final World Cup race prior to the start of the

TORONTO -- Ontarios Liberal government admitted Tuesday that the original $113-million security tab for Torontos 2015 Pan Am Games was just a "place holder" number, and warned the latest estimate of $239 million could go higher. 76ers Jerseys 2020 . The Toronto 2015 Pan Am organizing committee came up with the figure because they had to put something in the bid book that helped secure the international event for the city, said Tourism Minister Michael Chan. "The $113 million was presented a long time ago, in 2010, and it was a place holder because security has to be there," said Chan. "You probably will appreciate TO2015 doesnt have the skills, they dont have the expertise, they dont have any knowledge about security." Saad Rafi, who took over as the CEO of the TO2015 Pan Am organizing committee after Ian Troop was fired, said he wasnt involved when the citys bid was prepared and couldnt say where the $113 million estimate came from. Officials wouldnt have had a good handle on the number of athletes and coaches that would be coming or how many venues would be used and in what communities when they prepared the security estimate for the bid book, added Rafi. "I think a myriad of elements and factors go into generating an estimate of costs," he said. "If you want a more detailed answer Im afraid we couldnt give it because we werent there to submit the bid book." The Opposition demanded Chan resign or be fired after the security bill for next years Games more than doubled. "The minister and this government and TO2015 and everyone involved in these games doesnt have a clue whats going on," said Progressive Conservative critic Rod Jackson. "They cant answer a straight question in the House on this, and it seems like no cost is too high." Chan bristled at suggestions he should have known what the original $113 million estimate for security at the Games was based on. "I wasnt there," he said. "Do you really want to know why they had that number in there? Theres probably a reason for that." The $239-million tab for security will likely change before the Games start in July 2015, but could go down or up, added Chan. "Anybody who thinks that number will be stationary, will not move, I think that would be unreasonable because we still have a year and five months before the Games and lots of things can happen," he said. "And that number can go down if we control costs, or security may go up. This is the nature of the Games." Rafi announced the Games were on schedule and on budget so far, and admitted one of his biggest concerns was getting people interested in the Pan Am competitions. "We want to engage the public and create a sense of excitement which will drive their participation in festivals as well as the Games themselves," he said. "We want to make sure we can maximize our ticket revenue." The 2015 Pan Am Games will take place at 34 different competition venues across the Golden Horseshoe, from Niagara in the south to Orillia in the north, running from July 7 to 26, followed by the Parapan Am Games Aug. 7 to 15. The total budget for the Games is now estimated at $2.5 billion. 76ers Jerseys China .com) - Longtime Senators star Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa on Thursday to officially announce his retirement. Custom Philadelphia 76ers Jerseys . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports. https://www.cheap76ers.com/ . - David Tomasek had two goals in regulation time and was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Belleville Bulls upset the Oshawa Generals 6-5 on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action.TOBLACH, Italy -- Alex Harvey was solid in a fifth-place result on Saturday in his final World Cup cross-country ski distance race prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. After spending a week doing high-altitude training in Italy, the 25-year-old from St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., bounced back into race form while challenging for the podium in the mens 15-kilometre individual start classic-ski race. Harvey clocked a time of 37 minutes 30.1 seconds. "That was a solid race from Alex today. He started out conservative and then made up ground throughout the race," said Justin Wadsworth, head coach of the Canadian cross-country ski team. "This week is all about shaking out the cobwebs after being at altitude so it was a good day." Harvey set a pace ahead of the eventual winner, Russias Alexander Legkov, in the final lap. Legkov set the time to beat at 37:02.7. Switzerlands Dario Cologna was second at 37:05.6, while Swedens Marcus Hellner rounded out the podium in third with a time of 37:20.3. Four other Canadians hit the start line including two relative rookies to thee World Cup, Graeme Killick and Jesse Cockney, along with Olympic veterans Devon Kershaw and Ivan Babikov. Stitched 76ers Jerseys. Kershaw, from Sudbury, Ont., finished 39th with a time of 39:31.7, while Killick, from Fort McMurray, Alta., placed 40th (39:32.3). Cockney, from Canmore, Alta., was 51st (39:48.6), while Babikov, also from Canmore, finished 62nd (40:24.4) in the wet and mild conditions. "Devon and Ivan struggled with their skis today in the conditions," added Wadsworth. "All of the guys are feeling really good and I think are looking good heading into the Games." Whitehorses Emily Nishikawa was the lone Canadian to start in the womens 10-kilometre classic-ski race. Nishikawa placed 40th after clocking a time of 30:06.8. Norways Marit Bjoergen finished on top at 26:54.2. Therese Johaug, also of Norway, grabbed the silver medal with a time of 27:30.9, while Swedens Charlotte Kalla skied to the bronze after stopping the clock at 27:37.1. The final World Cup race prior to the start of the Olympic Winter Games takes place on Sunday in Toblach, Italy. ' ' '