RIO DE JANEIRO -- Olympic athletes have been competing in near empty venues and before thin crowds in other locations during the opening days of the Rio Games -- a problem that can be traced to long security lines, traffic and a lack of familiarity in some sports.Rugby and equestrian venues have been devoid of fans, and a Brazil volleyball match on famed Copacabana Beach had lots of empty seats Sunday. Scattered seats were open early during the basketball game Saturday night between China and star-studded Team USA, usually one of the biggest draws of the Olympics.Rio organizers said long lines at airport-style security checkpoints prevented fans from getting into events. The line for the beach volleyball venue stretched down the Copacabana promenade to the Olympic rings display several blocks away, though the venue has not been full for any of the matches.Organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada the problem was being addressed, and hes hopeful that lines would move quicker as the Summer Games entered its first full week.We believe that most of the issues ... have been solved, Andrada said Sunday. That doesnt mean we rest ... Security overall remains our main priority, and were going to keep an eye on it.There were long lines at bus stops on Saturday, the first full day of the Games. Lines at concessions stands were slow at the Deodoro venue, where events like rugby and shooting are being held, in large part because workers were stuck on security lines to get in the grounds.But I must emphasize, even when we have some empty seats in the some stadiums, we never had a low atmosphere, Andrada said.Crowds were loud and enthusiastic for fencing. Swimming made a splash, as usual. The stands were nearly full with cheering fans when the U.S. womens gymnastics team took the floor for preliminaries on Sunday.Boxing and rugby didnt fill the stands, though those who were there were vocal. Brazilian fans led soccer-style chants at the U.S.-China basketball that brought a lively atmosphere at times to the blowout.Im a bit bummed to be honest, because especially these women have worked really hard to get here, said Nikki Diggs, a fan from California who watched Sundays rugby match between the United States and Australia. The Olympics mark the first time womens rugby has been in the games.Its their first Olympics so its a bit of a bummer but I think a lot of people were scared off and they shouldnt have been because everything has been really great, Diggs said.Any problems with security lines seemed to have dissipated at the main Olympic Park venue by Sunday afternoon.We literally got out of a cab, walked in. Breezed right in, said fan Rochelle Taylor of Detroit. She and her friend waited in a security line for an hour on Saturday.Security isnt necessarily the only reason that could be keeping people from their seats. Logistical issues can often slow things down early in an Olympics.Traffic has been a problem, so much so that Mayor Eduardo Paes has pleaded with locals to share car rides until Aug. 21.Andrada said about 82 percent of the 5 million tickets for the Olympics were sold as of Sunday. About 75 percent attendees are Brazilian.Hoping to boost slow sales, organizers in mid-July opened up their local ticket website to the rest of the world, meaning that fans outside Brazil could buy tickets at local rates.As for Brazilian fans, theyre getting exposed to sports other than their beloved soccer and volleyball.Sometimes we spot that they dont know exactly how to behave in some sports because theyve become fans of (soccer) for many years, Andrada said. And one of the legacies of these games is to break the mold of either volleyball or football, for people to assess different sports.---AP Sports Writers Jimmy Golen and John Pye contributed to this story.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/ Nike Tanjun Cheap Outlet . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. Nike Tanjun Shoes Outlet . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. http://www.niketanjunoutlet.com/ . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Nike Tanjun Clearance . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Cheap Nike Tanjun China . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. ARCADIA, Calif. -- A champion mare produced a storybook ending to an amazing five-year career Friday at Santa Anita.Beholder, the 6-year-old making her 26th and final start in the $2 million Breeders Cup Distaff, wore down the previously undefeated Songbird in a stretch-long street fight to win by a nose in a race for the ages.There were tears everywhere in the Santa Anita winners circle, where trainer Richard Mandella, jockey Gary Stevens, and owner B. Wayne Hughes celebrated the win by Beholder ($8.60). It was her third Breeders Cup win, 11th Grade 1 victory, and also her swan song.Its probably the most emotional [win] of my career, knowing this was her last race, Stevens said immediately afterward. I just asked Mr. Hughes if he has a paddock for me next to her. I probably should be getting on the plane with her and walking out right now.Beholder will retire to become a broodmare at Hughess Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, and there was no second-guessing by Hughes after the race. I think its time for her to go the normal route to go back to Kentucky and not having to have Richard and Gary to deal with, Hughes said.It was good-natured kidding delivered by a man with utmost appreciation for his trainer and rider.I dont think Ill ever have another horse like this, and so Im very grateful to have been a part of it, Hughes said. I mean, I really compliment Richard. I dont know of any trainer that could have taken a horse for six years and done what hes done. But Gary has been a big part of it.Beholder won at least one Grade 1 race in each of the past five years and was most effective utilizing the stalking style she employed Friday.The race unfolded as expected, with Songbird and jockey Mike Smith shooting to the front. Stevens said Beholder broke sharper than she ever has in her career, but when Im a Chatterbox went up inside to press Songbird, Stevens was happy to allow Beholder to sit third on the outside.The fractions were modest. Songbird went the opening half-mile in 47.16 seconds and six furlongs in 1:11.14. Nearing the quarter pole, Beholder rranged outside Songbird.dddddddddddd From the quarter pole to the wire, Stevens said, it was a street fight.Songbird, a 3-year-old facing older fillies and mares for the first time after winning her first 11 starts, refused to surrender. I didnt know how much fight Songbird had in her, Stevens said. I found out. I put her away three times down the stretch.Beholder raced outside, Songbird battled along the rail, and the two dueled to the wire. Stevens thought he had it won late. I saw the purple with all the banners [on the rail] down the stretch, and said ? Were close! The margin was a nose; even-money favorite Songbird finished 1-1/4 lengths in front of Forever Unbridled. Stellar Wind, the 5-2 second choice, finished fourth. The order of finish was completed by Im a Chatterbox, Curalina, and Land over Sea.Corona Del Inca, a Breeders Cup Challenge winner making her first start since May in Argentina, was injured and euthanized. She sustained a condylar fracture of her right foreleg, a sesamoid fracture, and fractured the first pastern bone.Distaff winner Beholder goes out like the three-time champion she already is. Beholder retires having won 18 races and $6,156,600.As for Songbird, her future is bright. She will continue to race next year at age 4 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and owner Rick Porter.Hollendorfer said he could never be disappointed with Songbird. She ran great, just the other horse ran a little better.Beholder did it throughout her career. She won the BC Juvenile Fillies in 2012, the BC Distaff in 2013, and won at least one Grade 1 for five years running.Ive never seen a racehorse stay in peak form [that long], Stevens said. I know Ill never sit on another one like her. In a way, I wonder, should I be walking out too? But I have [Saturday] to ride. Who knows what lies beyond that?Attendance on Friday was 45,763; the pick-six carryover into Saturday is $511,261.-- additional reporting by David Grening ' ' '
