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SOCHI, Russia -- IOC President Thomas Bach accused world leaders Tuesday of using the Sochi Olympics as a political platform "on the backs of the athletes," and of snubbing the games without even being invited. Three days before the opening of Russias first Winter Games, Bach used a hard-hitting speech to call out politicians for using the Olympics to make an "ostentatious gesture" serving their own agendas. Without naming any individuals, Bachs comments appeared directed at President Barack Obama and European politicians who have taken stands against Russias law banning gay "propaganda" among minors. The Olympics, Bach said, should not be "used as a stage for political dissent or for trying to score points in internal or external political contests." "Have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes," he said at a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "People have a very good understanding of what it really means to single out the Olympic Games to make an ostentatious gesture which allegedly costs nothing but produces international headlines. "In the extreme, we had to see a few politicians whose contributions to the fight for a good cause consisted of publicly declining invitations they had not even received." The buildup to the Olympics has been overshadowed by Western criticism of the anti-gay law and Russias record on human rights and other issues, making Sochi among the most politically charged games in years. Obama and key European leaders are shunning the Olympics. Obama, in a clear message against the anti-gay laws, has sent a delegation to Sochi made up of three openly gay athletes -- tennis great Billie Jean King, 2006 Olympic hockey medallist Caitlin Cahow and figure skater Brian Boitano. For the first time since 2000, the U.S. delegation to an Olympics will not include a president, vice-president or first lady. Former Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano leads the delegation. German President Joachim Gauck and French President Francois Hollande are also not coming to Sochi. Neither is British Prime Minister David Cameron. Bach reiterated again that Putin had given the IOC assurances that the Olympic Charter would be upheld during the games and that homosexuals would not be discriminated against. Bach said Olympic values stand against any form of discrimination, including on grounds of sexual orientation. But he stressed the IOC must be "politically neutral without being apolitical" and that athletes must not use the Olympic Village and venues for "political demonstrations." The IOC has come under criticism for not doing more to fight the anti-gay law, but Bach said the committee was a sports organization with limited responsibilities. "We are not a supra-national government," he said. "We are not a superior world-parliament. We do not have a mandate to impose measures on sovereign states." Bachs speech was delivered at a ceremony marking the opening of the IOCs three-day session, or general assembly, ahead of the games. The Germans sharp comments marked a strong contrast with the relatively anodyne, diplomatic speeches of his predecessor, Jacques Rogge. Bach, winner of a fencing gold medal at the 1972 Olympics, was elected in September to succeed Rogge, who served for 12 years. Bach acknowledged there had been "a lot of skepticism in and outside the IOC" when Sochi was awarded the Olympics in 2007. "Now, seven years later, we can see that Sochi, that Russia has delivered," he said. Putin lauded the IOCs decision to bring the games to the Black Sea resort. "We realize what a difficult decision this was to hold the games in a city that barely had 10 to 15 per cent of the necessary infrastructure," he said. "You believed in us, you believed in the Russian character which can overcome all difficulties." "In the space of five years," Putin added, "we built world-class sports venues and city infrastructure that normally takes decades to build." Stitched NFL Jerseys . - Dolphins safety Louis Delmas has been carted off the field with a right knee injury against the Ravens. Clearance NFL Jerseys Sale . Right-hander Ricky Nolasco and the Twins agreed to terms on a free-agent contract Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. http://www.outletnfljerseys.com/.35 million. The right-hander had agreed last February to a deal that pays him $3.775 million this year and allows him to earn an additional $225,000 in bonuses based on games finished. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . This week they discuss the Philadelphia 76ers, Gregg Popovich, Royal and Ancient Golf Club and Bill Belichick. Discount NFL Jerseys . The former Toronto FC designated player played three of his 15 professional seasons with the team.PHILADELPHIA - Former Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ gets a chance to face his former club tonight when the Toronto Blue Jays continue their trip through Pennsylvania with a stop in Philadelphia. Happ will make his first start of the season and has made three appearances out of the bullpen, allowing two runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. A sore back landed Happ on the DL to start the season. Happ has four Ks and five walks on the season and the Blue Jays have lost all three games the left-hander has competed in. He played with the Phillies from 2007 through parts of 2010 before being traded to Houston, and has won both of his starts in this series, accumulating a 2.19 ERA in 12 1/3 frames. Toronto is coming off a 7-2 victory of the Pirates on Sunday. Colby Rasmus belted a grand slam in the second inning and finished with three hits and two runs scored. Melky Cabrera also had three hits, including a two-run homer in the fifth inning, for the Blue Jays, who won for just the third time in the last 11 games. Dustin McGowan was solid on the mound for the Jays, tossing seven innings of one-run ball and allowing just three hits with five strikeouts and three walks. "It was good to get a win for this team," said McGowan. "It was something we needed and maybe it will give us a little boost going forward." The Blue Jays are 2-4 on an eight-game road trip and will return to Rogers Centre later this week to start a nine-game homestand. They will start the stay with two games versus the Phillies. Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista has reached base in all of his 31 games this season and is batting .294 with nnine homers and 20 RBI.dddddddddddd. The Phillies and Blue Jays are meeting for the first time since Toronto won all three games at home back in 2012. The Jays are in south Philly for the first time since losing two of three games from June 25-27, 2010. Philadelphia trails the slumping Atlanta Braves, losers of six straight, by only 1 1/2 games for the NL East lead and took a three-game series from the rival Washington Nationals this weekend. In Sundays 1-0 win in the rubber match, Chase Utleys RBI single stood as the winning run and scored Jimmy Rollins, who stroked a one-out triple. Utley has reached base safely in each of his last 12 games. Phillies starter Roberto Hernandez pitched very well to the tune of seven shutout innings of four-hit ball with three strikeouts and three walks. "I think hes gotten better as weve gone along as far as command and control and really using his pitches," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said of Hernandez. Mike Adams and Antonio Bastardo got the final two outs in the eighth and closer Jonathan Papelbon worked around a hit in the ninth to post his ninth save. The Phillies have won eight of their last 12 games and will send Kyle Kendrick to the mound versus the Blue Jays. Kendrick is still searching for his first win of the season and has an 0-2 record with a 3.52 earned run average in five starts. The Phillies are 2-3 in that time. Kendrick did not figure into the decision of a 7-3 win at Los Angeles on April 24 and allowed just two runs on 10 hits and a walk over 5 2/3 frames. He has given up at least two runs in each of his past four starts (11 total). ' ' '