Ducks won for the 10th time in 12 games. ... Flyers F Claude Giroux has at least one assist in five of his past six games. Hes yet to score a goal. ' ' '