Olympic Games Return to Greece in Lavish Event
ChimS1
Nation Overcomes Problems, but Local Heroes in Doping Investigation
By BRIAN MURPHY, AP SPORTS
ATHENS, Greece (Aug. 13) -- The Olympics returned home Friday to a lavish
welcome in an opening ceremony invoking Greek mythology, civilization and
culture and closing an epic circle in sports: from the games' 19th-century
rebirth to the latest gathering of the world's greatest athletes in an age
beset by fears of terrorism and instability.
At dusk, a countdown video filled the screen at the recently upgraded Olympic
Stadium - 28 seconds, one for each of the games scheduled since the first
modern Olympiad in 1896 in Athens. Each tick of the clock was accompanied by
the amplified sound of a human heartbeat.
Then, with a blast of fireworks around the stadium roof, the ceremony was under
way. Minutes later, the five Olympic rings were ablaze in fire in the middle of
a manmade ''sea'' in the middle of the stadium.
The extravaganza was a victory for Greek organizers, who managed to pull
together the 2004 Games despite serious construction delays, worldwide
skepticism and terrorist worries that pushed the security price tag to the most
expensive in Olympic history and required help from NATO and other nations.
''The great moment as come!'' cried the announcer in the stadium. Moments
later, the parade of nations began led by Greek weightlifter Pyrros Dimas, who
is seeking his fourth consecutive gold medal at the games.
A round-the-clock work blitz - under broiling sun and blinding spotlights -
managed to accomplish what many had considered out of reach: pulling together
the vast network of venues, transport links, villages and security needed for
the athletes and heads of state at the first Summer Games since the Sept. 11
attacks.
Earlier, an International Olympic Committee member who helped oversee the
preparations noted how much was at stake.
''I think you have saved Greece and saved the IOC from great humiliation,''
Alex Gilady told Athens organizers.
But the pride and relief of Greek organizers was tempered by a doping scandal
that could threaten the country's biggest track stars - 200-meter champion
Kostas Kenteris and 100-meter silver medalist Katerina Thanou.
Kenteris had been considered the favorite to light the Olympic cauldron.
Instead, he and Thanou were hospitalized with minor injuries following a
motorcycle wreck. The accident came after the two were accused of evading a
drug test, and they might miss the games.
Greek taxpayers also are starting to tally up the worrying bill. Officials say
the games will exceed $7.2 billion, and some analysts say it could hit a
staggering $12 billion, including a record $1.5 billion for security.
Under a new weblike stadium canopy -- finally bolted into place only last month
-- the modern heirs of the Olympics hoped to make the world forget the bumpy
road to the opening ceremony and concentrate instead on the 16 days of
competition.
Not surprisingly, Greek mythology played a central role in the extravaganza
that officially began the Olympiad, a big-budget show running from reverent
tradition to Las Vegas-style pageantry.
After the burning Olympic flames subsided, a boy on a replica of a ship then
sailed into the arena, waving a small Greek flag.
Then a centaur -- the mythological half-man, half-horse -- waded into the water
and tossed a spear of light representing a javelin. From the center of the
stadium rose a statue representing an ancient form from Greece's Cyclades
islands. The form broke apart to reveal other figures from Greek history.
The ancient god of love, Eros, flew above two lovers dancing and playing in the
water. Then Eros hovered over a procession of figures from Greek history --
from ancient vase paintings to a tribute to the Greek shepherd, Spiros Louis,
who won the first Olympic marathon.
Spectators participated in the main ceremony by clapping and using flashlights
and bells when signaled. The Icelandic singer Bjork was one of the night's
headliners.
The main part of the ceremony was designed to be ''an allegoric journey of the
evolution of human consciousness ... from the mythological perception of the
world to the logical,'' said Dimitri Papaioannou, the concept creator of the
ceremony.
The parade of nations had a distinct Athens stamp.
Greece, because of its links to the ancient games, entered first, as usual.
But, as the host nation, Greek athletes also were the last into the stadium in
the biggest procession in Olympic history.
Among the 10,500 athletes under 202 flags: the debut appearance of competitors
from the sprinkling of Pacific atolls known as Kiribati, and the return of
Afghanistan after an eight-year absence, with Afghan women for the first time.
Huge cheers went up for the Afghan athletes, led by a female flagbearer --
coach Nina Suratger in a shimmering green costume.
All along, Greek officials continually described the Olympics as a way to shed
the country's reputation as a parochial and unruly corner of the European
Union. The transport minister even said drivers' respect for Olympic lanes
shows Greece can be ''civilized.''
The Olympic deadlines forced projects long taken for granted in other European
capitals: highways around city centers, a serious subway and rail network and
efforts to preserve architectural landmarks.
''No country has been more underrated than Greece,'' said the chief organizer,
Gianna Angelopoulos-Dasalaki.
In the stadium, she proclaimed: ''Greece is standing before you. We are ready.
... We have waited long for this moment. Olympic Games, welcome home.''
08-13-04 12:43EDT
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Vutha
is the best opening ceremony among ceremonies presented so far by other host
countries.
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