Pele did not attend Fridays opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics because of poor health, thereby denying Brazilians the chance to celebrate their greatest sports figure.The 75-year-old soccer great said this week that he had been invited to light the cauldron, but that was not confirmed by Rio organizers.Im not physically able to attend the opening of the Olympics, Pele said in a statement Friday.Pele had hip surgery recently and often walks with a cane. His absence was a huge disappointment to fans and organizers. He is easily Brazils most recognizable athlete -- or former athlete -- even though he stopped playing almost 40 years ago.Only God is more important than my health, he wrote. In my life, Ive had fractures, surgeries, pain, hospital stays, victories and defeats. And Ive always respected those who admire me.He said not attending was my own decision.He tweeted during the opening ceremony:Peles planned role in the opening ceremony was never clear. He said earlier that a commitment to a sponsor would force him to travel the day of the ceremony.If I manage to change [the travel plans], I would like to have the honor to light it, he said.Brazilian marathoner Vanderlei De Lima did the honors of lighting the cauldron, getting his golden moment 12 years later than he might have.De Lima was leading the 2004 race at the Athens Games when a protester attacked him and disrupted his run. De Lima wound up finishing third but has been lauded for how he handled the incident.Gustavo Kuerten carried the torch into the stadium, then handed it to Brazilian basketball legend Hortencia Marcari. She brought it to the stage, then De Lima brought it up the stairs and held it aloft for 60,000 to cheer.In his statement Friday, Pele apologized for disappointing Brazilians and said as a Brazilian, I ask God to bless all who participate in this event.He signed the statement Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- Pele.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cheap Air Jordan 1 Wholesale . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Cheap Air Jordan 1 Mens . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. http://www.cheapairjordan1.us/ . 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CHICAGO -- An Illinois high school football team that lost a playoff football game because officials made an incorrect call wont be in the state championship contest after a judge on Wednesday rejected its bid to overturn the outcome.Judge Kathleen Kennedy rejected an unusual lawsuit from Chicago suburban Fenwick High School seeking to reverse the Plainfield North High School victory Saturday. Fenwick said it would not appeal the decision.That sends Plainfield North High School to the Class A state title game Saturday against East St. Louis, but none of the parties involved was celebrating.Fenwick led the playoff game 10-7 and had the ball on fourth down on its own 15-yard line with four seconds left. The Fenwick quarterback heaved the ball downfield and used up the time left on the clock. Officials ruled the play to be intentional grounding, a penalty that gave Plainfield North the ball and one more play, which it used to kick a field goal and tie the game before winning 18-17 in overtime.The Illinois High School Association, which governs prep sports in the state, said the call was a mistake. The association apologized to Fenwick, but said there was no way for the school to appeal the outcome through the organization.In her ruling Wednesday, Kennedy cited an association bylaw that says officials decisions are final.The association argued that if Fenwick prevailed it could lead to a flood of lawsuits over incorrect decisions by officials.I wish there was a way that Fenwick could participate in the game, but theres not. Sometimes the law is not fair, David Bressler, an association attorney, argued in court.ddddddddddddFenwick principal Peter Groom said in a statement: We applaud the Plainfield North athletes and coaches for a well-played semi-final game, and we thank them for their continued sportsmanship and understanding.Plainfield North spokesman Tom Hernandez praised the decision but, in a printed statement, stressed: We reiterate our empathy for our friends from Fenwick High School and their supporters.Illinois association spokesman Matt Troha said he is not aware of a previous case in which a school in Illinois tried to use the courts to change the outcome of a high school sports event.In 2014, an Oklahoma judge declined a high schools request to have a football playoff game replayed after a referees mistake cost the schools team a touchdown. The judge expressed concern about a slippery slope that could lead to future litigation over wins and losses.The association said Wednesday that it will look for ways to try to prevent such problems in future, but it isnt yet clear what that will involve.There is no celebration and there are no winners in this circumstance. It is simply a resolution, the association said in an emailed statement. The Fenwick High School community has been dealt a pair of devastating blows over the past few days, while Plainfield North had a historic moment shrouded in controversy. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '