MOSCOW - Russia will cut the budget for hosting the 2018 World Cup as part of plans to slash state expenditure while recession looms, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Thursday.The Russian government is cutting its spending by 10 per cent across the board after the central bank predicted last month that the economy could contract 4.5 to 4.7 per cent this year, under pressure from low oil prices and international sanctions.Mutko, also a FIFA executive committee member, said in comments reported by the Tass news agency that World Cup stadiums and associated infrastructure would be exempt from the cuts. However, various organizational issues and subsidies to the organizing committee would be cut, he said, along with spending related to the draw ceremony.Mutko did not provide specific figures, but suggested the cuts would also apply to the non-exempt areas of World Cup spending.This month, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said he had been assured by President Vladimir Putin that economic problems would not affect the tournament, and FIFA told The Associated Press it was not worried by Mutkos announcement of cuts.We are not concerned that this will have any impact on the delivery of general infrastructure required for a successful staging of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, FIFA spokesman Olegs Sokols said in emailed comments.In a statement issued to the AP, the organizing committee said, This rationalization of federal funding will not affect key infrastructure essential for staging the tournament, like stadiums, training sites, and team base camps, public transportation, IT infrastructure, and safety and security measures.Russia has already cut the capacity of two of its 12 World Cup stadiums from 45,000 to 35,000, citing financial and legacy reasons, but Mutko ruled out further shrinking of stadiums to save money, saying FIFA was unwilling to lose any more ticket revenue from hosting games in front of fewer fans.FIFA wont give us any more concessions, and all the stadiums should be 45,000-capacity, he said. The ticketing program has started, its economics, its FIFAs earnings. The fact that they lowered two of the stadiums to 35,000 people for us; according to their projections, they already lost $60 million.Mutko said the Industry and Trade Ministry was tasked with gathering World Cup contractors for meetings at which they were encouraged to lower the price of concrete for tournament-related projects.According to government figures before Mutkos comments on Thursday, more than half of Russias projected $9.6 billion World Cup spending will come from the federal government budget, with much of the remaining sum paid for by Russian regional authorities and state-owned companies.At previous World Cups, FIFA has occasionally picked up the tab when the host nations government has been unable or unwilling to fund certain aspects of the preparation. In the run-up to last years tournament in Brazil, for example, FIFA covered a reported fee of $20 million to provide generators to power broadcast facilities. Cheap Air Jordan Online . - Maynor Figueroa headed in a late goal to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in an international friendly Tuesday. Wholesale Air Jordan . Wheeler said Kane was just making a joke that was misunderstood and misinterpreted by "Winnipeg folks" and the media once again. Wheeler repeated that he believes Kane is a player who has the ability to help the Jets get to the next level as they try once again to reach the playoffs in 2014. He made the comments initially in an interview, when asked how the Jets could compete in the Central Division with teams that have made some high-profile off-season signings. https://www.wholesalejordanshoeschina.com/.com) - The Chicago White Sox have officially announced that the club has agreed to terms with utilityman Emilio Bonifacio on a one-year, $4 million contract that includes a team option for the 2016 season. Air Jordan 19 For Sale .ca! Hi Kerry, The recent issues in the Boston-Pittsburgh game have highlighted a number of officiating, game control, and player sportsmanship aspects. Cheap Jordan . Week 2s biggest games include Florida facing Miami and Notre Dame travelling to the Big House to conclude their rivalry against Michigan in primetime on TSN2 and TSN 1050.NEW YORK -- Attention, shoppers! Free agency in the NBA is open, and LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are available. Players and teams could begin negotiating just past midnight EDT on Tuesday morning, though contracts cant be signed until July 10, after next seasons salary cap has been set. James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who joined together in Miami in 2010 and have led the Heat to two championships and four straight NBA Finals, all became free agents. Though many expect that trio to stay with the Heat, Anthony could be persuaded to leave the New York Knicks for a team he believes gives him a better chance to compete for a championship. He was visiting Chicago on Tuesday, and Houston and Dallas also could try to pry the 2012-13 scoring champion away from the Knicks, who can pay him around $30 million more than any team under NBA rules. Longtime stars Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol also are free agents, along with players such as Torontos Kyle Lowry and Indianas Lance Stephenson, who are coming off their best seasons in the league. Its the most anticipated free agency class since 2010, when James led a class that included Wade, Bosh, and other All-Stars such as Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson. That free agency period changed the NBA. This one might mostly change the Heat. They are in need of an upgrade after getting smashed by San Antonio in the finals, and the Big Three could help give them the means to make one if they agree to salaries that wont clog up too much of the cap. Knicks president Phil Jackson hopes Anthony also agrees to take less than a maximum salary, which would be more than $125 million if he stayed in New York.dddddddddddd Also in New York, the Brooklyn Nets stagger into free agency without their coach after letting Jason Kidd leave for the Milwaukee Bucks. The teams agreed to a deal Monday, with the Bucks sending two future second-round picks to the Nets, who allowed Kidd to pursue other jobs after denying his request for more power in the organization. Brooklyn has Pierce and Shaun Livingston among its key players who are free agents. The Los Angeles Lakers have plenty of money to offer, along with the chance to play with Kobe Bryant. Teams such as Phoenix and Atlanta have some good pieces in place and enough cap space to add another. They would love a shot at James, as would his home state Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he left in 2010. But its unclear how seriously the four-time MVP will listen to other teams after meeting with six suitors when he was last a free agent. The Cavaliers may not get James back, but they will have their current All-Star for a while. Owner Dan Gilbert wrote on Twitter early Tuesday morning that he had an agreement on a five-year contract extension with Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft. "Looking forward to the next 6 years of Kyrie Irving in CLE. Just shook hands & intend to sign on the 10th," Gilbert wrote, adding that he couldnt be more excited about the Cavs future. Players such as Clevelands Luol Deng and Washingtons Trevor Ariza could be good fallback options for teams who cant get James or Anthony. ' ' '