Making space for Marathon

Where are the stadia in which the Ancient Olympics were held? Right near the Acropolis is the Panathinaiko Stadium, known to Greeks as the K...

Where are the stadia in which the Ancient Olympics were held? Right near the Acropolis is the Panathinaiko Stadium, known to Greeks as the Kallimarnaro, the 8216;8216;Marble Stadium8217;8217;. It is said to be located at the site of ancient festivities and sporting events in honour of the goddess Athena. The original modern stadium was built as the flagship venue for the 1896 Games. It has been spruced up for 2004 and is hosting the archery competition.

The only other Olympic event at the Panathinaiko will be the closing of the marathon for both men and women. This is a little tribute to Greek history but suggests a break from established protocol at most modern Olympics. After all, it is fairly unusual for the marathon to not end in the main athletics stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies also take place.

Apparently Panathinaiko was chosen because this would facilitate starting the marathon at the historical location of Marathon, allow the runners to go past the supposed burial ground near the battlefield that is now a synonym for endurance.

Slopes to surf

Of the bizarre oddities that are collectively known as the Olympic Games, none can possibly beat landlocked Switzerland8217;s beach volleyball team, fourth-seeds in the men8217;s tournament. Brothers Paul and Martin Lagica will keep the Swiss flag flying on the beach. Martin grew up as all good Swiss boys would and became a downhill skier. An international career and Olympian hopes were spoken about but it was not to be. Martin eventually hung up his skis for the sand, akin to a young boy in India spurning cricket for pelota vasca!

Sportscasters Inc.

Fans of the Shaz and Waz Show will no doubt wonder at the seamlessness with which some sports stars become TV personalities. Ravi Shastri and Wasim Akram are far from alone: the American journalist contingent brings with it to Athens two of the all-time greats of swimming. Ambrose 8216;8216;Rowdy8217;8217; Gaines was the fastest man at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, winning the 100m freestyle with panache. He8217;s in Athens as an NBC sportscaster. Joining him on the television screen is John Naber, of slightly older vintage but nevertheless a butterfly badshah. Naber8217;s rivalry with East German Roland Mathes was the stuff of Cold War sporting legend.

La Bomba8217;s Back

Not every retired sports star becomes a media animal, some move to a larger public role. The next big Olympic moment after Athens will be the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, 2006. Among the members of the Turin Games Organising Committee is Alberto Tomba, the flamboyant skier of the 1980s, universally known as 8216;8216;La Bomba8217;8217; and famous a decade and a half ago for his public wooing 8212; alas, fruitless 8212; of East German figure skater Katrina Witt.

Tomba, a bit of a playboy among Olympians and Olympian among playboys, is expected to be in Athens next week when the Turin authorities make a presentation to the media about how far they8217;ve got with their showpiece.

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A publicity brochure doing the rounds of the Main Press Centre here features an interview with Tomba. 8216;8216;Where do you see yourself in 10 years?8217;8217; he8217;s asked. The reply: 8216;8216;Who knows? Maybe married with children, maybe a businessman, or maybe bent over buckling my boots.8217;8217;

Whatever that world view means, let8217;s hope it helps put together a good Winter Games.

Security gets tight

Stung by reports in British newspapers that security is lax at the Games 8212; journalists were not frisked before the opening ceremony, pointed out one 8216;8216;I8217;ll never be satisfied8217;8217; cynic 8212; the Athens authorities went overboard on August 15.

At the gymnastics event, a security guard stopped the Romanian president, no less, from entering the performers8217; changing room to meet his country8217;s team. A bitter argument ensued, leaving most neutrals quite amused.