VATICAN CITY -- IOC President Thomas Bach isnt getting involved in the politics surrounding Romes rejection of its 2024 Olympics bid.Speaking on the sidelines of a Vatican convention on faith and sports Wednesday, Bach said he had been informed of the Rome situation by Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago.This is not up to me. I got this information about politics in Italy and Im here to listen, Bach said. You can imagine that this was a very interesting conversation, because politics in Italy is a very interesting topic. So I learned a lot yesterday.Romes city council voted last week to withdraw the bid, backing the decision of Mayor Virginia Raggi. However, the bid is still supported by Italian Premier Matteo Renzi amid discussion it could be revived if Raggis administration falls.Raggi, who represents the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, said that taking on the costs of an Olympic bid is irresponsible for a city struggling to emerge from years of corruption and poor public services.Raggi also attended the Vatican conference but did not cross paths with Bach.I dont know her, Bach said.Romes rejection leaves only Los Angeles, Paris, and Budapest, Hungary, in the running for the 2024 Games. The International Olympic Committee will decide on the host city in September 2017.Bach would not even weigh in on whether Romes bid can move forward without the citys support.I will not, he said. This is a political discussion here in Italy and the IOC is politically neutral, so we will not interfere in internal Italian politics.However, Bach did seem to acknowledge that the IOCs new Agenda 2020, which is designed to make the games less costly and more flexible, had not been fully taken into consideration by the city.Quite frankly I do not think that this discussion has a lot to do with the Olympic Games, Bach said. Thats the impression I get, that this is about internal Italian politics.International Paralympics Committee Philip Craven spoke as if the bid was dead.Its very disappointing, Craven told The Associated Press. I feel its a great loss to the race.Malago said he will hold a news conference on the bids status next week.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampfMatt LaCosse Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Julian Edelman Jersey .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/1981p-randy-moss-jersey-patriots.html . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Ben Coates Jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Jason McCourty Jersey . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up.BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Javier Hernandez cemented his status as Mexicos leading striker Saturday, sending his team home from the Confederations Cup on a high by scoring twice to clinch a 2-1 victory over Japan in their final Group A match. With seven goals in his last eight games for Mexico, the 25-year-old Manchester United striker has now climbed up his countrys all-time scoring leaderboard to third spot, which he shares with retired forward Luis Hernandez. "Hes always been a very insistent, determined player," said Mexico coach Jose Manuel De la Torre, who also managed Hernandez at Guadalajara. "Hes highly competitive, and has a huge dynamic and sense of timing in order to score ... and that is what has taken him to be at these very high levels with Manchester United. Now hes simply responding with these goals for the national team." After struggling to threaten in the first half at the Mineirao Stadium, Hernandez met Andres Guardados cross in the 54th minute and headed in again in the 66th from Giovani Dos Santos corner. Shinji Okazaki pulled one back for Japan in the 86th and Hernandez won a penalty in stoppage time, but his weak effort was saved and he then sent the follow-up against the crossbar. Both Mexico and Japan were playing only for pride, having been eliminated from the Confederations Cup by losing their first two matches at the 2014 World Cup test event. "We have an unpleasant taste in our mouths -- we dont like seeing our team being eliminated early from a tournament," Hernandez said through a translator. "But Mexico at least made it to the (Confederation Cup) finals ... and this victory helps us in building the confidence back." Although Japan leaves Brazil having finished bottom of its group without a point, the teams return trip to Brazil is already guaranteed. The Asian champions were the first World Cup qualifiers while Mexico is still slugging it out for a spot from the CONCACAF confederation. Japan was the speedier and hungrier initially, picking up where it left off in Wednesdays slender 4-3 loss to Italy. Using their pace down the flanks, the Japanese were displaying the dynamism the Mexicans were lacking aat first.dddddddddddd Japan striker Shinji Okazaki found the net after 10 minutes from the edge of the area, but it was ruled out for a border-line offside decision. An early effort from Shinji Kagawa was blocked by the boot of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who also easily collected a low strike from Keisuke Honda. For all the creativity and slick passing, the Japanese had nothing to show for its domination. Mexico eventually got a foothold in the game, with Jesus Zavala heading over from a free kick and testing goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima with a long-range effort that was turned wide. Only the post prevented Mexico going in at half time in front, with Andres Guardado given the space to meet Jorge Torres cross with a free header that crashed against the woodwork. The Mexican momentum carried over into the second half, with the team looking sharper as Japan faded. "You could say there was little petrol in our tank," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said through a translator. Hernandez soon began to find himself in goal-scoring positions, with defender Hiroki Sakai throwing himself at the ball to deny the strikers first effort of the half. The Japanese defence was finally breached as it failed to track Hernandez in the penalty area and headed in twice, from a cross and a corner. "He was very good at headers even though hes not that tall," Zaccheroni said. "If you look how we conceded goals, our defence line was all there and we conceded goals because of high play ... it wasnt the case of the opposing players outnumbering ours," Zaccheroni added. Dos Santos has been one of Mexicos most dangerous players in Brazil and, on the turn, twice unleashed powerful shots that Kawashima did well to keep out. As Mexico pressed with confidence, Japan struggled to gain control of the ball, and the finishing was deficient when it did, with Ryoichi Maeda and Yasuyuki Konno striking wide. The consolation came when Okazaki was left in space in front of goal to meet a cross from captain Yauhito Endo. And Hernandezs penalty miss -- after being fouled by Maya Yoshida -- ensured the result was the same as when the sides met at the 2005 Confederations Cup. ' ' '