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.

[TexKat]

British model Naomi Campbell carries the Olympic Flame in central Athens, Friday Aug. 13, 2004. The opening ceremony for the Athens 2004 Olympics Games will be held later Friday. (AP Photo/PA, David Davies)

Fireworks over the Olympic Stadium 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/Issei Kato

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, center, and German President Horst Koehler attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Friday, Aug. 13, 2004 in Athens, Greece. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

The Olympic rings are lit up as fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 13, 2004. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

ugh, I hate not being able to see it live

[Lightfinger]

I agree.

I wrote NBC about it. They basically embargoed any website outside the US from showing the feed to US computer users.

BBC's feed comes up with a 'We cannot show this feed outside of the UK' when you attempt to access it.

This is an outrage, honestly. The Olympics is a news event as much as a sporting event.

[HawkeyeLonewolf]

Oh crap!

I thought this would be live tonight. That sucks. All the surprises will be known. I cannot believe NBC didn't run it live on one of their networks.

[eastsider]

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

Let the games begin ...

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

I spent the better part of last night trying to find a live video link outside the US without luck. I'm sure there has to be somewhere.

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

SCREW NBC...SPOILERS....

[Thinkin' Gal]

ugh, I hate not being able to see it live

I've been watching it. What a trip all this floating pagan imagery is. Incredible. Kind of reminds me of Carousel in Logan's Run.

[eleni121]

Well...let me know if you do happen to find someting. Thanks.

NBC has this wrapped up it seems...corporate monsters!

[Ciexyz]

The games have come home to their birthplace! I'll be tuning in.

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

where have you been watching it live?

[TexKat]

An actor representing Greek mythological figure Centaur performs in front of a sculpture 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/Wolfgang Rattay

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Iraqi insurgents and not the United States were to blame for the failure of the so-called Olympic truce to take root in Iraq as the 2004 Olympic Games opened in Athens amid continued fighting in Najaf(AFP/File/Brendan Smialowski)

A little boy on a boat waves a Greek flag during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 13, 2004. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Centaur watches after throwing a lance at a sculpture during the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Friday, Aug. 13, 2004.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

A security blimp is seen through Giorgos Gyparakis's work of art named 'Urban Oasis' in central Athens, 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/Marcelo Del Pozo

A dancer performs`during the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Friday Aug. 13, 2004. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie attend opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games Friday, Aug. 13, 2004 in Athens, Greece. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

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

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

A performer takes part in the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 13, 2004. The games were opened in a spectacular ceremony in their historic birthplace amid controversy over two Greek athletes who missed a scheduled drug test. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Fireworks explode over the Athens Olympic Stadium August 13, 2004, as the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony begin. 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/Jason Reed

Drummers are reflected in water 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/Dylan Martinez

[Thinkin' Gal]

Iceland. Not sure what channel I'm watching, it's on a couple of them. Maybe a BBC channel.

The ceremony has moved on to the parade of athletes/countries.

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

o wow, that was a quick ceremony, was it as impressive as they said it would be?

[Republican Red]

Please let us know how the American athletes are greated.

If they are jeered in any way I will not watch tonight. I have a real bad feeling about this Olympics.

[Republican Red]

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

Will she be wearing te swan outfit?



What a lousy pick for entertainment.

[xp38]

Watching it live now on the Canadian CBC. The teams enter in the alphabetical order of the host nation language which is Greek in this instance. The US will enter at number 50 something of the 202 nations. Australia just entered to rousing cheers.

[xp38]

Will do...the US should enter within the next half hour.

[TexKat]

Fireworks mark the beginning of the opening ceremony at the Olympic stadium in Athens, Greece, Friday, Aug. 13, 2004. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis (news))

A performer enters the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Friday Aug. 13, 2004. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Performers are shown during the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Friday, Aug. 13, 2004.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

[xp38]

France just entered to polite applause. The athletes were waving little French and Greek flags.