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BMX racer Maris Strombergs has earned the nickname The Machine.The Latvian is the only man to win BMX cycling gold in the disciplines short Olympic history.In 2008, Strombergs swept through the competition from the quarterfinals. He wasnt quite as strong during the early rounds in 2012, but won the final anyway. Now 29, Strombergs will be one of the older competitors at the Rio Olympics, where the average age of a rider skews closer to the early-to-mid 20s.Strombergs does have that Olympic pedigree , though. USA Cycling BMX director Jaime Staff said Strombergs has the ability to peak toward one or two events a year.A physical specimen for sure, mentally very tough, Staff said. Hes able to switch it on when he needs to.Both the mens and womens fields figure to be as competitive as ever. Here are a few notes and other things to watch in Brazil:MEET MARIANAMariana Pajon is a star in her native Colombia after winning gold in 2012. She took the womens title in late May at the world BMX championships on a track named after her in her home country, and figures to be a top contender again in Rio.Pajon had been dealing with injuries in the months leading up to worlds that limited her typical training regimen. But Pajon can also draw on the experience of international success.She knows exactly what needs to be done to be the best, said Colombia coach German Medina.WHAT A RUSHImagine sitting on a BMX bicycle, staring down a ramp about three stories high while anxiously awaiting a signal to take off. As with horse racing, a gate prevents anyone from getting a head start. But this is no flat, oval track. Its winding, nearly quarter mile-long course with groomed dirt hills serving as bumpy obstacles. Someone could be pedaling as fast as 40 mph after clearing the starting ramp.Even the best BMX competitors in the world will have to steel themselves at the Rio Olympics. Team USA rider Alise Post compares BMX cycling to a mix of horse racing and getting in the front car of an amusement park ride.Youre in this starting gate ... and then everybody goes, said Post, a top medal contender . After that youre riding a roller coaster. Everything happens fast out there.The action sport is aimed at attracting a younger audience to the Summer Games, having been introduced in 2008 in Beijing. Post, 25, watched that competition eight years ago. She rode in London in 2012, finishing 12th.OLYMPIAN EFFORTSTwo of the top U.S. riders are bouncing back from recent injuries. Connor Fields and Brooke Crain, who each competed in London, have returned to the track, and they should have plenty of time to prepare since the BMX competition will be held toward the end of the Olympics in mid-August.Fields was the top-ranked American in the world before hurting his wrist this spring. He was cleared to start training again in mid-June, and returned to the Rio-replica track for the first time on June 27. Crain came back after five weeks away following a broken left leg. She fractured her fibula while extending the leg while trying to brace herself from a crash during a race.TEAM USAThe United States is looking for its first BMX gold and was shut out of the podium entirely in 2012. Fields and Crain were discretionary picks to the U.S. team. Post was an automatic qualifier after finishing third at worlds. On the mens side, Fields will be joined by automatic qualifiers Nic Long, who placed third at worlds; and Corben Sharrah, who won the U.S. Olympic trials. Its the strongest squad that Team USA could field, headlined by some of the top-ranked racers in the world.Probably the best team we could wish for, Staff said.OTHERS TO WATCHNiek Kimmann of the Netherlands, who won the time trials at worlds, is atop the world rankings on the mens side. Joris Daudet of France, who won the elite title, is fifth in the world. Australias Sam Willougby took silver in 2012 and remains a medal favorite. ... Australian teammate Caroline Buchanan, who took the time trials at worlds, is just 10 points behind Pajon in second place in the world rankings. Laura Smulders of the Netherlands is back after winning bronze in London.---Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP Josh Tomlin Braves Jersey . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Ozzie Albies Braves Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/ozzie-albies-braves-jersey/ . 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ATLANTA -- Georgia State received approval Wednesday to purchase Turner Field for $22.8 million, clearing the way to convert the former home of the?Atlanta Braves?into a downsized college football stadium.The Panthers, members of the Sun Belt Conference, plan to move into the stadium next season after playing at the much larger Georgia Dome since the program was launched in 2010.The 68-acre site was sold in August to the Georgia State Foundation. The Board of Regents gave the go-ahead for the university to purchase 38 acres that includes the stadium and an adjacent parking lot where a baseball field will be constructed on roughly the old footprint of Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium, the Braves home before Turner Field.The remainder of the site will be sold and leased to Georgia States development partner, Carter and Associates. The company plans a $300 million development that includes private housing, retail space and corporate facilities around the stadium.The Braves played at 50,000-seat Turner Field for 20 seasons. They are moving to a new suburban facility, SunTrust Park, in 2017.Turner Field initially opened as Centennial Olympic Stadium, seating some 83,000 and serving as the centerpiece of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games.Georgia State plans to convert Turner Field into a 23,000-seat football stadiumm, with the ability to add another 10,000 seats in the future.dddddddddddd It will spend some $26 million for the conversion, which also includes new locker rooms and football offices. It will be begin shortly after the university takes control of the property on Jan. 1.We are excited to begin the next phase of this transformational project for the university and the city, Georgia State President Mark P. Becker said. It is rewarding to see our vision begin to take shape.The school plans to fund the project with proceeds from its bookstore, parking operations, housing and other sources, as well as private fundraising. Officials said no taxpayer dollars or new student fees would be used.Georgia State has moved aggressively to expand its main downtown campus, which is located about a mile north of Turner Field. This will be the biggest addition yet, with the repurposed stadium also housing academic programs, administrative space and hospitality facilities.Acquiring the former Turner Field site presents a unique opportunity for Georgia State University that will help its athletics program continue to grow and positively impact the surrounding area, Chancellor Hank Huckaby said. ' ' '