Olympics Return to Greece in Lavish Event

AP ^ | 8-13-04

[TexKat]

ATHENS, Greece - The Olympics returned home Friday, offering the world an epic welcome with an opening ceremony invoking Greek mythology, civilization and culture before 72,000 fans assembled to greet the world's greatest athletes at the site of the games' 19th-century rebirth.

As cameras flashed in the stands at dusk, a countdown video ran on the screen at the recently completed Olympic Stadium — 28 seconds, one for each of the games since the 1896 event here in Athens, accompanied by the amplified sound of a human heartbeat.

The audience loudly counted down with the video screen. 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 kicking off the games was a victory for Greek organizers, who managed to pull together the 2004 Games despite serious construction delays, worldwide skepticism and terrorist fears.

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.

Under a new weblike stadium canopy — finally bolted into place only last month — the modern heirs of the Olympics hope to make the world forget the bumpy road to the opening ceremony and reset the clock to begin ticking down 16 days of competition.

Not surprisingly, Greek mythology plays a central role in the extravaganza to officially begin the Olympiad. What's startling, however, is that the round-the-clock work blitz — under broiling sun and blinding spotlights — managed to accomplish what many 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.

But things are just getting started.

A doping investigation has snared Greek heroes from the Sydney Games: 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.

The big-budget show promises to run from reverent tradition to Las Vegas-style pageantry.

At its start, hundreds of drummers marched into the stadium, pounding to the rhythm of a heartbeat. A boy on a replica of a ship then sailed into the arena, waving a small Greek flag.

In another segment, a centaur — the mythological half man, half horse — tosses a javelin that begins the rise of a statue representing an ancient form from Greece's Cyclades islands. The form breaks apart to reveal other figures from Greek history.

The ancient god of love, Eros, flies above two lovers dancing and playing in the water.

Spectators will participate in the main ceremony by clapping and using flashlights and bells when signaled, according to people who saw the rehearsals.

The Icelandic singer Bjork was one of the night's headliners.

The main part of the ceremony is "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 also will have a distinct Athens stamp.

Greece, because of its links to the ancient games, will enter first, as usual. But, as the host nation, Greek athletes will also be 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 (news - web sites) after an eight-year absence, with Afghan women for the first time.

"So here we are. Little Greece is just a breath away from the miracle," wrote columnist Giorgos Karelias in the Eleftherotypia newspaper. "Here is little Greece that — after being stabbed in the back by supposed well-wishers or simply the uninformed — has gone to receiving praise at the 11th hour."

But Greece is lapping it up.

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 have 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.

[HawkeyeLonewolf]

Was Vangelis in attendance or performing at all?

I cannot believe he was not selected to conduct, being the hometown boy and all. I was hoping he was one of tonight's surprises.

[Thinkin' Gal]

I've been eating supper and reading the Charley threads, while the Olympics have been on in the foreground. I'm not sure in what order the athletes are in, it sure isn't in alphabetical order. Went from Austria to Afghanistan to Belgium to Venezuela to Bermuda. Maybe it's some kind of back and forth switch from A to Z and Z to A? Weird. Maybe it's alphabetical in Greek. I'm not sure if the US has already been through. I'll try to keep an eye out but I've got to pack for a vacation, ack.

The opening show was really strange. Hard to describe. There was some madonna type thing with an "expectant" woman, and her belly illuminated like a light bulb. I think it was supposed to represent the birth of Apollo? Some Greek god/goddess or other...

France just went through a minute ago. Lots of cheers. Ick. There's a lot of cheering and backgound crowd noise anyway, but there seemed to be a higher response toward France.

[alisasny]

I wish it were live too however I truly believe that it would be on tape delay even if in USA. I hate the media.

[xp38]

Will let you know but I haven't seen anything on him yet but I haven't been watching second by second so I may have missed him. Greek National Anthem was sung by a choir.

[TexKat]

A performer dressed as a Centaur stands beneath a Cycladic head during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 13, 2004. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

An actor portraying Alexander the Great performs during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, August 13, 2004. A spectacular opening ceremony launched the Athens Olympics on Friday, lifting spirits in the Games' ancient birthplace.REUTERS/Mike Blake

Performers representing figures from Greek mythology enter the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Friday Aug. 13, 2004. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

Artists symbolising ancient Greece perform during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 13, 2004. A spectacular opening ceremony launched the Athens Olympics on Friday, lifting spirits in the Games' ancient birthplace after the host nation was rocked by a drugs drama involving its two top sprinters. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Artists symbolising ancient Greece perform during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 13, 2004. A spectacular opening ceremony launched the Athens Olympics on Friday, lifting spirits in the Games' ancient birthplace after the host nation was rocked by a drugs drama involving its two top sprinters.REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

[Teacher317]

You can't blame NBC too much, though. They spent, what, $2 billion for the broadcast rights? Their ratings have to be maximized, and that means prime-time airing, with all us salivating dogs waiting breathlessly for it.

[xp38]

It seemed like polite applause to me and not rousing cheering but the sound mix may vary from broadcaster to broadcaster.

[HawkeyeLonewolf]

Wow.. They did a re-enactment of the Clinton-Lewinsky affair. :)

[xp38]

The US Olympic Team will enter the stadium soon!!!

[Teacher317]

I wonder how many people think that ancient greeks really were gray-colored.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Overwhelming cheers for the US! Panned the audience; lots of excitement.

The France response seemed more than for the other countries, not extreme, but noticeable.

[eleni121]

Live on CBC live...finally!

The US team got a big ovation marching in.

[xp38]

US team enters with Dawn Staley female basketball player carrying the flag. No jeers that I could hear. Average cheer from the sound mix I could get from the CBC. Large team of course. USOC aims for 100 medals at these games.

[eastsider]

Who's that guy in the last picture? Priapus?

[MinuteGal]

What time will this be aired tonight? What network? Please give in Eastern time for the benefit of all. Gracias,

Leni

[xp38]

HUGE CHEERS for the Iraq team!!!

[eleni121]

I think they are trying to emulate the color of 2500 year old statues or what's left of them.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Big applause and cheering for Iraq.

[xp38]

8:00 pm ET/PT on NBC...expect a 4 hour show at least.

[eleni121]

Yes huge for Iraq...not much of anything for Iran/