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Myths and modern magic welcome Olympics back home
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-08-14 08:02

The Olympic Games returned to its spiritual home Friday in a breathtaking opening ceremony that brought the myths of Ancient Greece to life through the magic of 21st century technology.

The superbly orchestrated event was a massive boost to the self-confidence of Greece, which had suffered a torrent of criticism over chaotic preparations and a last-minute doping drama involving two of its medal-winning sprinters.

The smallest country to stage a summer Olympics since Finland in 1952, Greece raised the curtain on the greatest show on earth before a worldwide television audience of up to four billion people.


Photograph from the Opening Ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 13, 2004. 


Spectators in the Olympic Stadium gazed in wonder as a celebration of life, love and one of the world's greatest civilizations played out before them.

Before Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos opened the 16-day Games, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge alluded to the doping debacle which had threatened to douse Greek joy.

"This is the moment you deserve to enjoy, the culmination of your hard work and dedication," Rogge told Athens organizers.

"Through your conduct, give us reasons to believe in sport that is increasingly credible and pure, by refusing doping and respecting fair play."

RACING HEARTBEAT

Drums thundering out the sound of a racing heartbeat reverberated under the soaring glass wings of a futuristic oval arena that only months ago had no seats and no roof.

A stadium floor flooded with water made a shimmering sea that burst into flames as the five Olympic rings were set ablaze by a pyrotechnic comet flashing down from the sky.


Performers portray scenes from Greek mythology during opening ceremonies for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Friday, August 13, 2004. [AP]

A centaur strutted across the lake with a lance of light and Eros floated high in ethereal majesty as a living pageant of 3,000 years of human history and sport paraded by 70,000 rapt spectators.

As teams from 202 competing nations marched into the stadium, worries that the American team might be booed proved groundless. They were welcomed with cheers.

Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan got even warmer receptions. Greece's entry brought the crowd to its feet with chants of "Hellas, Hellas."

Protected from afar by U.S. Patriot missiles, and watched over by airships and helicopters, the ceremony offered the world a chance to forget its troubles for three hours.

The first Summer Games since the September 11, 2001 attacks are being held under Europe's biggest peacetime security blanket. Guards outnumber athletes by seven to one.

The measures were a far cry from the Ancient Games when warriors laid down their arms to let athletes compete in peace and slaughtered 100 oxen to begin the festivities.


An artist symbolizing ancient Greece performs during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 13, 2004. The Games returned to their spiritual home with an opening that brought the myths of Ancient Greece back to life through the magic of 21st century technology. [Reuters]

"May the Games be held in peace, in the true spirit of the Olympic Truce that was created here," said Rogge.

The nation of 10 million, where the modern Olympics were reborn in 1896, was finally enjoying accolades for preparing a safe and efficient Games when the Gods of Olympus struck with a last-minute thunderbolt that shook the whole nation.

Costas Kenteris, who won gold in the 200 meters at Sydney four years ago, and Katerina Thanou, who took silver in the 100, may face expulsion from the Games and a two-year ban after missing mandatory drug tests Thursday.

They must explain themselves Monday.

Kenteris had been hot favorite to light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony. Instead the honor fell to Olympic gold medal windsurfer Nikos Kaklamanakis.

But above all it was a night to savor for the 10,500 athletes who came to Athens for the sheer joy of participating in the greatest extravaganza in sport.

"You give flight to our souls," Athens Games president Gianna Angelopoulos told them. "Greece is going to fire the world's imagination."



 
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