Clan-Members » es or Andrew Wiggins," he said. "We can say the sa

TORONTO -- Curt Harnett is Canadas most decorated cyclist but he was forced to do the majority of his training south of the border. Thats why the 2015 Pan American Games in his hometown of Toronto are so close to his heart. The 48-year-old was named chef de mission of Canadas Pan Am team Thursday, and said the legacy from the Games will give young Canadian athletes opportunities he didnt have. "Toronto 2015 is a game-changer," Harnett said. Harnett is the only Canadian cyclist to win three Olympic medals, capturing silver in the 1,000 metres in 1984 in Los Angeles, and then bronze in the sprint at both the 1992 and 1996 Games in Barcelona and Atlanta. He accomplishment those feats despite spending several months of the year living and training in California because Canada didnt have a suitable velodrome. "These Games matter," he said. "They matter because of the unprecedented investment into sport in this region, its something we in sport have long waited for, and its critical, it ensures that our athletes continue to pursue excellence right here at home and that we as a sporting nation retain the world class coaching that athletes require to compete and win. "I had to travel to the United States to get access to proper facilities as I prepared to take on the world. Well to that I say No more." Its no surprise that of all the Pan Am venues going up around the GTA, hes most thrilled about the velodrome in Milton, Ont., just west of Toronto, not only because it will be a training base for Canadas top cyclists, but because of its dual use as a community centre. Three basketball courts will be built at the facility that Harnett says will also help get young kids interested in cycling. "To me thats the perfect marriage of what sport opportunity is, because not everybody is going to become a Michael Jordan or LeBron James or Andrew Wiggins," he said. "We can say the same about Sidney Crosby. I was a kid that was introduced to a sport that was off the beaten track by a guy that cared. When you have these facilities in existence that naturally occurs." Harnett said he grew up in Thunder Bay playing mostly hockey. His high school football coach -- who was also the president of the Thunder Bay Cycling Club -- suggested he take up cycling as a way to keep in shape for hockey in the summer. "I quickly learned I was more passionate about one sport than the other, and four short years later I was at the Olympic Games," said. The member of both Canadas Sports Hall of Fame and Olympic Hall of Fame is also a veteran of two Pan American Games, winning gold in the 1,000-metre time trial and bronze in sprint in 1987. The announcement was made at the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) general assembly, which has brought some 350 delegates from Olympic committees and international sport federations to Toronto. A video montage of Harnetts top sporting moments preceded the announcement, to which Harnett joked: "Talk about a flattering introduction, I havent seen that many photos of me in one place since my ex returned the Curt box back in high school." Olympic champion kayaker Adam Van Koeverden congratulated Harnett. "This is a guy who Ive been looking up to as long as Ive been an athlete . . . and as long as Ive been watching shampoo commercials on TV," Van Koeverden joked, a nod toward Harnetts famous Pert Plus commercial that aired in the run-up to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut said, after listing Harnetts accomplishments, "Honestly, with those criteria there was only one real choice for us as chef de mission." Harnett will lead the largest team Canada has ever fielded for the Pan Am Games. The 1983 Pan Am Games in Caracas, Venezuela, were Harnetts first major multi-sport Games, and he said they were huge in his preparation for his silver-medal Olympic performance a year later, in terms of adapting to situations like bad bus schedules or training times that are thrown at athletes. Harnett was the assistant chef at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico -- and was also arguably the Canadian teams biggest cheerleader, leading cheers and handing out flags at numerous sports events. Canadas chef de mission in Guadalajara was former fencer Jacques Cardyn. Yeezy Boost Køb .Y. -- Nothing seems to phase No. Yeezy Sko Tilbud . The defeat leaves the 41-year-old Nestor to concentrate on the mixed-doubles event after winning 12 straight matches and winning Australian titles in Brisbane and Sydney with two different partners. "This was a little bit of a let down, but all credit to them," said Nestor. http://www.yeezyskodanmark.com/.FIFA says it is relaxing the rule which forced match officials to leave its international list at the end of the year they turned 45. Yeezy Boost 350 Danmark Køb . Sundays race will be held at the Sepang circuit, adjacent to Kuala Lumpurs main airport where the ill-fated flight took off earlier this month. Authorities now say it is almost certain it crashed in the Indian Ocean, killing all 239 people aboard. Yeezy Sko Fake . - The Raiders have released guard Mike Brisiel after two disappointing seasons in Oakland.NEW YORK -- The NBA fined Indiana Pacers forward Paul George $25,000 on Tuesday for his public criticism of the officiating in the Eastern Conference finals Game 4 loss to Miami. Rod Thorn, the leagues president of basketball operations, said George made his comments in the postgame news conference following the 102-90 loss to the Heat on Monday night. Miami was 30 oof 34 from the foul line in the game.ddddddddddddIndiana was 11 of 17. George said his team couldnt overcome a "20-point differential" that came through foul calls. He said Miami won the game at the free-throw line. Miami leads the series 3-1 and can advance to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year with a win in Indiana on Wednesday night. ' ' '