With picks and prayers illegal miners risk all for South African gold

Russia fell to Finland in the big men's hockey clash at the Winter Olympics on Wednesday, robbing the hosts of a shot at the gold they covet most, while athletes and officials reacted with shock to the deaths of protesters in neighboring Ukraine.



Their presence here is a symbol that sport can build bridges and help to bring people from different backgrounds together in peace."
Russia, and its president, Vladimir Putin, are key players in Ukraine's crisis. "The way they have continued to represent their nation with great dignity is a credit to them and their country.
Putin spoke with Yanukovich by telephone overnight.
On Wednesday, Moscow demanded Ukrainian opposition leaders "stop the bloodshed" in Kiev and said Russia would use all its influence to bring peace to its "friendly brother state".

"This is what we've been training for and we're not going to give up that easily."
Holcomb hurt his calf at the start of the second heat in the two-man competition but battled on with brakeman Steve Langton to win a bronze, the first podium finish by the U.S. in the event since 1952.
He has been receiving intensive treatment and gave his crew members an extra workout in official training on Wednesday by sitting in the sled from the start.


Tens of thousands of Sri Lankan Buddhists make offerings at temples in India, where they believe Buddha lived more than 25 centuries ago, while thousands of minority Tamils and Christians from the island nation also visit their neighbour's Hindu temples and churches. Sri Lanka has used nickel and brass to its mint coins in the past - sometimes for sums higher than their face value - and is looking to cut costs, including by using stainless steel.


"Come race day, I've got a great push crew behind me, they already know that I'm a little bit behind but they're going to give everything they've got.
"This is what we've been training for and we're not going to give up that easily."
Holcomb hurt his calf at the start of the second heat in the two-man competition but battled on with brakeman Steve Langton to win a bronze, the first podium finish by the U.S. "Right now they are going to be tough to beat. in the event since 1952. But don't think for a second we're going to back off and let them just win, we will be trying our hardest to challenge them.

In a few years it will balance out when we all start to learn this track.
"Traditionally the home team always does well," Holcomb said before the start of the four-man competition on Saturday. The American knows the best cards lie with Russia's Alexander Zubkov who will start favourite to secure an Olympic double after his two-man victory on Monday.
"They have been down this track more than we have.

Sri Lanka is hoping to buy back more than 10 tonnes of coins that its pilgrims have donated at temples and churches in India to cut down on the cost of minting new rupees, the central bank said on Wednesday.

"It's getting better, but it's tricky because you start to feel good and as soon as you think you feel good is when you go out and hurt it again. I don't want to strain it any more than I have."
Holcomb's victory in Vancouver four years ago ended a 62-year wait for gold for the U.S. in the event but Zubkov acknowledged the odds were against his rival retaining that title.

Norway triumphed again in the mixed relay biathlon, meaning that 40-year-old Ole Einar Bjoerndalen became the most decorated Winter Games athlete with his 13th Olympic medal and joined compatriot and former cross-country skier Bjorn Daehli on a record eight golds.
There was a rare sight at the speed skating arena as the person on top of the podium was not Dutch - Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic retaining her 5,000 meters title.


"I cannot believe it's happened and we are in such a difficult situation today," said Bubka, also an adviser to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, against whom much of the anti-government protesters' ire is directed.
Former pole vault champion and Ukraine's Olympic chief Sergey Bubka, in Sochi for the Games, expressed bewilderment at how events in Kiev and elsewhere had spiraled out of control. "We're getting support from the Russian spectators and I'm grateful for that," the 18-year-old added.


"Monetary value won't be so much. That is why we thought of bringing them back," central bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said, without elaborating on the minting cost. Now Sri Lanka has sent a team to work with Indian authorities to bring home between 10 and 20 tonnes of the Sri Lankan rupees from the places of worship. But if you going to mint those coins again, that will cost us a substantial sum of money.


"Come race day, I've got a great push crew behind me, they already know that I'm a little bit behind but they're going to give everything they've got. "They have been down this track more than we have. But don't think for a second we're going to back off and let them just win, we will be trying our hardest to challenge them.
"Right now they are going to be tough to beat. In a few years it will balance out when we all start to learn this track.

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