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Formula One in the Middle East to stay
discount adidas tennis shoes saleThe whole world has seen television images of demonstrators hurling petrol bombs, while riot police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and birdshot in protests in and around Bahrain's capital Manama.Last year's race had to be cancelled as the result of a bloody crackdown on an anti-government uprising and Sunday's faced down many calls for it to face the same fate."We were committed to this race and after the race we will make a proper judgment of what happened and come to a conclusion," said Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn.There may be an inquest of sorts but even if teams were reluctant to come to Bahrain before Sunday's race, there is most unlikely to be any weakening of the glamour sport's ties with the region's rulers.The race contributes some $40 million a year to Formula One's coffers.If anything, the ties will only bind tighter with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone saying he was committed to Bahrain "for as long as they want us" and asserting that all publicity was good publicity.The cash-guzzling sport has always followed the money and it has found investors and partners in oil and gas-rich countries eager to diversify into tourism and technology as well as indulge a passion for fast cars."In terms of cash flow, it's by far the biggest concentrating spot in the world. If you were to map it out that way, you wouldn't have enough races here," said Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez.
adidas originals saleLopez's Genii Business Exchange has enlisted retired triple champion Jackie Stewart, who has excellent contacts with the Bahrain royal family, as a partner to build new links with automotive companies and manufacturers.Bahrain was the first country in the Middle East to host a grand prix, back in 2004, and owns 50 percent of the McLaren Group whose team are leading the Formula One championship after four rounds.Abu Dhabi joined the calendar in 2009 at a Yas Marina circuit that is lavish even by Formula One standards.That round has become, like Monaco and Singapore, a key fixture for business-to-business deals and one that corporate chiefs and sponsors will always have space for in their executive diaries.Abu Dhabi is also the largest investor in Mercedes' parent Daimler AG through the emirate's sovereign wealth fund Aabar Investments, and the region is a significant market for the German carmaker.It was Aabar that in 2009 bought the then-world champions Brawn GP with Daimler, turning it into the official works Mercedes team with the Abu Dhabi fund holding 40 percent.Abu Dhabi accounts for more than half of the United Arab Emirates' economy and is also home to Ferrari World, next to the impressive Yas Marina circuit, which is the world's largest indoor theme park.Toro Rosso, Red Bull's sister team, has three sponsors owned by Abu Dhabi's government fund International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) - Spanish oil company CEPSA, Swiss-based Falcon Private Bank and Canada's Nova Chemicals.
cheap adidas soccer shoesWilliams, whose cars in the 1970s and 80s were sponsored by Saudi Airlines and the Bin Laden family's Albilad, have an agreement with the Qatar science and technology park for research and development.Bahrain's Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa al-Khalifa sits on the FIA's decision-making 26-man world motor sport council as head of the karting commission.The Bahrain circuit also has a state-of-the-art outdoor kart track designed to be able to host world championships and develop home-grown talent."We see more interest in Middle Eastern countries to host big sporting events, we have Abu Dhabi and Bahrain on the calendar and I'm sure in the future there will probably be more," said Williams' Brazilian driver Bruno Senna."This is exciting because it creates the motor racing culture ... these changes take a while and I think we are just getting a bigger fan base in the Middle East which is good for motor racing generally," he told Reuters. At the beginning of the season, few could have predicted that the Ottawa Senators would be active in the playoffs. Now those same Senators are on the brink of knocking out the New York Rangers – the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and a club pegged by many to play long into the spring.Here are five reasons why the Senators have taken a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series:
nike air yeezy for saleAfter coming off a three-week recovery for a hand laceration sustained at home, Anderson has been huge for the Senators in the postseason. The goaltender has faced 157 shots, and has only allowed five goals in the past four games of the series, including a shutout on Saturday. Anderson currently boasts a 1.79 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.I think the word is confidence," coach Paul MacLean said. "I think [Anderson] gives his teammates confidence to play, and gives them the ability to go on the ice and just be able to play – not worried that they can't do things offensively and make mistakes and that he won't be there to help bail them out. I think he's also shown leadership – in this round he's really stepped up, elevated his play and helped a lot of his teammates with the pressures of being in the playoffs. In my opinion, he's probably been our best player." Going hand-in-hand with Anderson's play has been the performance of the Sens' penalty kill, holding the Rangers to only three power-play goals in 22 attempts. Veteran Chris Phillips has once again demonstrated his ability to step up in the postseason, bearing down on the Rangers' offense whenever it attempts to enter the zone. Young players like Zack Smith and Erik Condra have contributed calm heads and fast skates to ensure that the puck remains out of the hands of the opposition when the Senators are down a man. MacLean became the ninth head coach in Senators' modern history last June and since his hiring, the leader set the club on a course destined for success. MacLean's stellar communication skills with both veterans and rookies has allowed Ottawa to bond tightly as a team.
adidas indoor soccer shoes"We have a very good relationship," Jason Spezza said. "Sometimes I don't agree with him, and he doesn't always agree with me. But that doesn't mean we aren't going to listen to each other."Winning the battles at the faceoff dot has always been a sticking point for the Sens, particularly in the postseason. However, these playoffs have seen the Senators dominate on the puck drop. Zenon Konopka is currently first overall in faceoff wins, with a 72.3 percent average. Ottawa also has two more players in the top 20 – Zack Smith and Jason Spezza are No. 15 and No. 19, respectively. The Rangers do not have a single player in the top 20 – their best man at the dot is Brad Richards, who currently sits No. 25 overall with an average of 51 percent.Whether it was Matt Carkner's altercatIon with Brian Boyle in Game 2 or his set-up pass in Game 4, Jim O'Brien's pass to Milan Michalek for the overtime win in Game 4 or playoff debutante Matt Stone's helper on Saturday for Spezza's first goal of the series, contributions have been coming from everywhere for the Senators."That's the thing about the playoffs," Carkner said. "You never know what's going to happen, and basically on any given night, anyone can be a hero."
nike free running shoesOn returning to the World Group: “It is awesome. We are so excited. That was our goal this year. It was our first time out of the World Group and we couldn’t wait to get back. We did a great job of really focusing and getting the job done so we are thrilled to be back.”On the first match of the tie: “I think that was key for us to keep the momentum and keep being the favorites with that point.”Overall view on this year: “We really take every match individually and attack one match at a time. Everyone starting in Worcester did a fantastic job and as a captain, I am just really proud of the way they competed. They were very focused and it’s not always easy when you are away. They did a great job from start to finish. A bonus is that we didn’t lose a match this year.”On Serena and Venus’ future: “Hopefully both Serena and Venus will be ready to go. I have talked to them many times about Fed Cup and playing. They enjoy it. If it works and if they are healthy I expect them to be here.”On clinching the point: “It is good. I feel really good about it. Now we are back in the World Group, where we wanted to be and it feels really good to get two points and that way Christina does not have too much pressure out there like she did for me yesterday.”On having U.S. Captain Mary Joe Fernandez on the side with her: “It is good to have Mary Joe out there. I told her at the beginning of the week, whatever you want to tell me, tell me. I am all ears, I am all open and I am open to any suggestions. I am out there to learn. I feel like I am a kid learning. I haven’t accomplished everything. It is good to have a coach and different eyes out there.”
cheap nike free runOn the eighth deuce game in the first set: “I felt like I won that game and I kept giving it away. One point she hit a great shot and she won that point, but for the most part I just kept hitting double faults. But that game was really good for me to get through for sure.”When asked how she felt when she started her match against Lesia Tsurenko: “I just wanted to stay in there. I had a little bit of a slow start but I knew I could just keep fighting.”Her thoughts on how Tsurenko played: “I thought she played well. I think she had a good game. She has a lot of power and has is really solid on both sides.”When asked about how her ankle is feeling: “My ankle is good. The tape was just too tight and it was squeezing it too tight. I am just trying to find that happy medium with the tape.”Overall thoughts on this week and the team: “I absolutely love this team. I love Liezel, she is just so amazing and so perfect. Christina is awesome as well and Sloane and I get along like two peas in a pod. Mary Joe is a young coach, she hasn’t been off tour for too long so she really knows and has so much experience. It is a fabulous opportunity for me, I absolutely love it.”How she feels about her time in Ukraine: “Ukraine exceeded my expectations. I had a really good time here. Everyone here has been great. I have so many fans here, which is kind of weird. But It is really amazing and really cool. I was kind of nervous about coming here, it’s so far, but I was really wishing today that today was Friday because I have really enjoyed myself here.”
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