MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree banning demonstrations and rallies for two and a half months in Sochi around the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the official government newspaper, published the presidential decree Friday, listing an array of measures tightening security in the Olympic host city, including the ban on public assemblies. All "gatherings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and pickets" that are not part of the Olympics or the Paralympics will be prohibited in Sochi from Jan. 7 to March 21, the decree said. The Winter Olympics is taking place in the Black Sea resort from Feb. 7-23 and the Paralympics are being held March 7-16. Government-imposed protest bans across entire cities where Olympics are held are unusual. Putins decree could be aimed at heading off demonstrations against Russias ban on alleged gay propaganda, a new law that has been sharply criticized in the West. Among other measures in the decree were restrictions on vehicles entering Sochi. Only cars with local license plates, emergency vehicles and those accredited by the Olympic organizers will be allowed to enter the host city between Jan. 7 and March 21. Rights organizations have earlier voiced concerns about what they described as the "harassment and intimidation of civil society" advocates in Sochi. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that environmental, human rights and other activists have been "the targets of attacks, detention for peaceful protests and police searches." The International Olympic Committee received a letter Thursday from Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak giving assurances that the host country will comply with the Olympic Charters provision against discrimination of any kind. The letter, however, defended Russias new anti-gay law and said it would be enforced. Gay activist Nikolai Alexeyev told The Associated Press on Friday that he would petition the Supreme Court next week to contest the presidential decree banning rallies in Sochi as "violating our right of freedom of assembly." Russian authorities have repeatedly denied gay activists applications to set up a Pride House in Sochi during the Games but Alexeyev said he would apply for permission to hold a gay pride rally in Sochi on the opening day of the Games anyway. Dexter Fowler Jersey . -- Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno was admitted to the hospital Friday for observation due to minor complications from cancer treatments, his family said. Willie McGee Jersey . Cain departed in the fourth inning of a 10-5 loss to the Pirates on Thursday. X-rays on Cains bruised forearm were negative. He was hit when Sanchez led off the fourth with a groundout. http://www.cardinalsrookiestore.com/Card...-Kids-Jersey/.J. - Pete Carroll is in support of the NFL looking further into whether medicinal marijuana could beneficial for players. Chris Carpenter Jersey . -- John Fox will coach the Denver Broncos from the sideline and not the booth upon his return Sunday five weeks after heart surgery. Mark McGwire Jersey . The Broncos quarterback earned the offensive award Wednesday after passing for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 win over the Raiders Monday night. Manning completed 32-of-37 passes and had a passer rating of 135.SOCHI, Russia -- Martin Erat of the Washington Capitals will replace injured Vladimir Sobotka on the Czech team for the Sochi Olympics. The 26-year-old Sobotka injured his left leg playing for the St. Louis Blues in a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The Blues said he would not recover from the injury in time for the Olympic tournament. Sobotka had seveen goals and a total of 25 points from 46 games this season.dddddddddddd Czech coach Alois Hadamczik announced the replacement Tuesday, recalling Erat for his third Olympics. The 32-year-old right wing helped the Czechs win the bronze medal at Turin in 2006. The Czechs open the tournament Feb. 12 against Sweden and also face Latvia and Switzerland in Group C. Cheap Barcelona Jerseys AuthenticCheap Real Madrid Jerseys ChinaCheap Bayern Munich Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Dortmund JerseysCheap USA Soccer JerseysCheap USWNT Jerseys ChinaCheap France JerseysCheap Mexico JerseysWholesale Germany JerseysCheap Belgium JerseysCheap Brazil JerseysColombia Jerseys From ChinaWholesale England JerseysWholesale France JerseysCheap Germany JerseysWholesale Italy JerseysCheap Mexico JerseysCheap Portugal JerseysCheap South Africa JerseysWholesale Spain JerseysWholesale France JerseysWholesale Germany JerseysWholesale Mexico JerseysWholesale Colombia JerseysCheap Belgium Jerseys AuthenticCheap Brazil JerseysCheap Argentina Jerseys AuthenticCheap Spain JerseysCheap Belgium Jerseys ChinaCheap Mexico Jerseys Authentic ' ' '