RIO DE JANEIRO -- Theyve been working since early August, from morning to night, acting as volunteer guides for Olympic and Paralympic athletes families and spectators at venues.Volunteers, decked out in loud, short sleeve shirts and khaki pants, will watch the games end Sunday at the closing ceremonies for the Paralympics in Rio.Look, I have to be honest. This week, I started feeling that going home and sleeping wasnt enough, said Alexis Silva, a volunteer from Sao Paulo who has spent his days working in Olympic Park. I used to go back home, sleep and then was 100 percent again.This week, I feel like I go home, sleep, and then I am 90 percent. Then the day after 80 percent, and so on.Olympic and Paralympic volunteers are unpaid. As compensation, they receive uniforms and meals during scheduled work days, while providing their own lodging.At the beginning of this journey, we thought we would need 100,000 volunteers: 50,000 for the Olympics, 50,000 for the Paralympics, said Mario Andrada, spokesman for the local organizers. This proved to be unmanageable.The Associated Press estimated in 2014 that, for a labor force of 70,000, the International Olympic Committee would save $100 million by not having to pay its workforce in Rio.Early in the Rio Games, reports emerged that volunteers were quitting because of long hours and unfair schedules. Organizers said Thursday that 35,000 volunteers worked for the Olympics and 15,000 for the Paralympics.For some, their duties have been exhausting. Whallace da Silva, a piping engineer from Rio, took time off from his job to do his part.Da Silva worked 10 days during the Olympics, about 12 hours each day. Thats a pair of 60-hour work weeks. He also donated his time throughout the Paralympics.I promised to help this event, so if you ask me `Oh, can you stay two or three more hours I say `OK, I can stay. That is a problem for me, said da Silva. When I come back to my house, I am too tired.Da Silva believes his long days during the Paralympics have stemmed from fewer volunteers.There are many fewer people than the Olympic Games, he said.But Camila Santana, an 18-year-old Brazilian student, said shes accustomed to the gig.(It was) a struggle in the very beginning because of a lot of working hours,she said. But now, after working the Olympics, I dont have much difficulty with the long hours or talking to people I dont know or helping others.Jasmine Coleman, who traveled from Los Angeles to help in Brazil -- one of many international volunteers -- arrived to work solely during the Paralympics.Its really nice, I start my shift at seven oclock and then end at one, Coleman said. Then we get an hour lunch, so its really easy. And then we get to have time to go experience the Olympic Park.Da Silva says while his personal contribution has been demanding, the games have brought positive changes to Brazil, especially in Rio.A few years ago in this area, there was prostitution, drug trafficking, violence, and now its completely different, said da Silva.Despite the demands, many volunteers feel their experiences interacting with fans from around the world has been rewarding.Its pushing me to speak more Portuguese, but Im also able to experience a world event with people from different cultures, Coleman said. I wouldnt take it back for anything. I think it was fully worth it.Colemans sentiment was a common theme among volunteers around the Olympic Park. Da Silva said while he misses time with his family, hes feeling nostalgic about the games coming to an end.There is this mixture (of emotions), he said. But I feel like the sad part is bigger than all the other parts.---Allison Gasparetti is a journalism student at Penn State University. Penn State and Georgia are partnering with The Associated Press to supplement coverage of the 2016 Paralympics.Buddy Bell Rangers Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Hunter Pence 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.cheaprangersbaseball.com/3182h-brock-burke-jersey-rangers.html . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Elvis Andrus Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Joe Palumbo Rangers Jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break.CROMWELL, Conn. -- Three-quarters of the U.S. mens Olympic golf team will be playing together in Connecticut this week.Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar are scheduled to go out as a trio Thursday and Friday for the first two rounds of the Travelers Championship.The fourth member of the team, Rickie Fowler, is skipping the PGA Tour event to attend Fridays opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.The other three expect to fly out after Sundays final round, putting them in Brazil well before the Aug. 11 start of the Olympic golf competition.All three say they are focused on this week and this tournament. But they also acknowledge that the excitement for the first Olympic golf tournament in 112 years is building.Much of their Team USA gear was waiting for them when they arrived this week at the TPC River Highlands course.I opened that up and was like a kid at Christmas, just showing every piece to everybody, Reed said.Reed and Kuchar made the Olympic team after two-time major champion Jordan Spieth and U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson opted not to go, citing health concerns including the threat posed by the Zika virus.I had my fingers crossed that some golfers would bypass the Olympics to be honest, Kuchar said. I had fingers crossed that they would so that Id have a chance to accept.Watson, the defending Travelers champion, said he prepared his schedule with this tournament and the Olympics in mind, taking some time off earlier in the year to be fresh for what he knew would be a grueling stretch of golf.Who cares if I finish dead last, hee said.ddddddddddddJust to be part of the Olympics is a big honor and a thrill.Besides the Americans, three other Olympians are playing in Cromwell -- Germanys Alex Cejka, Denmarks Soren Kjeldsen and Irelands Padraig Harrington.They will be competing with the other golfers on a newly renovated course.The TPC River Highlands, which has hosted the Connecticut stop on the PGA Tour since 1984, underwent a $3.5 million face-lift over the past year.Officials removed about 50 bunkers that were no longer in play for the longer-hitting pros, repositioned others, added some viewing areas and reconfigured some greens to allow for tougher hole placements.The course remains a par-70 and is still 6,841 yards.Its all about appeal, Watson said. I dont know if youd call it modernization or something, but it looks newer, fresher.Watson announced Wednesday that he would donate $100,000 to the Bruce Edwards Foundation for ALS research. Edwards, who was from Wethersfield and was Tom Watsons long-time caddie, died of Lou Gehrigs disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.The fight against ALS became the charitable focus of this years tournament after former Travelers chief executive Jay Fishman announced he had been diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease.At Fishmans behest, New Britains Hospital for Special Care, which treats most of the ALS patients in Connecticut, became the tournaments primary charitable beneficiary. ' ' '
