After long and arduous negotiations, the city entered into a 10-year contract providing New York with one of the world's premiere sporting events.
Donald Fehr, the players' labor chief, said the two sides had endured "arduous negotiations."
"I will confirm we are in arduous and laborious negotiations and an announcement could come."
Even with American support, Russia still faces arduous negotiations over membership.
And the risk is high, as permits are often refused or issued only after three to five years of arduous negotiation.
The draft memorandum of understanding came about after arduous negotiations.
The abortion provision was a result of arduous negotiations last summer between leaders of both houses.
A peace deal, often reached after months of arduous negotiations, is followed almost immediately by violence that makes a mockery of the pact.
He was in the thick of last year's millennium summit, with its arduous negotiations over where to hold meetings for some 150 heads of state.
The treaty that has emerged after arduous negotiations will at least begin to mitigate the mindless destruction.