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WASHINGTON -- If Stephen Harper or Barack Obama plan to do any Olympics-watching next February, theyll be staring at a screen and not from the stands. The Canadian and American leaders both announced Wednesday that they will not be attending the Games, prompting speculation of an international snub over Russias gay-rights record. Harpers office announced the news discreetly, in a late-evening email. The message from the Prime Ministers Office noted that Harper has gone to only one Olympics since he took office, and that lone exception was for obvious reasons. "He normally does not attend (Vancouver was an exception because Canada was the host)," a prime ministerial spokesman said in an email. That news came several hours after the United States delivered a more conspicuous message. For the first time since 2000, the U.S. will not send a president, former president, first lady or vice-president to the Games. Also, the small U.S. delegation for the opening and closing ceremonies will include two openly gay athletes. Those athletes, tennis legend Billie Jean King and hockey player Caitlin Cahow, will be joined by figure skater Brian Boitano, former cabinet secretary Janet Napolitano, a presidential advisor, and the U.S. ambassador to Russia. An Obama spokesman was asked at the daily White House press briefing whether the delegation was intended to make a political point. While he said such a message would not be sent "through this manner," his response also repeatedly referred to "diversity" -- a word Obamas spokesman mentioned seven times in his answers. "This delegation represents the diversity that is the United States," said presidential spokesman Jay Carney. "Every member of that delegation is extremely accomplished, either in government service or in civic activism or, most especially, in sports. So hes very proud of the delegation and the diversity it represents. And he looks forward, as every American does, to the competition and to the effort that American athletes will demonstrate when they compete in Sochi." Obamas spokespeople said his schedule would not allow him to attend. However, Carney also added that the president has been clear that he "finds it offensive, the anti-LGBT legislation in Russia," as well as the harassment caused to those who protest corruption there. Russia has come under fierce criticism for passing national laws banning "gay propaganda." For its part, the Canadian government said its delegation choices will be announced soon. When asked whether they should be interpreted as carrying a human-rights message, Harper spokesman Jason MacDonald replied: "No. Were not in a position to comment on who our representatives will be." France and Germany are among the other countries who will not send their presidents to Sochi for the Games. Earlier this month, IOC President Thomas Bach said Russia would set up public protest zones in Sochi for "people who want to express their opinion or want to demonstrate for or against something." Meanwhile, the IOC approved a letter going out to athletes reminding them to refrain from protests or political gestures during the Sochi Games -- reiterating Rule 50 of the Olympic charter, which forbids demonstrations on Olympic grounds. Bach had previously said hed received assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin that gays will not be discriminated against in Sochi. On Thursday, Putin reiterated those assurances, saying it is Russias responsibility as host of the Games to ensure equal conditions for all the athletes. "The main thing for us is the good organization of these competitions, the creation of equal terms for all athletes," he told a Moscow news conference. But the Russian law has raised questions about what could happen to athletes who wear pins or badges or carry flags supporting gay rights. The U.S. Olympic Committee made no comment about the sexual orientation of the delegation Wednesday. In a nod to its disapproval of the law, however, the USOC recently revised its non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation. Earlier this year, Obama rejected the idea of a U.S. boycott of the Olympics despite a number of differences with Russia, including the anti-gay law. Wednesdays announcement, however, represented an unmistakable break with recent precedent: In Vancouver, Vice-President Joe Biden led the delegation, and in 2012, first lady Michelle Obama held the honour. The announcement prompted an enthusiastic response from the Human Rights Campaign, which recently sent a letter urging Obama to include gays and lesbians in the U.S. delegation. "Its a positive sign to see openly gay representatives in the delegation," said spokesman Michael Cole-Schwartz. "Hopefully it sends a message to the Russian people and the rest of the world that the United States values the civil and human rights of LGBT people." King made an explicit point about human rights Wednesday, saying she was "deeply honoured" to be named to the delegation. "I am equally proud to stand with the members of the LGBT community in support of all athletes who will be competing in Sochi and I hope these Olympic Games will indeed be a watershed moment for the universal acceptance of all people," she said. King, who won Wimbledon 20 times in singles and doubles categories, will attend the opening ceremony. Brandon Tanev Jersey .Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been neck and neck all season, with 17 points separating the rivals and double points on offer for the race.Tensions between them have spilled over during the campaign and the pairs fragile relationship was evident during Thursdays pre-race news conference, when Rosberg goaded Hamilton by advising him to race cleanly. Pittsburgh Penguins Gear .S. President Barack Obama saluted the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks at the White House on Monday -- a rare moment for a president hungry to see more victorious teams from his hometown. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/401q...y-penguins.html. Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said. Rick Macleish Jersey . George Hill had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who stayed atop the overall NBA standings despite losing twice on their West Coast trip. Los Angeles kept it close into the second half before the Pacers finished an easy win over the injury-riddled Lakers, who have lost five straight. Rick Tocchet Jersey ." Bach is in Rome for the European Olympic Committees general assembly and meetings with Pope Francis. He also visited with Italian Premier Enrico Letta. "The prime minister appeared to be interested in a bid from Italy for 24, because he has realized that the games can serve as a catalyst for development for a city and a country," Bach told The Associated Press on Saturday.GATINEAU, Que. -- Louis-Philip Guindon stopped all 33 shots he faced as the Drummondville Voltigeurs blanked the host Gatineau Olympiques 4-0 on Sunday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. Frederick Gaudreau scored once and set up two more for the Voltigeurs (22-11-2), who won their third game in a row, while Giovanni Fiore added a goal and an assist. Matthew Boudens and Jerome Verrier also scored for Drummondville and Nikolas Brouillard tacked on two assists. Alexandre Chenier-Allard led the Olympiques (22-13-0) with seven shots on net. Gatineaus Robert Steeves allowed four goals on 14 shots and was replaced by Anthony Brodeur, who stopped all seven shots he faced in 20 minutes of relief. The Voltigeurs went 1 for 6 on the power play while the Olympiques failed to score on eight chances with the man advantage. --- SCREAMING EAGLES 5 ISLANDERS 3 SYDNEY, N.S. -- Cape Breton scored three times with the power play en route to defeating Charlottetown. Jeremy Beaudry, Charles-Eric Legare and Clark Bishop scored with the man advantage for the Screaming Eagles (19-12-3) while Cameron Darcy scored even strength and Kyle Farrell added another into an empty net. Matej Beran, Yan Pavel Laplante and Daniel Sprong supplied the scoring for the Islanders (14-17-5), who have just one win in their last 10 outings. Chase Marchand made 32 saves for Cape Breton as Eric Brassard turned away 25-of-29 shots for Charlottetown. --- DRAKKAR 5 REMPARTS 2 QUEBEC CITY -- Jeremy Gregoire scored twice and set up another as Baie-Comeau toppled the Remparts. Frederic Gamelin had a goal and and two assists for the Drakkar (23-8-4) while Alexis Vanier and Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau each scored once. Quebec (18-11-6) got goals form Zachery Moody and Anthony Latina. Baie-Comeaus Philippe Cadorette made 27 saves for the victory..dddddddddddd. Francois Brassard gave up four goals on 15 shots and was left on the bench for the third period. Callum Booth replaced Brassard and stopped 10-of-11 shots in relief. --- TITAN 4 ARMADA 3 (SO) BOISBRIAND, Que. -- Joel Blanchard scored the winner in the sixth round of the shootout as Acadie-Bathurst edged the QMJHLs top club, the Armada. Alexandros Soumakis, Gabriel Gosselin and Patrick Walsh scored in regulation for the Titan (14-18-3). Frederic Bergeron scored twice for Blainville-Boisbriand (23-5-7), who hold a three-point lead on the Baie-Comeau Drakkar for first in league standings, while Marcus Hinds had a goal and an assist. Acadie-Bathursts Mason McDonald made 24 saves for the win as Guillaume Decelles stopped 23 shots for the Armada. --- PHOENIX 3 HUSKIES 2 (OT) SHERBROOKE, Que. -- Simon Desbiens scored at 4:16 of overtime and Francis Desrosiers turned away 39 shots as the Phoenix slipped past Rouyn-Noranda. Daniel Audette and Dominic Talbot-Tassi scored in regulation for Sherbrooke (13-20-3) and Tim Wieser chipped in with two assists. Quinn OBrien and Jean-Sebastien Dea had a goal each for the Huskies (20-10-4). Rouyyn-Norandas Alexandre Belanger made 24 saves in a losing cause. --- FOREURS 7 TIGRES 5 VICTORIAVILLE, Que. -- Defenceman Randy Gazzola scored three times and added an assist as Val-dOr handed the Tigres their third straight defeat. Nicolas Aube-Kubel had a pair of goals for the Foreurs (24-11-1) and Louick Marcotte had a goal and two assists. Timotej Sille scored once and Guillaume Gelinas helped out with three assists. Tommy Veilleux, John Bowen, Mark Trickett, Matthew Boudreau and Jan Mandat scored for Victoriaville (13-17-4). Keven Bouchard made 25 saves for Val-dOr while Brandon Whitney allowed seven goals on 40 shots for the Tigres. --- ' ' '