LONDON - IOC President Thomas Bach defended the choice of Sochi as host of the Winter Olympics on Monday and said hes "sleeping very well" despite the terror threat hanging over the games. Gale Sayers Bears Jersey . Bach reiterated his confidence that Russia will provide "safe and secure" games without taking away from a festive Olympic atmosphere. Russia is mounting a massive security operation for the games, which open Feb. 7 amid threats of attacks from Muslim insurgents from the North Caucasus region. "We have full confidence in the host country and we also know that Russia and the Russian (security) services are working closely with different international services in order to ensure that all the participants and spectators in the games can feel safe and secure," Bach said in a conference call with reporters. On a separate issue, Bach repeated that Russia has promised that athletes and spectators will not face any discrimination based on sexual orientation. Russia enacted a law last year banning gay "propaganda" among minors. Bach said athletes are free to speak out on any political issues at news conferences at the games, but are prohibited from doing so on the medal podium or other Olympic sites. "Its very clear that the games cannot be used as a stage for political demonstrations," he said. "The IOC will take, if necessary, individual decisions based on the individual case. On the other hand, the athletes, of course, enjoy the freedom of speech. So, if in a press conference they want to make a political statement, then they are absolutely free to do so." More than 50,000 police and military personnel are being deployed to guard Russias first Winter Games. An Islamic militant group in Dagestan claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings that killed 34 people in late December in Volgograd and threatened to attack the games in Sochi. Russian security officials have been hunting for three potential female suicide bombers, one of whom is believed to be in Sochi itself. Bach said the International Olympic Committee remains in constant contact with Russia about the security measures. Asked whether hes worried, he said, "Im sorry to tell you Im sleeping very well." "Im really looking forward to the first Winter Games under my presidency and Im very confident they will be successful," said the German, who was elected head of the IOC in September, succeeding Jacques Rogge after 12 years in office. Bach compared the security situation to that of the 2002 Salt Lake City Games in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in the U.S. "In Salt Lake City there were thousands of security people around the place and people still felt fine and appreciated seeing that security was being taken seriously," he said. "I think the security forces can operate in a way that doesnt affect the atmosphere." Bach also defended Russias massive spending on the games. The $51 billion price tag — which includes the cost of roads, railways, hotels and other projects — is a record for any Olympics. Bach said Russia was using the Olympics as a "catalyst" to transform the region and create a winter sports complex for the entire country. Its up to host nations, he said, to decide how — and how much — they invest in long-term infrastructure projects. The spending on the Sochi Olympics has been engulfed in claims of kickbacks and other corruption. On Monday, anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny claimed that Russia spent twice as much as necessary to build at least 10 of the Olympic venues. Bach said the IOC stands "against any form of corruption," adding that he hopes people can differentiate "between just a general claim and concrete information." In general, Bach said, the Olympic atmosphere is building up in Sochi as the games approach. Referring to concerns about warm weather in the subtropical area, he said there was "plenty of snow" and more was forecast for later in the week. "I think overall we can say Sochi is ready to welcome the best winter athletes of the world," Bach said. Jared Allen Bears Jersey . 8 Ben Morgan for the injured Billy Vunipola was the only change in the England run-on side for the Six Nations showdown with Wales at Twickenham on Sunday. Jordan Mills Bears Jersey . Ranked 32nd in the world, Pospisil was due to play Frenchman Gael Monfils, but he withdrew with a wrist injury. Pospisil had the momentum going into the match against No. 52 Andujar, who got into the draw as a lucky loser, after making the semifinals last weekend in Basel.Kalib Starnes is returning to the scene of the crime. The 36-year-old from Surrey, B.C., will be back at the Bell Centre on Saturday to fight fellow former UFC veteran Patrick (The Predator) Cote in the main event of Ringside 10. Starnes left Montreal with a target on his back the last time he fought there at UFC 83 in April 2008. Seemingly reluctant to engage against Nate (Rock) Quarry, he back-peddled for most of the fight and paid the price for it. He exited a loser -- and Public Enemy No. 1. Quarry mocked him, the 21,000-plus crowd turned on him and he was vilified by parts of the MMA world. He received hate mail for months afterwards, calling him gutless, pathetic, a bitch, coward, pussy, joke, disgrace and far worse. There was even an MMA website called Watch Kalib Run. Starnes (12-5-1) admitted later it was "a terrible performance." But it wasnt helped by the fact he broke his foot in the fight and his strategy failed miserably. By the end, he was in survival mode. The judges scored it an embarrassing 30-26, 30-27, 30-24 for Quarry, whose corner traded barbs with Starnes in an ugly aftermath to an ugly main card bout. The UFC quickly parted ways with the fighter, saying it had cut him while Starnes said he asked to be released so he could move on. It might have broken a lesser man. Starnes got on with his life. By going back to the Bell Centre, he knows he is stepping into the belly of the beast this weekend. But as a coach as well as a fighter, he sees it as a unique chance to test his mental mettle -- and learn from dealing with the stress so he can pass the knowledge on. "This is a real test for me, this one," he told The Canadian Press. "Because its going into a place where Ive had a dramatic failure in the past. And to be able to go back to that same venue and to fight somebody there, Im going to be under a lot of pressure. "Ill be the underdog and hated really by the crowd coming in," he added with a chuckle. "Hes the Quebecer, hes from Montreal, hes going to be the favourite ... Ill be booed all the way to the ring probably. "Being able to deal with that pressure and stress and to come out of it and perform up to my ability, thats what Im looking forward to doing. I have no thoughts about victory or losing or anything. I just feel like going in there and dealing with that pressure. And I want to put myself back in that situation and I want to kind of grow from it." He says he hasnt thought of Saturdays fight as closure. "But it may be," he added. "I cant think of myself being put under more pressure than I will be this weekend and thats something I look forward to." Starnes is 4-2 since the Quarry loss, fighting three times last year. But these days fighting is just part of his life. He recently opened his own gym, Aegis Athlletics, in the Richmond Sports Club where he teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts and does personal training. M.D. Jennings Bears Jersey. He enjoys working with kids or average people who just want to get in shape, lose weight or recover from an injury. "Its fulfilling to go and help someone do that, you know," he said. When not working, he spends time with his eight-year-old daughter Sienna. While he occasionally watches MMA on TV to see a favoured athlete, he prefers to read. Comedies and documentaries are more up his alley. "Im more of a nerd," he said with a laugh. Starnes has always been his own man. During his UFC days, he listed his heroes as Noam Chomsky and Bertrand Russell and talked happily of seeing Japans cultural heritage in Kyoto during a trip to the Far East. A past website listed such favourite books as "Killing Hope: U.S. Military And CIA Interventions Since World War II" by William Blum, "Planet of Slums" by Mike Davis, "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond, "The Future of Life" by Edward O. Wilson and "The New Nuclear Danger" by Helen Caldicott. Starnes was a member of Season 3 of "The Ultimate Fighter, where he suffered a rib injury in the semifinals and lost to eventual winner Kendall Grove. He went 2-3 in the UFC, defeating Danny Abbadi and earning fight of the night honours for his UFC 71 victory over Chris (The Crippler) Leben. A tough customer, he has survived a fractured fibula, broken nose, jawbone infection, torn shoulder muscle and more than 20 stitches to close a gaping wound on his forehead. Not to mention the broken foot and torrent of hate that followed the Quarry fight. He says that night, as ugly as it got, is part of him. "Ive learned a lot from that experience," he said. "I think Ive grown a lot personally and as an athlete. I feel very good. "If I could go back and change it, I dont think I would, you know. I think its something that in the end will make me a better, stronger person." Starnes says he isnt sure why the piling on happened after UFC 83, but he points to todays media and "just the culture we live it." He recalls watching a recent report on CNN on the tragedy in Japan and seriousness of the situation at a nuclear reactor. Then across the bottom of the screen flashed a Lindsay Lohan update. "Its just a world where peoples priorities are maybe not where they should be," he chuckled. Starnes says he rarely thinks back to the Quarry fight. Some fans still recognize him "more for that than for the other things Ive done and accomplished in my life," he said. "But I dont get it that often any more, no." Cote (13-7) was cut by the UFC after suffering a third straight loss, to Tom Lawlor at UFC 121 in October. ' ' '
