07-10-2019, 12:47 AM
OTTAWA - Canadas highly paid Olympic mens hockey professionals are insured against acts of terrorism when they compete in the Sochi Games but it is not at all clear the same coverage extends to their amateur brethren on the Olympic team. As for regular Olympic spectators, theyre being warned that most travel insurance policies wont cover acts of terrorism or war. The Games in southern Russia, which run from Feb. 7-23, are being staged amid unprecedented security and under global warnings of danger. An extraordinary travel advisory from the Canadian government highlights Sochi terrorist threats in bold red script. "In July 2013 Imarat Kavkaz leader Doku Umarov called on militants to derail the Sochi Olympic Games using any necessary means, and lifted his previous moratorium on actions of militants in Russia outside the North Caucasus," states the governments travel advisory page. "On January 19, 2014, the Ansar Al-Sunna terrorist group took responsibility for the December 2013 attacks on Volgograd ... and threatened further attacks if the Olympic Games were to take place." Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney reinforced the message last week by issuing a statement warning that special security at Olympic venues "does not eliminate the risk of terrorist attacks." Such government warnings wont likely make a travellers insurance void, says John Thain, president of the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada. Only an outright government advisory not to travel in a country or region may void travel insurance, he said. But check the fine print on terrorism because most policies dont cover it, he added. "One of the messages were trying to get across to all Canadians is know and understand your policy," Thain told The Canadian Press. It is advice that should apply to athletes attending in the Games as well. The Canadian Olympic Committee, which handles insurance for most of the Canadians competing in Sochi, flatly rebuffed questions about its insurance coverage. "Internal matters including HR (human resources) and administrative policies for employees, athletes and mission team members are simply not subjects we discuss publicly," the committee told The Canadian Press in an email statement. Agent Kris Mychasiw, who represents bobsled Olympian Kaillie Humphries, said all the terrorism talk is "being blown out of proportion." "London had the same issue. Athens had the same issue," said Mychasiw. Asked whether Canadas Olympians are insured against a career-ending injury caused by an act of terrorism, Mychasiw responded "to my knowledge, no." "Even if you were to get insurance for it, the odds of something like that happening, or being in an environment where that would happen, are slim to none," said the agent. Thats not the tack taken by National Hockey League and its players association. Greg Sutton of Sutton Special Risk, which insures more than 450 profession hockey players including Sydney Crosby, said hes taken a number of calls from concerned players and their agents in the run-up to Sochi. "All of our policies actually include terrorism, but what they arent covered for is any acts of terrorism which use nuclear, chemical or biological means," Sutton said in an interview. Bob Nicholson, the president of Hockey Canada, said group insurance for Olympic pros was handled through the International Ice Hockey Federation. That was part of the agreement for getting the pros to Sochi, said Nicholson. Sutton said some players have asked to include the extra nuclear-chemical-biological coverage, known as NCB, and that adds about 10 to 15 per cent to the premium. Other players are also taking out additional personal insurance. "There are players who are still young enough that theres a need for them to protect their future value, too, and thats where the personal coverage comes in. We do both." Sutton said Hockey Canada inquired about adding NCB but hes not sure if it ended up taking the extra coverage. Any difference between insuring Canadas amateur Olympians and the NHL pros comes down to a business decision based on guaranteed, multi-million-dollar contracts, said Mychasiw. "The NHL is taking precautions because thats a money-making business. Theyre looking at protecting their assets, from the NHL Players Association right up to the league." On Monday, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported that a British government intelligence report warns that more terrorist attacks in Russia are "very likely to occur" before or during the Sochi Games. The BBC reports that the leaked assessment says Sochi itself may be difficult to attack due to massive Russian security operations. 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"I was thinking we might get a little delay, but it was nice to get out there," said Tyler Bozak of watching Wednesdays game." Bozak, a native of Regina, Sask., centres a line of Kessel and van Riemsdyk. He also shares an apartment with Kessel in Toronto. He has been in touch with his linemates during the break. "Theyre enjoying it, they said everythings great," said Bozak. "The village is nice, theyre meeting lots of new people and having fun. Theyre winning lots of games and playing really well." When asked who hed be cheering for in Fridays rematch of the 2010 gold medal game, Bozak appeared on the fence. "Its going to be an exciting game to watch for sure. I really cant make any predictions," he said. "I dont knowa the U.S. has been playing great. Canadas kind of snuck by with a few wins, but every games different and it should be a fun one to watch. "I just hope Phil and JVR play really well and maybe Canada wins, I dont know." Nazem Kadri, who spent his break along with Bozak and Frazer McLaren in the Caribbean, isnt sure of Canadas chances. "I want to say Canada, but to be honest, I think the U.S. looks a little bit better," said the London, Ont. native. "In tournaments like these, its all about one game, one period swing where that could be the difference." Sudbury, Ont. native, Randy Carlyle admitted cheering for Canada isnt as easy as it may appear. "I wish our players all the success in the world and I think its important for us to never lose sight of the fact that youre part of a team, but agaain, I am Canadian," said Carlyle, who spent his break in California.dddddddddddd "There is things pulling at your heart strings in different directions thats for sure." Kessel has been the talk of the tournament leading the way with five goals and eight points heading in to Fridays game. He was also the topic de jour at the Leafs practice facility in Etobicoke Wednesday. When asked if Kessel, who is second behind just Alexander Ovechkin in regular season scoring with 31 goals, has put himself amongst the best players in the NHL, Carlyle was quick to pump the breaks. "Thats a big statement for anybody to come out and proclaim on any player. It takes a longer period of time than just five years (or) six years," Carlyle said. "Hes not a one-dimensional player as people described him previously. Hes a guy who still has some things that wed like him to stop doing, but hes become more of a two-way player." Kadri, who according to Carlyle returned with the best-looking tan on the team, isnt surprised at Kessels success in Sochi. "I think we all knew Phil was going to achieve more especially on that big ice," he said. "Not too many players in the league can skate with him so. Phil does a great job finding areas to get open." Carlyle admitted one player he is concerned about is Nikolai Kulemin. Kulemin was part of the Russian team, which fell 3-1 to Finland in the quarter-finals. "Nobody asks questions about how youre going to feel about Nikolai Kulemin coming back and thats a tough one," said Carlyle. "Host country and the way their tournament unravelled. "Hes part of our hockey club and weve got to find a way to build him back up and get him going again." Notes: Injured forwards David Bolland (foot), Peter Holland (lace bite), Carter Ashton (hand) and Trevor Smith (undisclosed) were all participants in Wednesdays 50 minute skate at the MasterCard Centre. Once Bolland, Smith and Ashton return from injured reserved, the Leafs will have 25 players on their active roster and will require some moves. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap NBA Jerseys Wholesale NHL Jerseys Wholesale MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Wholesale NCAA Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '