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MONACO, Monaco - Swimmers and beach volleyball players will be competing in the midnight hour at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.The International Olympic Committee and Brazilian organizers confirmed Friday that the competition schedule includes late-night sessions in the two sports — swimming finals running from 10 p.m. local time to midnight, and some beach volleyball matches starting at midnight on Copacabana Beach.The times are geared toward NBCs night-time coverage in the United States, as well as Brazilian TVs tradition of showing sports events at late hours. Rio will be one hour ahead of U.S. eastern time during the games.The Olympic Games are a global event that is seen around the world and the schedule has to work around the world to give the best showcase for each sport, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. Its quite a balance. They seem to have reached a conclusion that suits everybody.The IOC executive board also praised Rios progress in tackling the delays that had put the Olympics at risk a few months ago, saying the crisis has eased but that there still is no time to lose with the games less than two years away.Im 100 per cent confident that we will get the venues that we need ready in time, said the IOCs executive director of the Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi. There is nothing today where we say, Whoa, this test event is at risk, or, for that matter, the games.Putting together the sports competition timetable for an Olympics is always a challenge of meeting requests of broadcasters and sports federations. The International Association of Athletics Federations announced this month that it will hold some Rio track-and-field finals in the morning for the first time since 1988.Swimming and beach volleyball, meanwhile, are going for late-night competition.Australian Olympic Committee officials have objected to holding the swimming finals so late, complaining that the move was taken under pressure from U.S. broadcasters and would mean some medals would be decided after midnight.Swimming governing body FINA and other officials said the following days heats will be moved from the usual morning hours to 1 p.m., meaning swimmers will have 13 hours between sessions.We need to organize a schedule that the television asks, together with the international federations, Rio organizing committee head Carlos Nuzman said. They decided with us. We have no problems with this. It will be good for the athletes.Rios overall preparations for the Olympics reached a crisis stage in May when sports federations and the IOC voiced concerns that the games were in jeopardy because of chronic delays.The IOC introduced special measures, including assigning veteran administrator Gilbert Felli to work with organizers in Brazil.While concerns remain over pollution in the Rio bay that will host sailing events, delays in construction of the main broadcast centre and legal wrangling over the golf course, the IOC said the situation has much improved.IOC vice-president John Coates of Australia, who a few months ago publicly called Rios preparations the worst he had ever experienced, told the Brazilians on Friday that great progress had been made, Adams said.There are 20 months to go and we are in that phase with all games, less than two year to go, when its really about delivery now, Adams said.On Saturday, the IOC board will review preparations for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where a dispute over construction costs has raised concerns about the project.The two-day board meeting in Monaco comes ahead of a two-day session of the full IOC that will vote on President Thomas Bachs 40-point reform program, including changes to the bidding process and sports program and creation of an Olympic television channel.___Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap Devin Booker Jersey . 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TORONTO -- Former Ottawa Senators all-star defenceman and World Cup of Hockey gold medallist Wade Redden retired Thursday after a 14-year NHL career. Redden played a total of 1,023 regular-season games with Ottawa, the New York Rangers, St. Louis and Boston. He finished with 457 points (109 goals, 348 assists) and a plus-160 rating over his career. "I would first and foremost like to thank my family and friends for their unconditional love and support," Redden said in a statement released by the NHL Players Association. "I would also like to thank my teammates, coaches and staff for all the great memories created throughout the years. To the fans, I appreciate all your support throughout my career. "Playing in the National Hockey League has been a dream come true and I feel very proud and privileged to have played more than 1,000 games in 14 NHL seasons." Redden also had 49 points (13-36) in 106 career playoff games. The native of Lloydminster, Sask., was drafted second overall by the New York Islanders in the 1995 draft but never played for the team. He was dealt to the Senators along with goaltender Damian Rhodes for goalie Don Beaupre, forward Martin Straka and the rights to defenceman Bryan Berard on Jan, 23, 1996. Redden played in all 82 games as a rookie with Ottawa in the 1996-97 season, scoring six goals and adding 24 assists. In 2001-02, he had 34 points, aa plus-22 rating and played in the all-star game.dddddddddddd The following season, Redden had 45 points and averaged a career-high in ice-time at 25:24. In 2003-04, he set a career-high in goals with 17 and was selected to his second career all-star game but did not play due to an illness. He was a key part of Ottawas run to the Stanley Cup final in 2007. After playing the first 11 seasons of his NHL career in the nations capital, the New York Rangers signed Redden to a US$39-million, six-year contract on July 1, 2008. Reddens play began to decline after signing the contract, and the Rangers placed him on waivers before the 2010-11 season in an effort to fit under the salary cap. Redden never played another game for the team, spending two seasons with their AHL affiliate before the Rangers used a compliance buyout on his contract. Redden made a return to the NHL for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, signing a $800,000, one-year deal with St. Louis. He was traded to Boston at the trade deadline and played five playoff games for the Bruins as they advanced to the Stanley Cup final. Redden represented Canada several times and was a member of the 2004 team that won the last World Cup of Hockey. He also played for Canada at the 2006 Turin Olympics. He won gold with Canada at the 1995 and 1996 world junior hockey championships and silver at the 2005 world hockey championship. ' ' '