NBA executives were in Sao Paulo for the official announcement, w

SAO PAULO - The latest stadium inaugurated for the World Cup in Brazil held its first two matches without major glitches on Sunday, a day after demonstrators across Brazil protested against the tournament. Nike Shoes Black Friday 2019 . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward. Work was being done until the final moments before the inaugural match, but the doubleheader between local clubs in front of tens of thousands of fans was not affected. Before the matches, local media reported that police arrested two men accused of firing shots at a group of rival fans a few kilometres from the stadium. No one was injured. Demonstrators complaining about the costs of the World Cup destroyed some protective fencing and set fire to temporary tents outside the Arena das Dunas late Saturday. Local media reported security guards fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd. The Tribuna do Norte newspaper said 19 people were detained. The protest was part of a nationwide movement by those opposed the level of spending on the World Cup. About 1,000 people protested in Sao Paulo and smaller demonstrations took place in several other cities. Demonstrators attacked an empty police vehicle, torched a small car and smashed the windows of banks in Sao Paulo. Authorities responded with tear gas and rubber bullets and detained more than 100 people in South Americas biggest city. On its Facebook page, the Anonymous Rio protest group billed "Operation Stop the World Cup" as this years first act against the football tournament. The Confederations Cup was marked by violent protests last year and more are expected during the World Cup. The Arena das Dunas was the seventh World Cup stadium to be completed, with five still being worked on less than five months before the opening game on June 12. Those stadiums are mostly expected to be ready in time, but there is doubt about whether Curitiba will remain a host city as the stadium there is running well behind schedule. Brazil had promised to hand over all 12 World Cup stadiums by the end of 2013. Six of them were ready for the Confederations Cup last year. Nike Shoes Black Friday Online . Consider it received. Attacking on offence early and often, the Penguins topped the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Saturday night as Jussi Jokinen scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to help give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference playoff series. Wholesale Nike Shoes Black Friday . According to TSN Edmonton reporter Ryan Rishaug, agent Rick Valette met with Oilers senior VP of hockey operations Scott Howson and general manager Craig MacTavish on Monday to kick off the talks. http://www.nikeshoesblackfriday.com/ . Tortorella told The Vancouver Province hell be cheering for Team Sweden to win gold when they take on the defending Olympic champions on Sunday morning. "I hope Sweden wins, cause I dont think Hammer (Dan Hamhuis) is going to play, judging by whats happened.SAO PAULO - The NBA has reached a commercial partnership with Brazils top basketball league, taking over its marketing, advertising and licensing deals.The deal announced Thursday is expected to give a huge boost to the sport in Brazil and should help the NBA continue expanding its presence in the South American nation of more than 200 million people.The NBA and Brazils National Basketball League said the partnership has the long-term goal of increasing the popularity of basketball in Brazil.They said the leagues will work together — with the support of the Brazilian basketball confederation — to attract more fans and bring in new business ... through marketing strategies that will focus on enriching the product of basketball.Brazilian basketball officials said the partnership is the first of its kind for a sports league in Brazil.The partnership can expand in the upcoming years to include new areas such as basketball operations and player development, the local league said in a statement.Financial details of the deal were not immediately disclosed. The length of the contract also wasnt available, although both sides said it was a long-term agreement.Basketball is very popular in Brazil and one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, said Arnon de Mello, the NBAs managing director in Brazil. Nike Shoes Black Friday Sale. The NBA is very happy with this partnership. It allows us to dream bigger. We will help with the growth and the development of the sport.A few NBA executives were in Sao Paulo for the official announcement, which comes two months after the league was in Rio to host a high-profile preseason game between the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers of LeBron James. It was the second year in a row that the NBA was in the country. The Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards played in the first-ever NBA game in Brazil in 2013.The NBA has a significant number of fans in Brazil, to the point that its common for local tourism agencies to offer travel packages that include tickets for games in cities such as Orlando, Miami and New York. There are seven Brazilian players in the NBA this season, the most ever.The leagues increased presence in Brazil could help basketball stop losing ground to volleyball as the countrys most popular sport behind soccer. Auto racing and mixed martial arts are also popular sports in Brazil.___Follow Tales Azzoni at http://www.twitter.com/tazzoni ' ' '