RIO DE JANEIRO -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acknowledged Saturday that the results of Novembers U.S. presidential election could weigh heavily on his citys chances of hosting the 2024 Olympics, saying that a victory by Donald Trump could turn off IOC voters.In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Garcetti also said Los Angeles could offer the last best hope for the United States to host the Summer Olympics again before the American people begin tuning out from the games.Garcetti, a 45-year-old Democrat and supporter of Hillary Clinton, is in Brazil to observe the Rio de Janeiro Games and pitch his citys bid to members of the International Olympic Committee. One of the main topics of conversation with IOC delegates has been the U.S. election -- and the prospects of a Trump presidency.I think for some of the IOC members they would say, `Wait a second, can we go to a country like that, where weve heard things that we take offense to? Garcetti said. But I think that gives us even more urgency globally, where we can say, `This is something that is a different strength maybe than the things that youve heard or the things you believe. I think we continue no matter what the outcome of the election is.A new U.S. president will be in office when the IOC selects the 2024 host city in September 2017. Los Angeles, which hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984, is competing with Paris, Rome and Budapest, Hungary.Everything that were going through right now in the United States politically, I dont want us to be a country that turns into itself, said Garcetti, who spoke at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia last month. I think we have to look outward to the world.The IOCs 98 members come from all over the world, and Trumps comments on Mexicans, Muslims and other issues wont encourage them to vote for a U.S. city.They wonder, `Is America going to take this strange turn? Garcetti said. Were there to be an election result that is less international, more inward focused, maybe theres even greater urgency to a bid like this.But even if that doesnt happen, even the threat of that, the talk of that, the idea that we exclude people based on who they are at our borders, gives us urgency to having things like the Olympics underscore who we are and what were about.Los Angeles bid chairman Casey Wasserman said the city will continue to push the bid on its own technical merits.I dont think you can judge a country by who runs for president, he said. I think you should judge a country on who is the president and their beliefs and their policies. And clearly thats something the members will take into account. But thats something I cant control.Los Angeles is seeking to bring the Summer Olympics back to the U.S. for the first time since Atlanta hosted the 1996 Games. The bid follows failed attempts by New York and Chicago for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, respectively.I dont know if this is the last best hope, but I do think that after a few bids, after a while, there will be real feeling of people tuning out in America, a new generation that isnt connected with the legacy sports, said Garcetti, who attended Rios opening ceremony on Friday night, 32 years after going to the close of the 84 Games as a 13-year-old.Recent American bids have suffered from anti-U.S. sentiment among some members in the European-dominated IOC, and Garcetti said he is working to change that.There may be a general anti-Americanism but once you create a relationship with somebody, it becomes a relationship with Eric and that person, he said. As we get to know each other over time, they realize you cant slap a title, just like `American and a caricature of what that means on anybody.I want to listen, Garcetti said. I dont want to just come in and say, `Were the Americans, we get the most medals, we bring in the sponsorships. That turns people off.He acknowledged there could be a backlash among some IOC members to what they consider U.S. meddling in global sports affairs, including the Justice Department investigation of world soccer body FIFA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agencys call for a total ban on Russias Olympic team over state-sponsored doping.Ive been very careful to say, `Look, what prosecutors or anti-doping officials do, at least in our country, is completely separate from what a mayor or a city government is about. Were not involved at all.On other issues, Garcetti:- encouraged Rome to remain in the 2024 race despite current opposition from new mayor Virginia Raggi, who says the city has bigger priorities at the moment. Garcetti said he has been in touch with Raggis office to urge Rome to stay in.You can fix your problems first, but that doesnt mean you have to exclude great opportunities like the Olympics, he said.- embraced the five new sports approved by the IOC for the 2020 Tokyo Games -- baseball/softball, surfing, skateboarding, karate and sport climbing. While they have been added for Tokyo only, Garcetti said he would hope they could also be included in Los Angeles.Skateboarding and surfing, those are synonymous with LA, he said. If were lucky enough to win, I would absolutely see us continuing those sports.- confirmed that the new NFL stadium being built for the Los Angeles Rams would be used for the Olympics if the city wins the bid. Rams owner Stan Kroenke is helping to build a new $2.6 billion retractable roof stadium in Inglewood, California, scheduled to be completed in 2019.The new stadium could be considered for hosting the opening and closing ceremonies. The Coliseum would host the track and field competition.Weve not yet defined how well use the stadium but were very excited to use the stadium, Garcetti said. Stand by, but were talking with the Rams, Stan Kroenke, about the best way.--Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/stevewilsonap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/stephen-wilson Hockey Jerseys From China . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Cheap Hockey Jerseys China . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.cheapadidashockeyjerseys.com/ . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Authentic . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. BOSTON -- Isaiah Thomas didnt hold his tongue earlier this week in describing what he said was a Celtics team he thought was void of its all-around toughness from years past.He thinks they took steps toward finding it on Friday night.Thomas scored 23 of his 29 points in the first half, and Boston snapped a three-game losing streak with a 115-87 victory over the New York Knicks.We played hard. And when you play hard you give yourself a chance, Thomas said. Weve got to figure out how to continue to do this and then get our swag back a little bit.Kelly Olynyk added 19 points and seven rebounds.The Knicks have still yet to post consecutive victories this season, and played without Carmelo Anthony in the second half after he was ejected after picking up back-to-back technical fouls.Anthony was tossed with 4:44 left in the second quarter by referee Tony Brothers. He received the first technical when he said something to Brothers following a loose ball foul call. Brothers walked away, but Anthony trailed behind and kept talking. He was then hit with the second technical. Anthony finished with 12 points and two rebounds.I was surprised, guard Derrick Rose said. He was still talking quietly. I didnt get it. They have a history, I guess.Brandon Jennings was also ejected late in the fourth quarter after receiving consecutive technical fouls.Without Anthony, the Knicks had a difficult time finding an offensive flow.New York never led in the game, and trailed by as many 30 points in the fourth quarter. The Knicks have now given up 100 or more points in seven of their eight games.The Celtics entered Friday looking for a faster start after struggling to score points in the first quarter during their three-game skid.Brad Stevens made changes to his starting lineup in hopes of injecting some energy, going with Olynyk and Marcus Smart in place of Jaylen Brown and Tyler Zeller.The moves paid off.Coming off an eight-point first quarter in their loss to Washington on Wednesday, Boston scored 31 in the opening 12 mminutes.dddddddddddd Smart had eight points in the period, and Olynyk added five points and two assists.Stevens liked the progress, but said there is still work to do -- particularly on the glass, where his team was outrebounded 57-53.Im just saying we have to get better, he said. I know you dont re-find something and then its there to stay...we need to defend with the same intensity at all times like we did tonight.TIP-INSKnicks: Were called for a total of six technicals in the game. .. Committed 25 turnovers, leading to 27 Boston points. ... Prior to his ejection, Anthony was New Yorks most efficient player in the first half, shooting 5 of 8 from the field.Celtics: Al Horford (concussion protocol) sat for the fifth straight game. Jae Crowder missed his fourth straight game with a sprained left ankle. ... Boston had 13 assists on 17 made field goals in the first half.TALKING TECHSIn a pool report after the game Brothers said that both technical fouls issued on Anthony were because of bad language. He said the initial common foul that was called on him was because Anthony dove on top of Amir Johnson.You cant dive on top of a player to go after a ball, Brothers said. Thats a foul.He said there is no history between him and Anthony.INJURY UPDATEHorford said he will accompany the Celtics on their two game road trip, and is hopeful that he could see action.He worked out prior to Fridays game said it included most positive signs hes had since entering the concussion protocol on Nov. 1.I feel good, Horford said. Im very encouraged by the progress that weve made. So Im excited. Were working on being back as soon as possible.UP NEXTKnicks: Finish up their short two-game road trip at Toronto on Saturday.Celtics: Head out on the road for two games, playing at Indiana on Saturday and New Orleans on Sunday.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '