RIO DE JANEIRO -- Just weeks ahead of the Olympic Games, police helicopters are grounded, patrol cars are parked and Rio de Janeiros security forces are so pressed for funds that some have to beg for donations of pens, cleaning supplies and even toilet paper, fueling worries about safety at the worlds premier sporting event. Rick Barry Warriors Jersey .Brazil is suffering the worst recession in decades and Rios acting governor has declared a state of financial disaster this month, largely to bolster spending on security as the worlds spotlight turns to the city.How are people going to feel protected in a city without security, Gov. Francisco Dornelles told Rios O Globo newspaper. We can have a great Olympics, but if some steps arent taken, it can be a big failure.Rio state has slashed budgets across the board, including that of the police. Helicopters have been grounded and more than half of the civil polices fleet of cars has been idled in a bid to save on gas. Even officers salaries have been delayed.Angry civil police officers staged a strike on Monday, with one contingent greeting visitors at Rios international airport with a sign reading, in English, Welcome to Hell. Police and firefighters dont get paid; Whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe.The cuts have led to a very big crisis in ... the self-esteem of the policemen, said Ilona Szabo, executive director of the Instituto Igarape, a Rio-based security and social issues think tank.Even so, she said the sheer number of officers on the streets should help avoid a major security breech at Olympic sites and in Rios beachfront neighborhoods. Olympic officials insist Rios fiscal problems wont affect security for the games.Some 85,000 police and soldiers -- roughly twice the security contingent at the London Olympics -- are to be deployed during the Aug. 5-21 games, which are expected to draw an estimated 350,000-500,000 foreigners to a city of 12 million people where armed muggings, stray bullets and turf wars between heavily armed drug gangs are routine.Rios civil police, who oversee investigations while the military police handle patrols, acknowledged in a statement that some stations are receiving donated office supplies.In March, the head of the police station here came to me and said she didnt even have paper to print out the incident reports, said Maria Thereza Sombra, an 81-year-old former teacher who heads the neighborhood association in Rios tony Morro da Viuva area. Thats how far weve fallen. Ive never seen it this bad.The recession that saw Brazils economy shrink by 4 percent last year has taken a particularly tough toll on Rio. During the boom years, the state awarded billions in tax exemptions to companies ranging from industrial giants to small-scale jewelry dealers, nightclubs, restaurants and love hotels. Tax revenues sunk further with the fall of oil prices that fund much of the states budget.Local newspapers recently reported that the balance in state coffers had dwindled at one point to around $10,000. The salaries of some state workers are being paid in installments and some retirees are now receiving their pensions months late.Gov. Dornelles last week declared a state of financial disaster that paved the way for 2.9 billion Brazilian real ($860 million) in emergency aid from the federal government. The funds are earmarked for Olympic security -- fanning hopes that the situation of Rios beleaguered police may improve.In the meantime, donations continue to provide a lifeline for some police stations.Sombra said her neighborhood association turned to local residents for help. Nows the time for us all to unite.The association papered buildings with appeals for donations: paper towels, paper clips, pens and even toilet paper.Some people grumbled. They said, `I already pay taxes, so why should I have to go into my pocket again for this? And I say, `If you get carjacked and you need an incident report for your insurance and the cops cant print it, are you going to be worried about your taxes then? Sombra asked.Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso declined multiple requests for an interview. He was quoted in a recent interview in O Globo as saying, Were at the limit of our operational capacity, and I cant discard the possibility of a collapse.Theres no way to avoid thinking about more cuts, and these cuts will impact our final product, which is serving the population, he said, adding, Weve had to revise everything, even our operations during the Olympic Games.Beth Penna Pereira, a psychologist from Rios high-end Leblon neighborhood, experienced the cuts first hand when her purse was stolen at a neighborhood bakery. When she went to the local precinct to report the incident she left empty-handed.We dont have paper for the incident report. None of the printers are working ... We havent received any supplies for a while, she recalled the officer saying.Im feeling more insecure, more unprotected, more helpless, she said. Tim Hardaway Jersey . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Stephen Curry Jersey . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. http://www.nbawarriorsauthority.com/t-shirts-c-1/ . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. With yet another seam bowler sustaining a hamstring injury, the elation following Sri Lankas victory in Pallekele has become mild trepidation ahead of the second Test in Galle. For Nuwan Pradeep to play the second Test, he will require an extraordinary recovery. Having won a match after collapsing for 117 already this series, Sri Lanka are not expecting a second miracle in the space of a week.If Pradeep is out, the bowlers in triage can now be said to match the quality of the attack Sri Lanka will be forced to field for the second Test. Each of Sri Lankas three best quicks - including Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera - will be unavailable, as well as Suranga Lakmal and legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay. Captain Angelo Mathews said the increased burden on Pradeep through the England tour, had probably led to the latest injury.Workload plays a huge role in their injuries, he said. If you talk to physio and trainer, they will say with the amount of cricket we play, workload management is important. We had to go with the same lot of fast bowlers for every game in England, and thats why, probably, they got injured.Now, were in the same situation as in the last match. Were waiting till tomorrow to get an opinion from the physio and trainer on Pradeep. If he doesnt play, we have Vishwa Fernando.Australia have also had to make an injury-forced change, flying in left-arm spinner Jon Holland, who is now a certainty to feature in Galle. Sri Lankas batsmen have, in the past, attempted to take advantage of such situations by attacking the new man in the opposition XI, but Mathews has advocated a more cautious approach.He looks a tall left-arm spinner who lands it on the spot, and to play Test cricket for Australia, hes got to be good, Mathews said. We dont have much video, but saw a bit and we know what to expect of him.In Test cricket, you cant go after a bowler the whole day. Youve got to plaay him on merit, take a look at him initially, and see what he has to offer. Zaza Pachulia Jersey. On these wickets, youve got to see what he bowls and what pace he bowls and how he turns the ball. Those things will give you a fair idea how to play him.Mathews admitted that Sri Lanka had thought about replacing one of their two misfiring openers from the Pallekele Test, with Dimuth Karunaratnes place under particular scrutiny. Sri Lankan surfaces have been tough on openers from every team over the past few years, however, with first-wicket stands averaging only 25.82 since January 2012. That figure is easily the lowest in all nations, save for Zimbabwe, which has seen substantially less cricket in that time.We had a chat with the selectors about the openers, and we just want to try and give the boys another opportunity, Mathews said. We want to keep the winning combination going. If at all we need any changes, we will do that, but as of now, were not thinking of any changes in the top order.Australia faltered against spin in Pallekele, but Mathews remained wary of the opposition top orders quality. Sri Lanka are set to field three spinners again, the dramatic turn of left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan to complement gentler, probing offerings from Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera.You cant write the Australians off against Herath, he said. They came up with a different strategy in the second innings, like using the crease a lot, and sweeping him a little bit. We have got to be cautious. They didnt get runs, but they are a very attacking top order and the guys who didnt get runs in Pallekele, we have to be cautious of. Its a tough place to play spin here. It will turn more than in Pallekele I reckon, but we still need to bowl in the right areas to take wickets. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' ' 

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