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Kurt Gidley says the State of Origin games are the toughest that any player can be involved in. Gidley, who has quickly settled in at Warrington Wolves, is well placed to discuss the State of Origin series, having made 12 appearances for New South Wales, including captaining the region. With the opening match of the 2016 series on the horizon, the 33-year-old was open about just how gruelling taking part in one of Australias most intense sporting rivalries is. Id describe it as the pinnacle in Rugby League, he told Sky Sports. Theyre the toughest games that any player can be involved in, as far as physical and mental toughness goes. Gidley fending off close Queensland attention in State of Origin action Ive represented my country and theyre really tough and physical games as well, but I think that the Origin games that Ive played in have been the most physical and toughest that Ive ever played in.Theres so much at stake, its the highest-rated programme on Australian television every year and people who dont watch rugby league throughout the year watch State of Origin because it is such a big occasion. Aidan Guerra celebrates scoring Queenslands eighth try in State of Origin III last year Sydneys ANZ Stadium will host the opening Test and Gidleys New South Wales will know the importance of starting positively.The 2015 series ended in despair for the Blues as Queensland inflicted a brutal 52-6 hammering of their rivals. However, Gidley doesnt believe that will impact on Wednesdays opener.As a player, theres nothing that you can do the change the past, he said. For me, Im always looking towards my next game, whether Ive lost, drawn or won my previous game.So its almost 12 months between the last game of Origin 2015 and this one, its irrelevant what happened last year now. Gidleys Knights career in the NRL spanned over 15 years With the State of Origin stage being so large and the scrutiny that comes with that, the 33-year-old commented how it takes some time to learn how to handle the external pressures. Queenslands media and New South Wales media are both driving different agendas and trying to find different stories on opposing teams, players and coaches so its a crazy time, explained Gidley.As a young guy, it takes a bit of time to learn just to focus on training and your job in the game, because you dont want to play the game in your head before you do play it. So, that comes with a bit of experience.Once game day arrives and the build-up has come to an end, Gidley knows that every member taking to the field during the 2016 series, and in the years to come, will experience something extremely special and something that theyll never forget.The atmosphere is the biggest thing that most players remember, he said. Whether its in Queensland with 90 per cent of the crowd booing you, or whether youre in New South Wales and there are close to 90,000 people supporting you. State of Origin is one of Australias most intense sporting rivalries The atmospheres are amazing and when you run out for the game, its a feeling that you cant get anywhere else in your life.You train pretty intensely for 10 days in the lead up to it, and every day that you get closer to the game you get more excited. By the time that you run out of the tunnel and you hear the crowd, it is a pretty unrealistic feeling to describe unless youve experienced it.For the Australian, his focus is firmly on Warringtons trip to St Helens on Friday night, as the Wolves have the opportunity to build upon their nine-try victory over Leeds.But, like most, hell have one eye on the 2016 State of Origin opener to see if New South Wales can turn around a difficult 2015 finale and start the 2016 series on a winning note.St Helens v Warrington is live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 7.30pm on Friday night. Also See: State Of Origin 2016 Preview Saints v Wolves: Key battles Rugby League Set of Six Top Super League tries Jordan 12 Cheap Wholesale . The actual winners on transfer deadline day are those clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City who were well prepared and managed to get their main incoming business done well ahead of the transfer window closing. 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Not to be outdone, Atletico Madrid bettered its title rivals by demolishing 10-man Getafe 7-0 with Diego Costa returning from injury to score with a brilliant bicycle kick. "It was an almost perfect night," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.BELEK, Turkey -- The head of Olympic summer sports federations called for urgent action Tuesday to tackle the critical delays facing the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and accused the Brazilian government of neglecting the crisis. In an interview with The Associated Press, Francesco Ricci Bitti said Rios troubled preparations are reaching a stage where some sports may need to consider "Plan B" options for their venues. "Its getting very serious," the Italian said. "We have an organizing committee with good people but without the leverage to cope with the problem. ... We are scared. This is not a country like China where you can ask people to work by night. In Brazil, this could not happen. The government has to change speed." Ricci Bitti heads the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, which represents the 28 sports in the Rio Games. He also leads the International Tennis Federation and serves on the IOC co-ordination commission for Rio, which made its latest visit to Brazil two weeks ago. "We can be flexible in the infrastructure but surely not in the sports venues, and we are at risk at sports venues," Ricci Bitti said. "Even for the ones that dont consider themselves at risk, we dont see a sense of urgency." The timetables are so tight that backup plans may need to be considered by some sports, he said. "We have to sit down and to start looking at some Plan Bs," Ricci Bitti said. Rios problems dominated discussions at the ASOIF general assembly, which took place during the SportAccord convention in this Mediterranean resort in southern Turkey. Rio will also top the agenda for meetings of the International Olympic Committee executive board, which meets here Wednesday and Thursday. "We need to act now because if we wait another six months, as it could be looking at the inactivity of the government, I think it will become very serious," Ricci Bitti said. "The organizing committee is doing its best, but the government is not supporting enough." Brazil is also struggling with delays ahead of hosting the World Cup this summer. With the country focusing on the World Cup, Ricci Bitti said, the Olympic preparations risk falling further behinnd.dddddddddddd. "We cant always hope in the fact that in the end we will solve the problem," he said. "This time we have the style and the habits of the South Americans. They are not used to managing big events like this. The Olympics is a very different problem from the World Cup. The World Cup in the end is one stadium, one hotel, in many cities. Rio has a lot of problems." Rio organizing committee chief Carlos Nuzman and CEO Sidney Levy were meeting in Brasilia on Tuesday with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseffs chief of staff to discuss the Olympics. It was left to Rios executive sports director, Agberto Guimaraes, to report to the federations in Turkey. "I still think we can pull this thing together and can have great games," he told the delegates. "The moment I dont I will (give) my resignation. I still believe we can do it. Please help me get through this alive and well." Christophe Dubi, the IOCs deputy executive director for the Olympic Games, said the IOC would be sending special task forces to Rio to monitor the situation. The first group will consist of construction experts, he said. "We have to have special measures in place," he said. Dubi noted that Gilbert Felli, the IOCs long-time executive director, has been assigned to work with Rio after he steps down from his post later this year. The meetings in Turkey come amid a daily drumbeat of troubles in Brazil. On Monday, striking construction workers and security personnel clashed at Rios Olympic Park. Random gunshots were fired but no injuries were reported. Workers also went on strike Monday at the Olympic stadium that will be used for track and field at the games. The venue has been closed since last year to fix problems with the roof. Guimaraes said the repair work would completed by December. The greatest concerns centre on the Deodoro complex, an area that is to host venues for eight sports. Work has yet to begin on the site. In addition, work on the Olympic golf course is far behind schedule, raising concerns for the sports return to the games after more than a century. Guimaraes said grass would begin to be laid on the course later this month and the venue would be ready by September 2015. ' ' '