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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. Cheap Yeezys Real . Adding playoff teams. Monitoring instant replay from league headquarters. Possibly creating a set of guidelines to prevent locker-room bullying. Cheap Yeezy Authentic .C. -- Theyll remember the OT from the first Syracuse-Duke game -- and the Ts that decided Round 2. http://www.cheapyeezyaustralia.com/. The All-Pro left tackle agreed to a five-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday. Peters was signed for 2014, and his new deal adds four years through 2018. Yeezy Shoes Australia . “The fact that he was willing to do the deal the way we wanted it to be done showed that he wanted me to be a part of something great," Lowry said, noting that Ujiri willingness to sign off on the proposal that both Lowry and his agent presented to the GM was the final straw that convinced him to return. Yeezy Shoes Wholesale . Wawrinka, who is seeded fourth, is in the top half of the draw with Serbian Novak Djokovic. The Swiss star outlasted Djokovic in a five-set quarterfinal thriller last year and stunned Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the final to capture his first-ever Grand Slam title.MADRID, Spain -- Real Madrids attack brought one Rayo Vallecano player to tears before its defence nearly spoiled another tremendous performance from Cristiano Ronaldo in a 3-2 win on Saturday. Madrids victory kept it six points behind Spanish leader Barcelona, but only just as it nearly blew a three-goal lead during a frantic finish set off after it surrendered a pair of second-half penalties. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will have no conundrum about selecting his attack for Tuesdays Champions League match at Juventus as Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema once again showed Madrids potency up front. Rayo defender Anaitz Arbilla was in tears after being substituted in the 51st minute, moments before Jonathan Viera scored a pair of spot kicks to turn the game with Madrid on the verge of conceding an equalizer at Vallecas Stadium right to the final whistle. Coach Carlo Ancelotti called Madrids second half defensive performance "disastrous." "To think that the game is over when youre winning 3-0 is a grave error," Ancelotti said. "Its happened twice now, and I am sure it will not happen for a third time." Madrids attack picked up from Wednesdays 7-3 win over Sevilla as Luka Modric sent Ronaldo racing down the left and skipping past his marker to move clear into the area and fire the third-minute opener past goalkeeper Ruben Martinez. Bale picked out Benzema inside the area with a cross from the right to head home in the 31st for 2-0. The winger showed cleverness when he flicked a ball over Arbilla to get free along the goal-line and he picked out Ronaldo streaking into the area to fire into the top of goal in the 48th. Madrid was dominating the bottom table club until Pepe kicked out at Viera -- whose inopportune touch earlier waived off a Iago Falque goal bbecause of offside -- and Marcelo flew into Alberto Bueno to set up Vieras goals in the 53rd and 55th.dddddddddddd "Whats happened to us in these last two games is not just down to coincidence," Ancelotti said. "Weve got to change our attitude and rid ourselves of this air of superiority we have on the field." Diego Lopez certainly earned his reported salary boost as the Madrid goalkeeper got a tip to Buenos smash for it to find the post, and he recovered to save from Lass Bangoura as his 65th-minute shot ricocheted through the area on goal. Substitute Adrian Gonzalez nearly scored on his first touch, just rolling wide, as the hosts came close while goalkeeper Ruben Martinez denied Ronaldo late at the other end. Barcelona leads Atletico Madrid by four points, and Madrid by six. Atletico plays Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Earlier, Real Sociedad crushed 10-man Osasuna 5-0 ahead of its must-win Champions League game against Manchester United. Sociedad dominated the visitors at its Anoeta Stadium with Ion Ansotegi, Inigo Martinez, and Antoine Griezmann all scoring through headers from set pieces, with the last coming after Osasuna defender Jordan Loties was shown a red card. Haris Seferovic released Chori Castro to score in the 81st minute before capping the rout himself by scoring Sociedads fifth with two minutes to play. Sociedad goes into Tuesdays match against the English champions winless in the continental competition. Beto gifted a pass to Alex Lopez to score an easy goal as the Portuguese keepers glaring error allowed Celta Vigo to win 1-0 away at Sevilla, which has lost two straight. Also, Rodrigo Rios scored his sixth goal with what TV replays showed was his hand as Almeria beat Valladolid, which played with 10-men over the final 15 minutes, 1-0. ' ' '