SOCHI, Russia -- IOC President Thomas Bach paid tribute Tuesday to the victims of the recent suicide bombings in southern Russia that killed 34 people and heightened security concerns for the Sochi Olympics. Bach spoke at a ceremony in the athletes village to urge compliance with the "Olympic Truce," a symbolic resolution urging warring parties to cease hostilities during the games. "We remember and grieve for the innocent victims of conflict, and especially the recent victims in Volgograd," Bach said. "Our presence here today is a rebuke to those whose motives and goals stand in sharp contrast to the spirit of harmony and global solidarity at these games." An Islamic militant group from the North Caucasus region claimed responsibility for the back-to-back bombings in late December in Volgograd, about 640 kilometres (400 miles) east of Sochi, and threatened to strike the Olympics. Russia has mounted a massive security operation to guard the games, which open Friday and run through Feb. 23. Tens of thousands of military and police personnel have been deployed, along with warships, drone aircraft and anti-missile batteries. The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution in November calling for a global truce during the Sochi Games. Similar resolutions have been passed going back to the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. "We are not naive," Bach said. "We know our limits." The IOC leader said the Olympic Village is a symbol of peace. "Men and women from different backgrounds, different cultures, different religions and different perspectives live side-by-side in harmony," he said. Bachs use of the term "different perspectives" could be seen as a reference to sexual orientation. The buildup to Sochi has been overshadowed by an international outcry against a Russian law banning gay "propaganda" among minors. Activists and some politicians called for a boycott of the games over the issue. "We must never let politics or other outside forces spoil this spirit," Bach said. Among those attending the ceremony was Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva, who is serving as the "mayor" of the Olympic Village in the coastal cluster of venues. Isinbayeva made headlines in August at the world athletics championships when she condemned homosexuality, saying Russians have "normal" heterosexual relations. The next day, she said her comments in English may have been misunderstood and that she is against any discrimination. Isinbayeva declined further comment Tuesday on the Russian laws butSvetlana Zhurova, mayor of one of the other two athletes villages in the mountains above Sochi, said the issue had been overblown, was unfairly clouding the buildup to the games and she was fed up with fielding questions about it. Zhurova, the 2006 Olympic speedskating gold medallist , urged activists not to use the Winter Games as a platform for protests. "For the spectators it is more important who wins than whether he or she is homosexual or not," she said. "This doesnt matter. Im sure there will be no problems." Tuesdays ceremony began in embarrassing fashion for the hosts. As Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak prepared to speak, the plastic lectern collapsed onto the ground. Bach drew laughs when he said: "We can see that sport can break down walls this morning." Members of the IOCs executive board toured the Olympic Village, which will accommodate about 2,200 athletes along the Black Sea coast. Two other smaller villages are located in the mountain cluster above Sochi. Bach chatted with athletes, grabbed some lunch in the cafeteria and played table tennis in the recreation room. "The village is really magnificent," he said. "What the athletes appreciate is the proximity to the competition venues. I just spoke to a female American speedskater and Russian ice hockey player and the first thing they say is, We can walk from here to our training sessions." Bach has his own room in the village, keeping a tradition started by his predecessor, Jacques Rogge, though he also stays in a luxury hotel nearby during IOC meetings. "One of the greatest privileges of an IOC president is you can ask for a room in the Olympic Village," Bach said. "Its here where the Olympic spirit lives." Marcus Morris Jersey . -- LeGarrette Blount wasnt satisfied with three short touchdown runs, not against a team coming off the second greatest comeback in playoff history. Bob Cousy Jersey . Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, Shawn Marion had 22 and the Mavericks beat undermanned Philadelphia 124-112 Friday night, handing the 76ers their 10th straight loss. http://www.shopceltics.com/customized/. - A pitch clock will be used this season during minor league games at Triple-A and Double-A, but it has been ruled out for the major leagues this year. Kevin Mchale Jersey . None of them was better than playing with LeBron James again. Gordon Hayward Jersey . He chirped to the caddie of Brandt Snedeker about their money game, a Mickelson tradition at the majors. Lefty was in good spirits Monday at the British Open, except for having to return the claret jug.PHOENIX - David Peralta drove in three runs and Miguel Montero knocked in two, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks run over the Miami Marlins 9-1 on Monday night. Arizona jumped on Tom Koehler (6-7) early, scoring five runs in the second inning and three more in the fourth. Peralta extended his hitting streak to eight games and the Diamondbacks had seven extra base hits to help Chase Anderson (6-4) end a four-game losing streak. Martin Prado homered and Paul Goldschmidt broke an Arizona record with his 33rd double before the All-Star break, extending his streak of reaching base to 28 games. Garrett Jones had three hits for the Marlins, who stranded 10 runners. Casey McGehee extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games and the majors longest road hitting streak to 21 games. Peralta was called up on June 1 and reeled off an eight-game hitting streak, the longest to start a career by a Diamondback. He has picked it up again over the past 12 games, hitting .386, including a two-run double in the second inning and a run-scoring triple in the fourth to put Arizona up 6-0. Peralta is hitting .330 in 32 major league games. He wasnt the only one getting hits against the Marlins. Koehler, making his first start since becoming a father, struggled after pitching well over his previous three starts. Arizona jumped on the right-hander in the second inning, starting with Prados leadoff homerr.dddddddddddd The Diamondbacks kept knocking balls around the ballpark, going up 5-0 after two-run doubles by Peralta and Montero. Peralta chased Koehler with a run-scoring triple and Goldschmidt hit a run-scoring double off Jacob Turner to break Luis Gonzalezs record for doubles before the All-Star break, set in 2003. Koehler allowed seven runs and eight hits in three innings, the shortest start of his career. Arizonas bashing allowed Anderson to get back into the win column. The rookie right-hander won his first five major league starts, but had allowed seven combined runs in his previous two starts. Anderson pitched well with the big lead, working around baserunners in every inning but one. He prevented the Marlins from scoring in the fourth after they had runners on second and third with no outs. Miami had two on with one out in the sixth and Anderson held them to a single run, on Adeiny Hechavarrias sacrifice fly. Anderson allowed a run and seven hits and struck out eight in six innings. NOTES: Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers underwent vocal cord surgery in New York on Monday. ... San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh brought his glove and watched the game from the owners box. ... LHP Vidal Nuno will make his Arizona debut against Miami on Tuesday. He was acquired from the New York Yankees for RHP Brandon McCarthy on Sunday. LHP Brad Hand will pitch for the Marlins. 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