DOHA, Qatar - Qatars sports minister says the 2022 World Cup will set a benchmark of excellence that will be almost impossible to beat and promised in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press that the Gulf nation will implement labour reforms in the next few months. [url=http://www.oilersautho

DOHA, Qatar - Qatars sports minister says the 2022 World Cup will set a benchmark of excellence that will be almost impossible to beat and promised in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press that the Gulf nation will implement labour reforms in the next few months. Drake Caggiula Jersey .Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali also insisted that Qatar wouldnt jeopardize its hosting of the World Cup and ambitions of being at the front and centre of sports by funding terrorism.He was vague on whether alcohol will be sold inside World Cup stadiums and how gay fans will be welcomed at the 2022 tournament.The minister left no doubt that Qatar wants its World Cup — financed with vast oil-and-gas wealth — to stun the world. He said the Middle East needs something like this. Its hope. Its giving the youth in this region really a positive event that can change a lot of their hopes and dreams.Qatars name is now a brand related to quality, to luxury. We will not jeopardize this brand (by) holding a World Cup that is not successful, the minister said. He anticipated that on opening night in 2022, hell be saying to himself: God help the country that will host the World Cup after us.Really. I will stick to that. You will see that we will put a benchmark that is going to be almost impossible to beat.On allegations that Qatar supports the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and other extremists, al-Ali insisted it would make no sense for a country that wants to hold the World Cup and big events almost every year to be financing terror.This is ridiculous, the minister said. The countrys ruling emir has also said Qatar doesnt support terrorists, but the minister expanded on the reasoning for that.Citing the example of Afghanistan, which became an al-Qaida and Taliban stronghold after the United States armed and financed anti-Soviet fighters there in the 1980s, the minister said: If you support any terrorist group it will not bring you any good. It is only going to haunt you one day.So we dont believe in that, we dont do that, he said. We are not ready anyway to take that risk because we know its dangerous for us.But it was al-Alis vigorous insistence that Qatar will tackle the ill-treatment of migrant workers which stood out most in the 90-minute interview in a luxury hotel overlooking the Aspire sports academy in Doha, the capital, where young players who will make up Qatars 2022 squad are being hot-housed.Qatar qualifies automatically for the tournament as hosts.The minister said his own father worked as a 12-year-old labourer in the oil industry in very hard conditions that today would be like child abuse.We understand this problem. For us, its a human question, he said. Qataris arent vicious people who are like vampires, he added. We have emotions, we feel bad.Human rights groups have documented ill-treatment in Qatar of migrant workers from Asia and Africa and conditions they say amount to forced labour.Critics accuse Qatars government of being slow to act and warn that labourers flooding into the country to build World Cup stadiums, rail networks, roads, hotels and other massive public works will be vulnerable to abuse if Qatar doesnt change and better enforce its laws. Such problems arent unique to Qatar and have long been an issue across the Gulf, but the World Cup has shone the spotlight on the 2022 host.We are under focus now which, OK, its tough, al-Ali said. It is something that really needs big, big work from us. But we are really tackling this problem face-to-face. We are not hiding.Although World Cup organizers introduced mandatory welfare obligations for contractors in the last year, changes to the labour law were only proposed by the Qatari government in May.Al-Ali said those reforms have now been through cabinet and will get final approval in the next few months.Critics say the changes dont go far enough. But al-Ali said Qatars measures could drive change across the Gulf, perhaps even upsetting some neighbours.It is going to be good for not only the labourers in Qatar but in the whole region, which might upset some people.On other issues:—Al Ali said creative solutions can be found to allow alcohol sales to visiting World Cup fans. For now, alcohol is only sold in selected Doha hotels and visitors must show their passports to enter these bars. Residents with a license to shop there can also buy alcohol in a government-run store. But World Cup organizer FIFA has a sponsorship deal with a brewer and it leaned on Brazil, the last tournament host, to allow beer sales in its 2014 World Cup stadiums. Asked specifically about alcohol in 2022 stadiums, the minister offered no guarantee.In the hotels and many areas we have alcohol but we have also our own system that people need to respect, he said. As we bid for 2022, we will respect all the rules and regulations by FIFA. We can study this and minimize the impact on our people and tradition. I think we can be creative, finding solutions for all of this. But we respect all the rules and regulations.—Asked how gay people will be welcomed in 2022, al-Ali replied: Its exactly like the alcohol question.He said Qatar doesnt want to create this impression, illusion that we dont care about our tradition and our ethical values ... We are studying all these issues. We can adapt, we can be creative to have people coming and enjoying the games without losing the essence of our culture and respecting the preference of the people coming here. I think there is a lot we can do.—The minister minimized the impact of an apparent sports boycott by two of Qatars neighbours, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. They are pulling teams from the mens World Handball Championships that Qatar is hosting in January. This follows the withdrawal of their ambassadors from Doha in March. They and Saudi Arabia, which also withdrew its ambassador, are unhappy with Qatars support of Islamist groups across the region.Still, al-Ali insisted that the handball tournament is going to be very successful and said sports should unite nations.It makes me happy when people use sports to solve differences and get together and away from politics.___Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and John Leicester at www.twitter.com/JohnLeicester Ryan Stanton Jersey . He made that dream a reality Wednesday night. Olt, who grew up in Branford, Connecticut, attended UConn and made a nearly 2 1-2 hour trek to Boston a handful of times to watch the Red Sox, belted a two-run homer, one of four hit by Cubs in a 16-9 rout that completed a three-game interleague series sweep. Yohann Auvitu Jersey . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. http://www.oilersauthority.com/authentic-anton-slepyshev-oilers-jersey/ . Browns owner Jimmy Haslam announced the move with Young on Monday during a speech at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon. LOS ANGELES -- Jaromir Jagrs second clutch goal in two nights gave the New Jersey Devils a fortunate win after they were held to 15 shots by the Los Angeles Kings. Jagr tied Gordie Howes NHL record of 121 game-winning goals by scoring 2:30 into overtime, and Cory Schneider made 34 saves to lead the Devils over the Kings 2-1 on Thursday. "We were outplayed and outshot. We shouldnt have been in the game," Jagr said. "But Cory was excellent and he kept us in the game -- especially in the first period. We should probably have lost 5-0." Jagr extended his league record for overtime goals to 18. It was his 690th overall, pulling the 41-year-old into a tie for ninth overall with former Penguins teammate Mario Lemieux. "I learned so many things from him. There arent many people lucky to play with the best player in the world," Jagr said. "I tell all the young kids, When you have a chance when you come into the league and you play with the best player in the world, watch him because you can learn a lot. I was pretty lucky to see him at his best." The Devils won in overtime for the second straight night and are 9-4-2 following an 0-4-3 start. They beat Anaheim 4-3 on Wednesday after Jagr scored the tying goal with 61 seconds left in regulation. The Devils made their first visit to Staples Center since June 11, 2012, the night the Kings beat them 6-1 to win the Stanley Cup. Last Friday, the Kings won 2-0 in New Jersey. Jagr received a holding penalty 17 seconds into overtime, but Kings captain Dustin Brown also was sent off for diving on the play -- leaving the teams to skate 3-on-3. "With all respect to Brown, I am not that strong, so I think he acted a little bit," Jagr said. "I grabbed him and held him, but I am not The Terminator." Just 13 seconds after the penalties expired, Jagr got a cross-ice pass in the low slot from Marek Zidlicky and tucked his ninth goal of the season past Ben Scrivens. "I dont know too many other players that would have had the patience to hold it and hold it that extra second. You cant teach that. Thats why hes a Hall of Fame player," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. "Its amazing what he is doing at his age, with the minutes we are loading him up with and the responsibilities we are asking of him. He played against (Anze) Kopitars line all night. Hes been incredible." The Kings were outshooting the Devils 29-6 when Ryan Carter put a high backhander past Sccrivens stick at 5:52 of the third period with defenceman Willie Mitchell screening his goalie. Mark Fayne Jersey. But the Kings pulled even 65 seconds later when Kopitars 20-foot wrist shot banked off Schneiders left arm and Justin Williams tapped in the loose puck. "I thought Ryans goal would be enough," said Schneider, who stopped a breakaway by Trevor Lewis with less than 2 minutes left in the first period. "Unfortunately we gave it right back about a minute later, but we stuck with it. We didnt get down on ourselves." The injury-depleted Kings, playing without Jeff Carter, Kyle Clifford, defenceman Matt Greene and goalie Jonathan Quick, outshot the Devils 27-5 through the first two periods. At that point, New Jerseys defencemen were outshooting the forwards 3-2. "Im happy with the effort, but not the result," Scrivens said. "We generated our fair share of chances, but we ran into a hot goalie. Schneider played a great one tonight." Lewis, still looking for his first goal of the season, stole the puck from Michael Ryder at the Kings blue line and beat him all the way down the ice before Schneider made the save on his knees with 1:53 left in the first. "We definitely got lots of shots and opportunities, but we didnt bear down on them," Kopitar said. "That was the key to their success." The Kings were 0 for 4 on the power play against the leagues least-penalized team. The Devils were 0 for 2 with the man advantage. NOTES: It was the seventh anniversary of the night Jagr broke Jari Kurris NHL record for goals by a European-born player. ... The Kings record for fewest shots allowed was 10, on Jan. 11, 1994, in a 2-2 tie at San Jose. ... Devils D Peter Harrold, who spent his first five NHL seasons with the Kings before signing with New Jersey as a free agent in August 2011, is plus-11 through his first 17 games. ... The Devils came in averaging a league-low 8.0 penalty minutes. ... Four-time Vezina Trophy winner Martin Brodeur, the NHLs career leader with 676 wins and 123 shutouts, got the night off after beating the Ducks on Wednesday. ... The Kings have allowed fewer than three goals in eight consecutive games, including a 3-2 shootout loss at Buffalo. ... Devils RW Damien Brunner, mired in a 10-game goal drought, was a healthy scratch as DeBoer went with RW Mattias Tedenby instead. Brunner has four goals in 20 games after signing a $5 million, two-year contract. 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