- (AFP) -- The curtain finally went up on the 2004 Olympic
Games as a dazzling opening ceremony lifted the mood at the global sporting
showpiece after a drugs scandal and a massive security operation.
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- A packed Olympic Stadium witnessed a smoothly-choreographed
portrayal of Greece's rich history before 10,000 athletes representing
202 countries marchedtogether in front of 70,000 spectators.
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- Greek president Costis Stephanopoulos has declared the
28th Games open before 1996 windsurfing gold medallist Nikolaos Kaklamanakis
set the seal on the glittering spectacle by lighting the Olympic flame
in front of a worldwide audience of billions.
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- The colourful, marathon ceremony, which also featured
a dramatic live satellite link-up with International Space Station astronauts,
erased memories of the tournament's troubled build-up.
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- "Athletes from the 202 countries, show us that sport
unites by overriding national, political, religious and language barriers,"
said International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.
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- An electrifying atmosphere had earlier swept through
the stadium during the march past of the athletes.
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- Huge cheers greeted the arrival of Afghanistan, returning
to the Games after being suspended during the brutal years of the Taliban
regime while the athletes from war-ravaged Iraq were also rapturously welcomed.
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- The United States's reception was more low-key but far
from hostile as the powerful line-up respected demands that they behaved
discreetly.
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- NBA basketball star Yao Ming carried the flag ahead of
China's 407-strong team while competitors from rivals North and South Korea
marched side-by-side.
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- In a gesture laden with symbolism, athletes from the
Stalinist North and capitalist South entered the Olympic stadium together
under a neutral banner depicting a simple picture of the peninsula.
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- The spectacular three-hour show wiped out memories of
a day which had begun with the host nation struggling to digest a doping
scandal embroiling local hero Kostadinos Kenteris.
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- Reigning Olympic 200 metres champion Kenteris and training
partner Ekaterini Thanou were still in hospital Friday after sustaining
cuts and bruises in a motorcycle accident after failing to turn up for
a doping test on Thursday.
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- The duo had been meant to appear before an IOC inquiry
hearing early Friday to explain Thursday's drug test no-show, which could
lead to a two-year ban and exclusion from the Olympics.
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- However the hearing was delayed until Monday following
a request from Greek team officials and a hospital statement that said
the athletes needed to remain in hospital for a further 48 hours.
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- "In order to ensure a fair process and give due
consideration to the athletes, the disciplinary commission has decided
to postpone the hearing until Monday, 16 August," the IOC statement
said.
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- Kenteris and Thanou have stayed silent on the controversy,
which has appalled and embarrassed Greeks desperate to present their country
in the best possible light during the Olympics.
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- Kenteris -- believed to have been the original choice
for the honour of lighting the Olympic flame in Friday's opening ceremony
-- has been idolised in his homeland ever since striking gold at the 2000
Sydney Games.
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- But the public mood was rapidly turning against the 31-year-old
on Friday, with newspapers and Athenians condemning his failure to appear
before testers.
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- "The Olympic Games start with a megatonne bomb on
their Greek foundations," daily Eleftherotypia said, while the Ethnos
daily demanded in a headline: "Tell us the truth".
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- Copyright © 2004. The Sydney Morning Herald.
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- http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/14/1092340508690.html?oneclick=true
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