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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Not even a day after his arrival in Rio de Janeiro and just hours after attending the Brazil-England soccer friendly at the citys legendary Maracana stadium, a sports columnist for the Daily Mail newspaper was held up at knifepoint as he strolled along Copacabana Beach. Adrian Durham darted into oncoming traffic to get away, and in the end the would-be mugger didnt make off with anything. But the June 2 incident, which Durham described in a recent column, has served as a warning for the tens of thousands of foreign visitors expected to flood into Brazil for this weeks Confederations Cup soccer tournament. Its only the first of a series of high-profile events Rios is gearing up to host, among them a papal visit in July, next years World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Security has long been a major problem in Brazil, where heavily armed drug lords control swaths of territory that are off-limits to law enforcement and where petty crime often turns fatal. As part of its Olympic bid, Brazils government pledged to curb the violence, and major strides have been made in recent years, particularly in Rio, where the police are now present in more than 200 hillside "favela" slums. But the country still has an alarmingly high murder rate, and knife- and gun-point muggings, carjackings and armed robberies continue to be facts of daily life. Rio alone has seen a spate of recent incidents, including the March gang rape of an American student aboard a public transit van and the shooting last Saturday of a Brazilian engineer who, because of faulty signs, took a wrong turn and drove into an unpacified favela. Brazilian officials have brought in drones, thermal cameras and thousands of troops to patrol the six stadiums hosting Confederations Cup events. But experts say visitors like Durham will be immediately vulnerable once they venture away from secured areas, and in fact, may run even a greater risk than usual, with many police having been called off their regular street duties to patrol the stadiums environs. "Street lighting and police presence need to be stepped up dramatically before the World Cup -- and then the Olympics -- come here," Durham wrote in his column. "Attitudes need to change -- locals clearly just accept that crime happens and have no desire to tackle it." Brazils epidemic of everyday violence makes ensuring security at the upcoming mega-events doubly complicated: Not only must officials plan for threats such as terrorism that overshadow any event of global scale, they also have to keep a lid on day-to-day violence, which some observers predict could reach a fever pitch with the influx of an estimated 60,000 foreign tourists. Officials said theyve already deployed the most extensive security apparatus ever in Brazil for the Confederations Cup, a two-week tournament thats regarded as a dry run for next years World Cup. "We are strongly concerned with ensuring safety and security to all our athletes, tourists, heads of state and delegations," Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo told reporters on a conference call earlier this week. "Special attention is given to this matter particularly in light of prior tragedies" like the slaying of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the Boston Marathon bombings in April. Some 45,000 personnel will be deployed in the tournaments six host cities, according to SESGE, the government agency created in 2011 to co-ordinate security at the mega-events. That means a hodgepodge of Brazilian law enforcement agencies, from federal and state police officers to municipal guards to highway patrol, will be patrolling key sites such as airports and stadium surroundings. Inside the venues, world soccers governing body, FIFA, will rely on private guards. According to SESGE, one guard will be assigned for every 50 spectators at the matches, which kick off on Saturday when Brazil plays Japan in the tournaments opening game in the capital, Brasilia. In addition to 3,500 military police officers, the security detail at Saturdays match will also include a battalion of riot police with two armoured vehicles, a canine unit of sniffer dogs trained to detect drugs and explosives as well as eight sharpshooters, said Fabio Pizetta, the head of Brazilias riot police division. The crackdown will also make use of the latest technology, with stadium fly-overs by Air Force fighter jets and helicopters kitted out with surveillance equipment including high-resolution, night-vision and thermal cameras, SESGE has said. Nearby buses will receive the surveillance images and help co-ordinate any police response. The police have also been purchasing unmanned drones, which they may deploy during Pope Francis July 22-28 visit to Rio, as well as during the World Cup, media reports have suggested. In total, the government is expected to invest around $550 million in public security for the Confederations Cup and the World Cup, according to SESGE. Despite the investment, security experts assessments of the Brazilian strategy remain mixed. Joe Biundini, who heads the FAM International Group security firm, said he didnt anticipate any issues inside the stadiums but was worried about the potential terror threat posed by Brazils porous, 15,700 kilometre-long land border. Although Brazil has never before been the target of an international terror attack, he said, the Boston Marathon bombings showed big sporting events are prime targets. "The borders arent as secure as they could be. Right now, the door to Brazil is wide open," said Biundini, a Brazilian-born former U.S. marine whose company has studied security risks in the Confederations Cup. Biundini added that the terror threat could come from the notoriously crime ridden tri-border region where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet. "Theres real potential there for the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction" through the area, he said. With public security forces concentrated around the stadiums, public transit hubs and other outlying areas could become more vulnerable to potential attacks, as well as to petty criminals, Biundini said. Authorities have promised to beef up personnel at airports by more than 75 per cent during the Confederations Cup, but ground has yet to be broken on many planned renovations aimed at making the host cities cramped, outdated airports safer and more comfortable. "I think the plan they have in place is good on paper, but whether it actually works will depend on communication" between at least 12 different government agencies with roles in the security detail, Biundini said. "Theyll certainly make lots of mistakes (during the Confederations Cup) but hopefully theyll learn from them for the World Cup." Nike Zoom For Sale . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Nike Zoom Online Shop . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. http://www.wholesalenikezoom.com/ . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Nike Zoom Sale . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. Nike Zoom Clearance . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. SEATTLE -- Behind Thomas Rawls bouncing off and through tacklers and a big-play punch from Tyler Lockett, the Seattle Seahawks rediscovered their offensive star power on Sunday night.It came at a significant cost to their defense.Rawls ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, Lockett took a reverse 75 yards for a score to open the second half and the Seahawks routed the Carolina Panthers 40-7 on Sunday night.The victory was clouded by the loss of standout safety Earl Thomas for the rest of the regular season at least to a broken tibia in the first half. While coach Pete Carroll did not have a timeline, he expected the injury to be six weeks at the minimum.Earls been a fixture here for a long time. Hes missed two games in his life playing football in the last couple of weeks. Were going to miss him enormously, Carroll said.Another prime-time game in Seattle was provided with odd story lines right from the outset when Carolina quarterback Cam Newton was benched for the first play, only to watch backup Derek Anderson throw an interception . It was the start of miserable night for Carolina (4-8) and a laugher that moved Seattle (8-3-1) one step closer to the NFC West title.I think there was a lack of communication on my part. I think I have to be accountable to know certain things, Newton said.Rawls and the run game set the tone for Seattle, gashing the second-best run defense in the NFL for 240 yards. Carolina entered the week giving up less than 80 yards per game on the ground.Rawls finished with 106 yards on 15 carries, quiet in the second half after briefly being checked for a concussion. He was just the second 100-yard rusher for the Seahawks, who have struggled on the ground this season. Rawls 8-yard run gave Seattle an early 10-0 lead and his 45-yard sprint early in the second quarter pushed it to 17-7.I have to let it come to me and then take it after I get past those big boys, Rawls said. The guys up front did a tremendous job. They were phenomenal.Russell Wilson was 26 of 36 for 277 yards and a 1-yard scoring pass to Jimmy Graham in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks rolled up a season-high 534 yards and kept a three-game lead over Arizona in the division with four games remaining.Thomas broke the bone in a first-half collision with teammate Kam Chancellor while trying to intercept Newtons pass. Thomas hobbled off, putting no weight on the leg, and X-rays revealed the fracture.You cant really tell where people are. We were both trying to make a play, Chancellor ssaid.dddddddddddd. Its hard to see your brother go down like that.On the play after Thomas injury, Newton hit Ted Ginn Jr. on a 55-yard touchdown pass to pull the Panthers to 10-7. It would be the only highlight for Carolina.Rawls immediately answered, darting through the Carolina defense for a 45-yard touchdown run and a 17-7 lead. Steven Hauschka added two more field goals before halftime and Lockett raced 75 yards on a reverse on the first play of the second half. In less than 10 minutes of game time, Seattle extended the lead to 30-7.I think I finally got to hit that extra gear that Ive been waiting on, Lockett said.Newtons benching was for a dress code violation -- he did not have a necktie for the team flight -- and the single play he missed could not have gone worse. Anderson rolled out to throw a pass to Mike Tolbert. It bounced off Tolberts hands and into the arms of Mike Morgan, a disastrous result for that only added to questions about coach Ron Riveras intention with the punishment.Newton finished 14 of 32 for 182 yards.I treat him like I do all the other players on the team and he didnt start, Rivera said.LOPSIDED RESULTIt was seventh meeting in the past five years between the Seahawks and Panthers, playoffs included. It was the first time of the seven the game was decided by more than 14 points. Five of the previous six were decided by seven points or fewer. The biggest win during the stretch was Seattles 31-17 win in the 2014 playoffs.BATTERED PANTHERSCarolinas injury list grew again.The Panthers were already without starters Kurt Coleman and Luke Kuechly (concussions) and defensive end Mario Addison (foot) on defense, and right tackle Daryl Williams (ankle) on offense. Carolina then lost cornerback Daryl Worley and linebacker David Mayo to concussions against the Seahawks.THOMAS TWEETSOne of the most emotional players on Seattles roster, Thomas hinted at retirement in a tweet sent just before halftime.This game has been so good to me no regrets. A lot is running through my mind including retirement thanks for all the prayers, Thomas tweeted from the Seattle locker room.Thomas missed the first game of his career last week at Tampa Bay due to a hamstring injury.UP NEXTPanthers: Carolina returns home and hosts San Diego.Seahawks: Seattle travels to Green Bay.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '