RIO DE JANEIRO - Rio de Janeiro will not make good on its Olympic pledge of slashing the flow of raw sewage and garbage into the Guanabara Bay, where the 2016 games sailing and wind surfing competitions are to be held, the states top environmental official acknowledged Friday.Brazilian officials promise to cut the flow of pollutants into the bay by 80 per cent was a key part of the citys Olympic bid document and widely held up as among the most enduring legacies of the games. But with just 1 1/2 years to go before the showcase event, it has become increasingly clear that the target wouldnt be met.Rios new state Environment Secretary, Andre Correa, told reporters he couldnt provide an estimate of how much officials would actually succeed in cutting the flow of pollutants into the bay.Removing 80 per cent of the pollutants? Its not going to happen, its not going to happen, said Correa, who took office earlier this month.Still, he insisted that regardless of how far the cleanup progresses, the Olympic events wont be compromised.From the point of view of the Olympics, the point of view of water quality, what Ive said about the 80 per cent does not at all affect the courses for the sailing events, Correa said. Theres no big risk for sailors having troubles with illnesses and such things.Im not worried about the water quality in those areas, Im much more worried about floating garbage there, he said, adding that the so-called eco-barriers, nets that are strung along the mouth of rivers and meant to filter out garbage before it enters the bay, arent working well at all.Im going to change that, he promised.Sailors associations have expressed reservations about water quality as well as the garbage, both of which they say could harm sailors health. Olympic sailors have described the 2016 venue as a sewer, complaining of the stench at the events main venue, the Gloria Marina, and describing having to dodge floating sofas, animal carcasses, and plastic trash bags that foul rudders in the open waters. A few sailors have said they got sick after falling into the bay.Correa said he wasnt sure whether Olympic authorities have been informed that the cleanup pledge will not be met.With most of the sewage in the greater Rio area flowing untreated into area rivers, its showcase beaches and the bay, Correa estimated a $3.8 billion investment would be needed to bring sewerage to the entire metropolitan area. With no timetable for the release of such sums, its unclear when that might happen, he said.The bay cleanup has been a sore spot in Rios fitful Olympic preparations almost since the city won the games back in 2009. Environmentalists have consistently warned that even with the clock ticking, nearly nothing has been done.Last year, The Associated Press obtained a letter to then-Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo, in which Rios states former environment secretary acknowledged in a best-case scenario that pollution flowing into the bay could be cut to over 50 per cent — well below the promised reduction of 80 per cent. Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes later said he was sorry that we did not use the games to get Guanabara Bay completely clean.Rios pledges to clean up the bay stretch back decades, with generous funding consistently reaping little in the way of concrete advances. While the decline of industry in Rio helped cut down on the levels of heavy metals in the bay, the galloping spread of informal, unplanned favela slums and other settlements has helped turn much of the once-crystalline bay into a virtual open sewer. An overpowering stench emanates from much of the bay, and beaches are off-limits for swimmers. Tons of household trash line the bays coastline and form islands of refuse. Marquise Brown Jersey . Durant had 33 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, hit the tying 3-pointer late in regulation and made the go-ahead foul shots in overtime to lift the Thunder past the Wizards 106-105. John Wall missed a driving layup attempt at the buzzer for Washington, which was seeking its third straight win. Wholesale Ravens Jerseys . 1 overall pick in the draft by the Houston Texans, is recovering from sports hernia surgery. http://www.cheapravensjerseysauthentic.c...sorley-jersey.A. Happ. The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to improve the starting rotation ahead of next season and pitchers like Happ have a chance to show they belong as the disastrous 2013 campaign draws to a close. Joe Flacco Jersey . -- Kole Calhoun homered and drove in three runs, Albert Pujols also went deep and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 Friday night. Iman Marshall Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday.TORONTO -- After months of speculation, Toronto FC is finally set to introduce the men it hopes will take the underachieving MLS team to the promised land -- England international striker Jermain Defoe and U.S. international midfielder Michael Bradley. The club has already announced the signing of Defoe, with the 31-year-old Spurs star set to be unveiled at a news conference Monday morning at the huge high-tech sports bar owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment across the street from the Air Canada Centre. The invitation said nothing about the 26-year-old Bradley although his former club AS Roma has already announced the American has been sold to Major League Soccer for US$10 million. A source confirmed that Bradleys signing is part of Mondays TFC gala. The black hole surrounding Bradley is likely linked to the fact that Defoes signing brings Toronto to the league limit of three designated players, adding to newly signed Brazilian striker Gilberto and incumbent Argentine midfielder Matias Laba. Bradley would make four, meaning Toronto has to do something with Laba, either trading him or restructuring his deal short of MLS changing its rules -- which has happened before. The current DP rule allows teams to sign marquee talent without blowing the leagues modest salary cap. In 2013, only US$368,750 of a senior designated players pay counted against a teams US$2.95-million salary cap. The wave of signings -- the 24-year-old Gilberto arrived last month -- essentially represents a Toronto FC line in the sand after a sad-sack seven-year existence. Since entering MLS in 2007, Toronto has compiled a 51-105-66 league record with players and coaches coming and going through an always-moving revolving door. The team has yet to make the post-season -- something both Vancouver and Montreal have done -- and its once formidable fan support has slipped to the 10th-best attendance in the 19-team league. Enter first manager Ryan Nelsen and president Kevin Payne, then MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke. Payne did not last the 2013 season but Leiweke hired GM Tim Bezbatchenko and elected to keep Nelsen. The three amigos then went on a worldwide talent, backed by the deep pockets of the MLSE board. Toronto has not disclosed financial details of the recent acquisitions but Bradleys transfer fee alone exceeds the 2013 salaries listed for Clint Dempsey and Thierry Henry, the leagues highest-paid players. Add in Defoes transfer fee, pegged at between six million and eight million pounds (C$10.8 million to C$14.4 million) and lengthy contracts reportedly worth C$7.1 million a year for Bradley and C$8.3 million for Defoe, and Toronto is entering a whole new financial zip code in MLS. The worlds best soccer players are paid crazy money. Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, reportedly makes 288,000 pounds a week (C$517,845) after taxes. Toronto likely overpaid to get both Defoe and Bradley to come to North America, which has yet to match the top leagues elsewhere in terms of reputation, competition or compensation. In exchange for a huge outlay, Toronto is gettting battle-hardened internationals from two of the finest leagues in the world.dddddddddddd And both arrive at or near their peak. Defoe is a proven goal-scorer who left home at 14 after winning a scholarship to the F.A. National School of Excellence at Lilleshall and signed his first pro deal at 16. Bradley, the son of former U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley, left home at 13 to join the U.S. residency program, before signing with the MLS MetroStars at 16 and moving to Europe at 18 to become an influential midfield general. Gilberto has largely been forgotten in the recent hoopla but the young striker scored 14 goals for a team headed for relegation out of Brazils top league this season. One ranking TFC official predicted Gilberto may score more goals than Defoe. Add in former league MVP Dwayne De Rosario and the off-season acquisitions of Brazilian midfielder Jackson and U.S., international fullback Justin Morrow to a young roster and there is reason to hope. Stil not everyone is convinced coming to Toronto make sense for any other reason than money. "Defoe, to put it bluntly, is joining a club where the limitations are limitless," wrote Daniel Taylor in a blog for Englands Guardian newspaper. "A club with plenty of cash and a showy front but nothing behind it, like a Kinder chocolate egg with no toy inside -- the equivalent in standard, you could say, of a side in the bottom six of the (English second-tier) Championship, if you were putting it generously." Defoe, for his part, says there are several reasons for coming. One was the offer of a new four-year deal when he only had one year left at Spurs. But he also cited his family, which has endured a string of personal tragedies in recent years. Defoe had to fly home from Englands training base in Poland before Euro 2012 when his father died of throat cancer. Later that summer, his cousin Hannah was electrocuted in a freak accident at a pool in St Lucia. His half-brother Jade, a musician, died after a brutal street attack in 2009 and Jades grandmother died after collapsing at the funeral. A 78-year-old cousin was stabbed to death in 2011 at his home in St. Lucia, where Defoes family is from. "On a personal note, the things that weve been through over the last few years in the family and sometimes it is nice to have a change," Defoe told Sky Sports News before flying to Toronto. "I only had a year left on my contract at Tottenham and that was the situation. So I supposed. If youve got a year left and someone comes in and offers you four, then I suppose youve got to think about it and consider your options. So its as simple as that." Leaving Tottenham after nine years wont be easy, he added. "Ive always said Ive had a special relationship with the fans over the years but you know its football, players move on," he said. "I think at the age of 31 its a great opportunity for me and my family." Defoe will return to England and Spurs after Mondays news conference. He will stay with Tottenham through the end of February. Stitched College JerseysCheap UCLA JerseysNCAA Louisville Cardinals JerseysNorth Carolina Jerseys Stitched Kentucky Wildcats JerseysStitched Alabama Crimson Tide JerseysCheap Basketball Wisconsin Badgers JerseysAuthentic NCAA Jerseys StoreWholesale Basketball NCAA JerseysCheap Duke GearStitched Alabama JerseysStitched Georgia JerseysCheap Clemson Jerseys AuthenticAuthentic Texas JerseysWholesale USC JerseysStitched Oklahoma JerseysStitched Ohio State JerseysCheap Notre Dame GearUCLA Jerseys From ChinaCheap Louisville Jerseys Free ShippingCheap North Carolina Jerseys AuthenticCheap Kentucky Jerseys AuthenticWisconsin Jerseys From ChinaCheap Michigan GearCheap Florida GearWholesale Arizona State JerseysCheap LSU GearCheap Auburn GearCheap California Jerseys Free ShippingCheap Miami Jerseys AuthenticCheap Michigan State GearCheap Tennessee Jerseys AuthenticTexas A&M Jerseys From ChinaAuthentic Wake Forest JerseysWest Virginia Jerseys From China ' ' '