Klassen- & Handwerksforum » Meninga said interstate rivalries would not

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Americans invented beach volleyball.Brazil made it a passion.But theres another country making waves at the Copacabana venue during the Olympics, one with little tradition of beach volleyball -- or even a lot of sun-splashed beaches, for that matter.Canada.Yes, Canada.The ice hockey and curling power is one of only four countries to qualify the maximum four teams -- two mens and two womens -- for the Rio de Janeiro Games. Although Canada has won only one medal in the sport since it joined the Olympic program in 1996, this contingent is hoping it can change that.Canada is a competitive nation, said Ben Saxton, whose father was on the Canadian indoor volleyball team that ended up fourth at the 1984 Olympics -- its best finish ever. All of us want to win at every sport we play. Just because we cant play during the winter doesnt mean we arent resourceful enough to find a way.More often associated with ice and snow -- and sports played upon them -- than with the Summer Games, Canada has had its share of success in events like track and rowing and swimming. But the beach has been barren since John Child and Mark Heese took bronze in Atlanta.True, its hard to compete with countries where the athletes can train year-round. Yes, the lack of volleyball history itself makes it difficult to convince young Canadians to put down their hockey sticks and hit the beach. And Canadas population of about 35 million is smaller than Californias alone, not to mention Brazil.You take a couple of cities in Brazil and youve got more than the whole country, said Steve Anderson, Canadas head beach volleyball coach. You cant compete with the population. You cant compete with the history. People come to Brazil and the U.S. to immerse themselves in the culture because you cant get that anywhere else.But when Anderson took over the countrys beach volleyball program, he decided the problem was the mindset of Canadians who just didnt think they could compete with the sports powers.Anderson, an American who coached Australian Natalie Cook to the beach gold medal in 2000, called the Canadian players together and asked them: When was the last time you got off the plane expecting to win an event?The comment was, `Thats a bit arrogant. Thats not how Canadians think, Anderson said in an interview at the Copacabana venue on Tuesday.But I dont know any hockey player that gets off a plane just to show up, he said. How do we change that environment?Since London, Canada has seen enough success on the world professional tour to hit the country quota of two teams in each gender in Rio.Saxton and Chaim Schalk reached the podium five times on the FIVB tour; Josh Binstock, a 2012 Olympian, and Samuel Schachter have four top-three finishes since 2014. On the womens side, Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan were No. 5 in the Olympic rankings and Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas were 13th.Only three other countries hit the maximum: The United States and Brazil, which have combined to win 20 of the 30 total medals since the sport was added to the Olympic program in 1996, and the Netherlands.So far, the Canadians have had mixed success.Bansley and Pavan are 2-0 and atop their pool after beating Switzerland 21-18, 21-18 on Tuesday. Broder and Valjas, who lost to Germany, are 1-1 with one game remaining in group play. On the mens side, Schalk and Saxton are 1-1 and Binstock and Schachter are 0-2.Were going to find out at these Olympics: What is Canadian volleyball? Anderson said. Thats what were going to find out. Yeezy Boost 700 Bestellen . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Adidas NMD Dames Outlet . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.nmdbelgie.com/kopen-adidas-continental-80-sale.html . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Adidas NMD Kopen . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Belgie . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Simmering State of Origin tensions are set to be reignited after Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga revealed Paul Gallen and Corey Parker were in the mix for the end-of-year Four Nations.But Meninga did not believe interstate rivalries would be a problem for Australia.Queensland veteran Parker revealed tensions between the Origin teams were at an all-time low after last weeks game three controversy in Sydney.NSW skipper Gallen put Maroons noses out of joint by turning his back and leading his team away when Queensland captain Cameron Smith raised the Origin trophy at ANZ Stadium.The pair are now on a collision course after Meninga said he would consider both veterans for Australias Four Nations campaign in the UK starting in October.Parker will retire at seasons end.And Gallen will hang up his representative boots in 2016.As a result, Meninga had been expected to name a Four Nations squad with a nod toward next years World Cup.But the Kangaroos mentor said veterans Parker and Gallen were in the picture for the end-of-year tournament.Paul and Cozza are still available, Meninga said.If they are playing well at the end of the year, they are in the picture.You are never dead in the water seelection-wise, in my eyes.ddddddddddddMeninga said interstate rivalries would not be a factor in his Australian squad.Players will move on. I dont anticipate any problems whatsoever, he said.When you play in the green and gold you play to the best of your ability - its not about where you are from.Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith backed Meningas call to pick veterans like Parker and Gallen on form for the Four Nations.Mal said he wont be picking for the future, he will be picking the best players for the job, he said.If Paul and Corey are available and the best men for the job then they will be there.Smith could have been forgiven for still being angry over Gallens Origin snub in Sydney last week.But he said it was time for Origin players to move on from the controversy.I have been playing for the Kangaroos since 2006 and I have never had any issues with a team uniting (after Origin), he said.All affiliations are left at the door to be honest.For me Origin finished nearly a week ago.There have been some things said post match but we need to move on now. ' ' '