Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Americans Practice Accidental Tourism at Olympics
By Arthur Spiegelman
Updated on Friday, Aug 27, 2004 1:32 pm EDT
ATHENS (Reuters) - They scoff down Big Macs, drink Cokes, call home on their cell phones and crowd around the open-air set of American television's biggest morning show being broadcast live just a stone's throw from the Olympic stadium.
Welcome to Accidental Tourism American-style, the act of leaving home while staying close to things from home.
When the 2004 Olympics started, Americans were warned to keep a low profile and be "cautious" because not everyone out there likes the United States these days, especially with the war in Iraq .
Don't wear baseball caps, don't stand out in a crowd and if push comes to shove, say you are Canadian were some of the bits of advice people were given.
But instead of that, Americans are being as American as possible, clinging to all things American. You can even buy special editions of your hometown newspapers at various hotels in the city.
"TODAY SHOW"
Take the scene at the broadcast of NBC "Today Show" as an example of Accidental Tourism in action.
With NBC holding the rights to show the Games in the States, the network has been broadcasting the "Today Show" from an open air studio at the Olympic stadium complex rather than from its regular home in Rockefeller Center.
Tourists gather outside the waist-high metal fence of the "Today Show" to wave to relatives, hold up silly signs and trade one-liners with weatherman Al Roker -- just like they do back home.
"It's hot here in Greece. What's the weather in your area," asks Roker as the crowd shouts "Hot, Hot, Hot."
Then they rub shoulders with folks from Harrisburg, Pa., Monroe, La., and Lowell, Mass.
What could be more American? Maybe eating a Big Mac, the official hamburger of the Olympics, or drinking Coke, the official drink.
The people in the crowd praise the Greeks for their hospitality and individual friendliness.
Martin Toth, who is at the "Today Show" wearing his Uncle Sam suit, with red, white and blue American flag shirt and carrying an extra American flag, said he, at first, took all the warnings to be low key and cautious to heart.
"I heard the advice and I kept things low key for a few days. But then I said, what the heck and put on my Uncle Sam suit and the Greeks have been wonderful," he said.
"The only negative reaction I got was from an American who got mad when I said I was voting for Kerry and he asked me -- Uncle Sam -- what kind of a patriot did I think I was," Toth, a Harrisburg, Pa., lawyer said.
HANDLING BOOING
But several raise a complaint. They are upset by the boos that crop up at many sporting events, especially basketball and volley ball.
"The Greeks boo us. I don't mind their cheering their own team, but they boo us. I went to the basketball game between the United States and Puerto Rico and they booed us so much that I thought I wanted to rip up my 3,000 euros ($3,623) worth of tickets and go home," says one woman, a retired teacher of tourism studies at a Massachusetts college.
The boos were on display at Thursday's basketball game between Spain and the United States, which was easily won by the Americans. The Spanish fans were in a foul mood because the United States, leading by 11, called a time out with 23 seconds left in the game.
Bill Plaschke, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, says the basketball team won a game "but lost more friends and at this rate may be seeking entry into the gold-medal protection program."
U.S. team forward Richard Jefferson said he can live with the booing. "I've been playing before 17,000 people since I was 17. I am used to booing in the NBA. It is always one side against the other."
Meanwhile, it is business as usual at the "Today Show."
Twelve members of the victorious U.S. volleyball team chat with host Katie Couric about their comeback win over Greece and toss balls to the crowd.
Cohost Matt Lauer readies an interview with the architect who put the $170 million roof on the Olympic stadium. Not to be outdone Katie will later show the folks back home what they can buy in Greece and do a practice hurdle with an Olympic hurdler, something she says she always wanted to do.
"Over here Katie, over here. Take your picture with me. George, take Katie's picture with me. Over here Katie," says a heavy-set man in a white shirt to his son while Katie, deaf to his pleas, works the other end of the line of tourists.
One man holds a up a sign saying, "Omaha: Send money."
The man who wanted Katie to pose with him makes a cell phone call home. "Hey, did you see us on television?" he asks.
He might as well have been home.
Updated on Friday, Aug 27, 2004 1:32 pm EDT
Kid Olympia
AFP
PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
Nickson Bryan is 14-years-old but looks even younger way up on the 10m platform
as he gets ready to represent Malaysia in the diving on Friday.
He barely missed out on a spot in the semi-finals by one place.
08/27/2004 18:12 © AFP
OUCH
AFP
MARCO LONGARI
Taekwondo is a ferocious sport but even so,
this kind of attack is out of bounds.
08/27/2004 18:12 © AFP
PICTURE OF THE DAY - Aug. 27
In the medals
AFP / DDP
JOCHEN LUEBKE
The showjumping was underway on Friday and German rider Otto Becker
was in action on his mount Cento, seen here clearing a rather novel obstacle.
08/27/2004 18:06 © AFP
U.S. denounces ‘outrageous pressure’ on Hamm
USOC refuses gymnastics federation request to give up gold
Kevork Djansezian / AP file
United States' Paul Hamm reacts after receiving his gold medal in the men's
gymnastics individual all-around final at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
MSNBC,MSN
The Associated Press
Updated: 11:58 a.m. ET Aug. 27, 2004
ATHENS, Greece - World gymnastics officials asked Paul Hamm to give up his gold medal as the ultimate show of sportsmanship, but the U.S. Olympic Committee told them to take responsibility for their own mistakes and refused even to deliver the request.
In a dispute over scores that has turned into a political squabble, the head of the International Gymnastics Federation suggested in a letter to Hamm that giving the all-around gold medal to South Korea’s Yang Tae-young “would be recognized as the ultimate demonstration of fair play by the whole world.”
FIG president Bruno Grandi tried to send the letter Thursday night to Hamm through the USOC, which declined to pass it along.
In a letter back to Grandi, USOC secretary general Jim Scherr called the request “a blatant and inappropriate attempt on the part of (FIG) to once again shift responsibility for its own mistakes and instead pressure Mr. Hamm into resolving what has become an embarrassing situation for your federation.”
“The USOC finds this request to be improper, outrageous and so far beyond the bounds of what is acceptable that it refuses to transmit the letter to Mr. Hamm,” the letter said.
Hamm returned to the United States earlier this week. He declined comment Friday through his agent, but he has said in the past that he has no intention of giving up his medal unless ordered to do so by FIG.
]
Yang, the bronze medalist, was wrongly docked a tenth of a point on his parallel bars routine and finished third, 0.049 points behind Hamm.
Add the extra 0.100, and Yang would have finished 0.051 points ahead of Hamm.
Three judges were suspended after the error was discovered, but FIG said the results would stand.
Grandi said he believed the issue was closed until he learned of Hamm’s previous comment.
“For me, maybe he could have said, ‘I have won the gold medal and the FIG just has to tell me whether it maintains the results or not,”’ Grandi said. “And not make a statement whether he would return the gold medal if we asked him to.”
Although Grandi’s letter says, “The true winner of the all-around competition is Yang Tae-young,” the FIG president insisted he’s not pressuring Hamm.
“There is no doubt he has won the medal,” Grandi said. “He deserves the medal and the ranking is clear. ... I respect totally Paul Hamm and all the decisions he makes. If he says give back the medal, I respect it. Don’t give back the medal, I respect the decision. He is not responsible for anything.”
The USOC had a much different interpretation.
“I don’t know of any comparison in any sport anywhere where you crown an athlete, crown a team and then say, ‘Oh, that was a mistake. Would you fix this for us?”’ USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth said.
Ueberroth said the USOC considers the case closed, based on the FIG ruling that the scores cannot be changed. He also cited a statement from International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who said the IOC would stick with the results turned in by the federation and wouldn’t step in unless there were clear signs of impropriety.
“We are not going to give medals for so-called humanitarian or emotional reasons,” Rogge said.
Grandi seemed to be appealing to Hamm’s emotions. Above the “Dear Paul” greeting on Grandi’s letter, the word “FAIRPLAY” was capitalized and printed in bold, black letters.
“The FIG and the IOC would highly appreciate the magnitude of this gesture,” the letter said.
Earlier in the week, the USOC said it was willing to consider supporting the South Koreans’ bid for a second gold medal. Scherr said that was no longer possible because of FIG’s latest request. He said he regretted not coming out in support of Hamm as soon as the controversy began.
“I think we were at fault for not more strongly, more directly, showing our support for Paul,” Scherr said. “I wish we would have done that more strongly and earlier.”
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Perfect gentlemen lead U.S. sweep of 200
Greek chorus of boos delays race; Crawford, Williams, Gatlin medal
Anja Niedringhaus / AP
Shawn Crawford, middle, beat teammates Bernard Williams, right,
and Justin Gatlin in the 200-meter finals Thursday night.
MSNBC.MSN
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:29 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 2004
ATHENS, Greece - There was no flexing. No preening. No embarrassing bird-like displays with the U.S. flag.
Bernard Williams must have learned a thing or two at the Sydney Olympics, because he and his U.S. teammates were on their best behavior Thursday after sweeping the 200 meters.
Shawn Crawford won gold in 19.79 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year and a personal best. He edged Williams, who tied his personal best of 20.01 seconds. Justin Gatlin, the 100 champion, was third in 20.03.
It was the sixth U.S. sweep of the 200 — the last time led by Carl Lewis in 1984.
“I had my fun in 2000 and I made a lot of people angry,” Williams said. “It’s not fun when you’re making people angry at the same time. I learned how to do it right.”
Williams was on the 400-meter relay team four years ago that posed and preened during a victory lap and then clowned on the medals stand. A bare-chested Williams draped himself in a flag then, flapping it as though he were a bird.
The display embarrassed U.S. officials, and led to promises there would not be a repeat of such antics in Athens.
There weren’t.
“We made it a focus,” said Crawford, a flamboyant personality who was notably subdued. “We don’t have to be arrogant about anything. We can carry ourselves with honor. That’s the stars and stripes.”
Crawford’s victory gave controversial coach Trevor Graham a sweep of the men’s short sprints. Crawford and Gatlin are training partners under Graham, who acknowledged on the night of Gatlin’s victory that he was the coach who sent a syringe of a mystery steroid to authorities last year — fueling the drug scandal that has swept the sport.
Crawford, Williams and Gatlin knelt together on the track after they crossed the finish line and then Crawford took off on a victory lap, a laurel wreath on his head and a U.S. flag around his shoulders. He stopped in one corner of the track and knelt down on one knee, holding out the flag for photographers.
Williams caught up to him, and the two were trotting with a flag draped around both of their shoulders when long jump winner Dwight Phillips climbed the victory stand to accept his gold medal.
The sprinters stopped on the track as “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played, Williams putting his right hand over his heart.
“For me not to think about that would be out of order,” Williams said of his antics in Sydney.
“I learned from my mistakes. I’ve made a lot mistakes,” he added, mentioning his positive test for marijuana at a meet in Spain two months ago. “Now I’ve stopped. God’s given me another chance, and now I’m doing it the right way.”
The U.S. runners were so determined to play nice they didn’t bash the hostile crowd, which showered them with boos and jeers in the absence of disgraced Greek hero Kostas Kenteris, who withdrew from the games after missing a drug test.
The start of the race was delayed for four minutes while fans whistled in derision and chanted “Kenteris” and “Hellas, Hellas” — the Greek word for Greece. They booed loudest when the Americans were introduced.
“I have no idea, and I don’t want to insinuate anything and be wrong,” Williams said. “But I do know it was more noise than I’ve ever heard.”
Gatlin said he heard more booing after the final results were posted, showing the U.S. sweep. But they quickly died down when fans saw the Americans weren’t doing anything outrageous. One fan even gave him a present: small American and Greek flags sewn together.
“We’re going to represent the United States in a good way,” Gatlin said. “We just wanted to go out and perform like gentlemen.”
Track & field - Men's 200 meters (medals: Aug. 26th)
Medal Athlete Country Result
Gold Shawn Crawford United States 19.79
Silver Bernard Williams United States 20.01
Bronze Justin Gatlin United States 20.03
Perhaps the guy who came in second just ran out of gas in his car and thought he was following the first guy to a gas station?
After walking for 50K they were probably running to seek medical attention. Did you see the russian who came in second. Even the commentators were wondering after he collapsed at the finish line where the medical personnel were to assist him.
The guy who came in first on the other hand looked great. I couldn't believe he finished the last 50 meters with the flag in his teeth as if it was just a walk in the park.
I noticed an odd occurrence.....when the "walk" winners finish the race, they then celebrate by "running" around the track!!! If they could run in the first place, aren't they really in the wrong event?
Team did a great job!
Heather is a super nice person; I'm thrilled for her.
Definitely a big Congrats! The U.S. women overall are the class of the U.S. Olympic team. Way to go!
"KORZENIOWSKI the great" captures fourth gold 27 Aug. 2004
I caught the 50K walk early this morning on TV. The winner Robert KORZENIOWSKI won by 4 minutes over the rest of the field. Unbelievable performance. That works out to be 31; 7 minute miles. WOW!
Poland's Robert Korzeniowski holds the Polish flag in his mouth as he approaches the finish line in the Olympic Stadium to win the men's 50 km walk at the 2004 Olympic Games (news - web sites) in Athens, Friday Aug. 27, 2004. Korzeniowski won the race with a time of 3:38:46. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Men's 50km Walk : "KORZENIOWSKI the great" captures fourth gold 27 Aug. 2004
ATHENS, 27 August - Robert KORZENIOWSKI (POL) proved once more why he is considered by many to be the best walker ever when he won his fourth Olympic gold medal by taking the Men's 50km Walk, finishing in 3:38.46.
He just missed the Olympic record of 3:38.29 set in 1988 by Vyacheslav IVANENKO (URS) at the Seoul Olympics.
KORZENIOWSKI, who succesfully defended the title he had won at Sydney, added to his gold collection previously amassed in the 50km Walk in Sydney and Atlanta as well as his gold in the 20km Walk in Sydney.
The athlete who shocked race spectators was the 24-year-old Russian world record holder, Denis NIZHEGORODOV, who was a clear second for most of the race, but in the last few metres before entering the stadium almost stopped walking and could barely stand on his feet.
The crowd encouraged him to continue and he struggled on to finish second in 3:42.50.
YU Caohong (CHN), on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. He seemed to have secured the bronze medal, having held third place for the most of the race, but just before he entered the stadium, Aleksey VOYEVODIN (RUS) passed him to finish third in 3:43:34.
KORZENIOWSKI along with NIZHEGORODOV, YU, Andreas ERM (GER) and Nathan DEAKES (AUS) were the leading group from the beggining of the race.
Just after the 30km, ERM, the bronze medallist at last year's World Championship, tried to move in front, but was disqualified.
DEAKES, bronze medallist at last Friday's 20km Walk, had the same fate after 2km, also leaving the race after disqualification.
After 35km the first three places were determined, with KORZENIOWSKI creating a safe distance from the other athletes to secure the gold and at the final lap his compatriots were running at the side of the road, cheering and supporting him.
Jefferson PEREZ (ECU), the 1996 20km Olympic champion and reigning world champion at the event, finished out of today's medal count.
After his fourth place at his main event, 20km, he also entered the 50km today, but had a hard time, almost stopping just before the 45km mark, but in just seconds started walking again.
He finished 12th in 3:53.04, a national record.
The first eight positions were captured by three Polish athletes, two Spanish, two Russians and a Chinese.
ONS rv/dlf
http://www.athens2004.com/en/resultsAthletics/results?item=92b0a07765e9ef00VgnVCM4000002b130c0a____&...
The road much traveled
Taking a break from Games to explore Athens proves to be an adventure
Posted: Thursday August 26, 2004 3:29PM;
Updated: Thursday August 26, 2004 3:29PM
Travelling through the ancient ruins can be a challenge.
Todd Warshaw/Getty Images
I found the ruins of Athens to be quite old and in a state of poor repair. So, when a road trip was suggested, in search of fresher and better preserved artifacts, I was all for it. That others in my group decided upon Delphi as a destination, with a possible visit to the Oracle himself. This was little concern to me. Wherever we went, it would be a day away from the Olympics, second-hand smoke, and the odd grinding sounds in the hotel room above mine.
Now Delphi, from what I've since read, was once known as the center of the world, attracting visitors going on three centuries now. I'm not sure about that. If it was truly the center of the world, we could have gotten much better directions. The car rental agent in Athens assured us we couldn't miss it and, assuming we found a way out of the city center parking lot, would take us three hours, tops.
Our wheelman, and fellow Sports Illustrated scribe Jack McCallum, felt he could whittle that time down considerably. He was reassured when he reached a speed of 140 on The National Road, but backed off his ETA when he realized that was only his metric rate. In any case, we should have paid more attention to details like East and West. But then again, signage in Greece is sparse and unpredictable. It is no complaint against Jack that we ended up going in the wrong direction and saw sea ports where olive groves should have been.
Instead of backtracking (which would have conceded any possibility of on-time arrival), we opted for a shortcut on The Old Mountain Road. Not for nothing was it named thus. Although it could also have been called the Old Winding Mountain Road, or even Red Asphalt. It was twisty, filled with truck traffic and impatient fellows who felt it was great sport to pass on blind curves. Alongside the roadside, perhaps every 10 yards, were small shrines, like elaborate mailboxes, to illustrate the penalty for a botched pass. Many would have preferred to pay a small fine.
We were on the Old Mountain Road for nearly three hours and did not reach Delphi, but only the ancient city of Thebes, where we stopped to have grilled chicken sandwiches at a fast-food joint. Another of our party, SI columnist Steve Rushin, suggested we continue on, if only to sock the Oracle in the puss, turn around cartoon-style and head home.
We drove a little further, through nice looking valleys where all the makings of Greek salads come. But no sign of Delphi. Literally, no signs whatsoever. Certainly none we could read. Panicking somewhat, we stopped to ask directions. We were assured we were indeed on the way, and it would take us no more than three hours to get there.
That lacked the proper encouragement we required at this point and we did a quick U-turn and headed back to Athens, which we couldn't find right away, either. The trip wasn't entirely a success; in fact it had been, by any account, a wasted day. Still, as Jack said upon handing over the rental car keys, we had made good time.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/writers/08/26/road.trip/index.html
If I were IOC president .....
There's no need to synchronize to make the Olympics cool again
Posted: Thursday August 26, 2004 1:13PM;
Updated: Thursday August 26, 2004 1:23PM
When (??) I'm elected IOC president, I'm going to change my name to Jacques, move to Lausanne, demand a suite on the road and then immediately begin tinkering with a 28-sport Olympics program so bloated it resembles Carmelo Anthony's ego
In my Olympics, we do this:
The word "synchro" is out. .
While I deeply appreciate the intricacies of synchronizing anything -- just try getting six sportswriters to sit down to dinner at the same time -- synchronized diving, leader in the clubhouse of dopey Olympic sports, must vanish. Like meditation or singing in the shower, certain things are best done alone. Given the immutable criteria, synchronized swimming also dies. This is a pity considering the incredible athleticism of the participants, but it also falls under the "No-nose clip/No-gel" rule that we will be instituting as soon as my five-ring blazer gets back from the cleaners.
Tennis -- bye bye.
The Olympic tournament is basically the Pilot Pen event with drug testing. The men's final in Athens pitted Mardy Fish against Nicolas Massu, which sounds like a middling third-rounder in Cincinnati. In fact if Massu were playing tennis in your backyard, you'd draw the curtains. Not to knock our estimable Chilean gold medalist, but the top tennis players always are preoccupied with the impending U.S. Open, basically blowing off my thing. Nope. If a gold medal isn't a principal goal of an athlete, if the Olympics don't represent the pinnacle of their sporting desires, the sport has got to go.
That means you, men's soccer and baseball.
Men's basketball stays
because there actually are a few European pituitary cases who harbor little desire to hoist 3s in the NBA.
Softball stays.
Now maybe the Greek and Italian teams in Athens looked like they were recruited off the UCLA bench, and the U.S. powerhouse stripped other teams and sold them for parts. But Americans like their softball medals and, dammit, as your IOC president, I will never forget who's paying the bills for my quadrennial party. Even since Dick Pound, who will be my top lieutenant -- my IOC will give great quotes -- got ABC to pony up $309 million for Calgary in 1988, the rings have been floating on a pile of greenbacks. My IOC will express its appreciation to its foremost constituent. Diplomatically, of course.
My most controversial step will be an overhaul of the gymnastics judging.
Instead of trusting some graying men and precious women, I will decree that every seat in the gymnastics hall be wired and spectators required to vote on every performance. American Idol meets Paul Hamm. Why not? The fans are at least as competent as the gymnastics federation judges, who are getting laid off faster than Nortel Network workers. Given the catcalls that rang through the arena, obviously the folks in the seats have made up their minds. Let's empower them. Vote the gymnasts off one at time until we have a winner. Donald Trump passes out the medals. This is reality Olympics, unlike the taped stuff NBC is feeding you every night. My Olympics, a ratings monster.
Rhythmic gymnastics, gone.
The only ribbons I want to see are the ones USA softball pitcher Jennie Finch ties in her hair. We are keeping Survivor/Gymnastics so rhythmic is redundant, especially now that another artistic sport, trampoline, is on the program. (But not synchro trampoline.) I found the sport "mildly disturbing" (to quote the future IOC president's daughter), watching girls bounce and men in suits leer at them while taking notes. Still, I will not rush to judgment.
Dressage, however, is history.
That's rhythmic gymnastics for horses.
Say goodbye to keirin cycling.
Any sport that I need footnotes to understand is too taxing. Shooting, see ya. My Games will be all about peace, not weapons. Besides, it's not much a great spectator sport. Forget citius, altius, fortius. Our Olympic motto: Make money, not war.
Modern pentathlon stays as homage to the Olympics modern roots.
Fencing, too.
We have to throw a bone to the French, who have been whining -- not without justification, I might add -- that Athens has not sufficiently respected one of the two official languages of the Games.
Anyway, that's a start. There are some other sports I'd be only too happy to cull, but the beach volleyball dance team is knocking.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/writers/08/26/ioc.changes/index.html
That's OK. My pleasure!
And Heather is only 19. What an achievement.
Hopefully she will enjoy a few more Olympics in her lifetime.
USOC asks Bush campaign to pull television ad
August 26, 2004
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- President Bush's re-election campaign refused a request by the U.S. Olympic Committee on Thursday to pull a television ad that mentions the Olympics.
Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said the ads will continue through Sunday, the final day of the Athens Games.
``We are on firm legal ground to mention the Olympics to make a factual point in a political advertisement,'' Stanzel said.
The USOC asked the campaign to pull the ads on Thursday, committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said. The ad shows a swimmer and the flags of Iraq and Afghanistan.
``In 1972, there were 40 democracies in the world. Today, 120,'' an announcer says. ``Freedom is spreading throughout the world like a sunrise. And this Olympics there will be two more free nations. And two fewer terrorist regimes.''
Some of the players on the Iraqi Olympic soccer team have complained about the ad appearing as part of a political campaign.
The International Olympic Committee and the USOC have the authority to regulate the use of anything involving the Olympics.
``We own the rights to the Olympic name, and no one has asked us,'' said Gerhard Heiberg, the Norwegian IOC representative and IOC market commission leader.
Heiberg told the Norwegian news agency NTB: ``We're watching, and we hope they will stop the commercial.''
An act of Congress, last revised in 1999, grants the USOC exclusive rights to such terms as ``Olympic,'' derivatives such as ``Olympiad'' and the five interlocking rings.
It also specifically says the organization ``shall be nonpolitical and may not promote the candidacy of an individual seeking public office.''
Updated on Thursday, Aug 26, 2004 12:22 pm EDT
http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/news?slug=ap-bushad&prov=ap&type=lgns
Thanks - That's great!
Iraqis ignore hardships, just play soccer
Soccer team members have dismissed what others think
of them, winning almost everything with almost nothing
Iraqi soccer players have played against the odds in Athens, ignoring what everyone wants them to represent and just playing soccer
The Washinton Post
By Sally Jenkins
Columnist
Updated: 6:44 a.m. ET Aug. 25, 2004
The Iraq Olympic soccer team stood facing its red, white and black flag and sang its moody requiem of an anthem in full voice. Then the players went out and played with more emotion than skill, and with hope as a substitute for wherewithal. Frankly, they embodied all the premature investments in and expectations of their country.
The Iraqi team will not win the Olympic gold medal, defeated in the semifinals by Paraguay, 3-1, at Kaftantzoglio Stadium, and the loss will end any discussion of fairy tales. Instead, the Iraqis will now play Italy for a bronze medal, and attention will shift back where it belongs, to their real problems. But regardless of what the Iraqis do from now on, say this about them: They won almost everything, with almost nothing.
Really, they were just a bunch of kids from war-torn stadiums with guts and heart. They were Arab and Kurd, from Fallujah and Najaf and Sadr City, carrying all the anxiety over events back home, the burning refuse and shot-up things that those city names conjure. And yet look what they've done. Their real message, the thing that's on the level about this team, is that they ignore what everyone else wants them to represent, and just play soccer. They don't belong to anyone, except themselves, when everyone wants a piece of them
They were put in play by President Bush's reelection campaign, with an ad titled "Victory" that credits Bush with liberating Iraq and Afghanistan so they could compete in the Olympics. But it's not at all that simple, and some players reacted angrily, telling Sports Illustrated that Bush should find another way to advertise himself, and citing the destruction of their home towns. "Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign," midfielder Salih Sadir said. Head coach Adnan Hamad said, "My problems are not with the American people, they are with what America has done in Iraq: destroy everything."
There was a determined, if awkward, silence from Iraqi officials about Bush's use of the ad and the player response. "I haven't heard about it," said said Hussein Saeed Mohammed, the head of the Iraqi soccer federation. Politics were not to be discussed. "It is Olympic principle," he added. "Anything else is separate."
In fact, the Iraqis are a complicated, convoluted mix of personal histories and sentiments and politics. The head of the Iraqi Olympic committee, Ahmed Samarrai, was exiled for years under Saddam Hussein, and had an attempt made on his life this summer. Mohamed worked under Saddam's sadistic son, Uday. Salih Sadir is from Najaf, and Ahmed Manajid is from Fallujah. And it should be noted that they expressed their objections and anti-Bush sentiments while staying in hotels paid for by the Iraqi Olympic committee, which is funded by the United States.
In the lobby of the Hyatt Regency here, security was omnipresent, from the cyclone fencing at the front gate to the metal detector at the revolving glass door and uniformed guards posted in every hallway. Plainclothesmen with radio cords hanging from their ears mingled in the lobby with the potted trees and columns. The Iraqi players passed the time by milling around the lobby or the spa in baggy green and white sweats, their athletic sandals slapping on the tile and marble.
Meanwhile, a paid "consultant" to the Iraqi Olympic committee tried to publicly discredit the Sports Illustrated story, as did a State Department spokesman appearing on ESPN. Mark Clark, an officer in the British reserves who worked for the provisional government under Paul Bremer, and who is now an adviser under contract to the Iraqi National Olympic Committee, said the players' remarks appeared to have been "engineered" by the media.
To the contrary, responds Grant Wahl, the Sports Illustrated reporter who wrote the story. "The quotes are solid," he says. The interviews were translated from Arabic to Greek to English, not an ideal situation, he admits, "but interviews are all on tape," he says. Furthermore, Wahl says, he ran into one of the Iraqi players in a hotel lobby, and the player indicated he had seen the story and gave him a thumbs up. "Internet," the player said.
Clark now backs off his accusation that the quotes may have been "engineered." But he continues to say that the story was an unfair representation of real Iraqi player feelings, and believes that such questions are insensitive. "The difficulty is that if the players are presented with a question out of the blue, then their response is going to be dictated by the manner in which the question is posed," Clark says. "They aren't sophisticated in the media and won't be able to see where the question is leading." More importantly, he says, the players may fear repercussions at home if they seem aligned with the United States. "What they face when they return to Iraq is a very, very serious security issue," Clark says. "You have to appreciate that the nature of their response is very, very complicated -- a number of players I know feel pressured to respond in a certain way to ensure their security and security of their families when they return."
So this is the liberation of the Iraqi soccer team: You're free to speak your mind but fearful of reprisals, and open to reinterpretation by public officialdom. It's complicated, isn't it? There is no easy message or easy answer to be found here.
No doubt the coalition government back home would like them to represent the "new" Iraq, one that's free of torture and corruption, an Iraq that's not particularly ethnic or too radically religious, a national icon and rallying point that's not a mosque. No doubt different people will try to use them to represent different things. But the players themselves are content to represent something much smaller. "They want to put a smile on the mouths of Iraqi people," says Mohammed, "they want to, and say to the world and say to the Iraqi people, we solve many problems."
© 2004 The Washington Post Company
U.S. SOCCER - Aug. 26 - U.S. Wins Gold Medal on Wambach Overtime Strike
U.S. Aly Wagner (L) celebrates their 2-1 victory with team mate Mia Hamm
after defeating Brazil in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, August 26, 2004.
REUTERS/Eric Gaillard Reuters
Proving its mettle in the biggest possible way, Team USA ends in Athens with a gold-medal victory over Brazil in overtime Thursday, 2-1. In their last game, the Fab Five finish front-and-center on the international stage
Updated on Thursday, Aug 26, 2004 7:59 pm EDT
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- An hour after the game, Mia Hamm was still on the field, hugging, crying, and posing for pictures with an Olympic gold medal around her neck.
Then, finally, she left.
After 17 years, 153 goals and 266 games -- including a grueling overtime finale -- it was time for her to go.
``There are few times in your life where you get to write the final chapter the way you want to,'' Hamm said. ``I think a lot of us did that tonight.''
Hamm and the rest of the Fab Five had just enough left in their thirtysomething bodies for one more triumph in their final tournament together. Led by two goals from the next generation, the United States beat Brazil 2-1 Thursday to claim the Olympic title.
Abby Wambach, the player who might break Hamm's records one day, scored the game-winning goal in the 112th minute with a powerful 10-yard header off a corner kick from Kristine Lilly. It was Wambach's fourth goal of the Athens Games and 18th in her last 20 games.
The game marked the final competitive appearance together for the remaining players from the first World Cup championship team in 1991. The five helped bring their sport to national prominence and captured the country's imagination by winning the World Cup in 1999, and together they have played in 1,230 international matches.
Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett are retiring from the national team -- although they might play in farewell exhibitions this fall -- leaving Lilly and Brandi Chastain as the last of the old guard. Hamm plans to start a family with her husband, Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.
``I talked about feeling good about where I was in my life, and this is a great way to end it,'' Hamm said.
The retiring players left happy with the final result, but they might never want to watch a replay of a game that showed it was perhaps time for them to hang it up.
The Americans were slower, less organized, less creative and lost the chase to most of the loose balls against the young Brazilians, who weren't afraid to shove the U.S. stars around.
Pretinha scored for Brazil in the 73rd off of a rebound, and the Brazilians twice hit the post later in regulation, coming within inches of what would have been the winning goal.
``I think today, Brazil was the better team,'' coach Rene Simoes said. ``We deserved to win.''
What Brazil lacked, though, was the passion of a group of players determined to give their heroes a proper send-off.
``We were bending, but we weren't breaking,'' goalkeeper Briana Scurry said. ``They were throwing the kitchen sink at us, but I knew we had the heart to win it.''
Hamm was a nonfactor throughout the game, unable to find space to make the kind of runs that made her famous. Hamm's post-game speech in the locker room was a great big ``Thank you'' to her teammates.
``They carried me tonight, that's for sure,'' the 32-year-old Hamm said.
The U.S. team was rescued by Wambach, some great saves from Scurry and a stunning 39th-minute goal from Lindsay Tarpley, whose 24-yard drive skirted two defenders and curled just inside the left post.
``Tarp and I, it's the least we can do for the women who have meant so much to us,'' Wambach said.
When the final whistle blew, Hamm was quickly swarmed by all 17 teammates. The team then took a victory lap, waving flags to the crowd of 10,416 at Karaiskaki Stadium.
Hamm clenched her fists under her chin and looked to the sky with teary eyes after arriving behind the podium for the medal ceremony. Foudy, Fawcett, Hamm, Lilly and Chastain stood together at the far left -- making them first on their team to receive medals. Hamm blew a kiss to the crowd when her name was announced. Foudy smiled and helped lead the fans in a chant of ``U-S-A.''
Brazil received its first women's soccer medal after finishing fourth at the last two Olympics. Germany, which beat Sweden 1-0 in the third-place game, took the bronze.
The win helped erase the sting of the loss to Norway in the gold-medal game in Sydney four years ago and a third-place finish at last year's World Cup. In the 1990s, the United States ruled women's soccer, but the other teams have caught up over the last five years.
The victory also offers a measure of vindication for coach April Heinrichs, who took over after the 1999 World Cup and failed to win the top prize in 2000 or 2003.
The team was captained for the last time by Foudy, who played the entire 120 minutes just three days after spraining her right ankle in the semifinal victory over Germany.
The Americans were out of sorts from the opening whistle. They couldn't handle the Brazilian pressure and could barely string two passes together to get their possession game going.
The Brazilians came out playing very physically, pushing and grabbing whenever they could get away with it. Simoes accused the Americans of trying to hurt his players when the two teams met in a 2-0 U.S. victory in the first round last week, but this time his team was clearly the aggressor.
Scurry, while not announcing her retirement, has also said this will be her last Olympics. Her teammates had her to thank for not trailing by a goal at halftime.
Scurry dived right, stretching her body as far as it could go, to barely get a piece of Elaine's 19-yard shot in the sixth minute. In the 41st, Scurry somehow pushed away a short drive from Cristiane that deflected off Chastain, ending a furious sequence that began with an indirect free kick from 10 yards out.
Given Brazil's control of the first half, Tarpley's goal seemed to come out of nowhere. In a rare attack for the U.S. team, she found space to launch her shot from the top of the penalty box and into the upper corner of the net.
But the Brazilians kept pressing. Daniela was wide left with a low 24-yard drive early in the second half, and various crosses were just off target or gathered by Scurry.
In the final minutes of regulation, Brazil was clearly controlling the play, and their goal seemed inevitable.
Cristiane, 19, ran past 36-year-old Fawcett with ease down the left flank, then beat defender Kate Markgraf before sliding a cross toward Pretinha. Scurry could only get a hand on the pass, leaving Pretinha alone for the easy shot to tie the score.
Cristiane was just wide right with a long curling shot two minutes later, then she hit the left post with a 20-yard drive. In the 88th minute, Pretinha beat Scurry with a 16-yard shot, but it also hit the left post.
The U.S. team, the oldest in the tournament, was playing its sixth game in 16 days -- and its second straight 120-minute overtime game.
Even so, the Americans found a way to win it.
``We wanted to send them out on top,'' Tarpley said. ``They've done so much for the women's game. To be able to win gold when some of them are retiring -- it's a great night.''
Updated on Thursday, Aug 26, 2004 7:59 pm EDT
U.S. SOCCER - Aug 23. U.S. 2, Germany 1 (OT)
The U.S. will now advance to play in the final on Thursday, Aug. 26.
U..S. forward Heather O'Reilly celebrates her game-winning goal,
just minutes after missing an open net.
Heather O'Reilly and Mia Hamm, the duo that connected on the gamewinning goal,
share a hug as the U.S. tops Germany 2-1.
USSOCER.com
U.S. 2, Germany 1 (OT)
8/23/04 7:07 PM
A goal by 19-year-old forward Heather O'Reilly gave the U.S. an 2-1 overtime victory vs. Germany in the semifinals
of the 2004 Olympics in Greece.
All photos are by Michael Pimentel/www.internationalsportsimages.com.
CONGRATS to Heather O'Reilly and the entire US women's soccer team for winning a GOLD medal today!!!!!!!
Judge says Nemov's score changed to please crowd
Canadian's adjustment was at request of official, felt his position was in jeopardy
Fans at the Olympic Indoor Hall voiced their concerns about the scoring of Alexei Nemov's horizontal bar routine Monday, and as a result watched the judges alter the total to appease crowd reaction. The incident casts serious doubt on the scoring criteria, and the amount of subjectivity invloved.
MSNBC.MSN
Updated: 1:25 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 2004
OTTAWA - A Canadian judge, who raised his marks in an Olympics gymnastics final, said he was under intense pressure from a crowd that “was out of control” and an official who wanted him to do something about it.
It was difficult to describe the pressure you’re in. Thirteen thousand people yelling and screaming and the head of the competition asking you do something,” Chris Grabowecky said in remarks published on Thursday.
Grabowecky raised his marks for Russian Alexei Nemov in Monday’s horizontal bar final at the Athens Olympics after a booing crowd stalled the proceedings.
He said Adrian Stoica, the event’s chief official, had emphatically urged him to up his rating of Nemov.
“The crowd was out of control,” said Grabowecky, a former Alberta gymnastics champion who has been judging internationally since 1993.
“I noticed Mr. Stoica wiggle his finger at me asking me to come over to him,” the Ottawa Citizen quoted him as saying. “He somewhat emphatically looked at me...I went back and made the adjustment.”
He said he felt he might be removed from the judging panel if he did not comply.
“We shouldn’t be judging sports of any kind based on crowd reaction...My personal feeling is it was not appropriate.”
Stoica told Reuters in Athens on Tuesday that he did not go over to the judges because the audience was booing. But he said judges are human and can make mistakes.
Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
U.S. women breeze into 400 relay finals
David J. Phillip / AP
United States' Marion Jones passes the baton to Lauryn Williams in Thursday night's 400-meter relay run
Marion's presence on relay could have implications after Games
TRACK AND FIELD ROUNDUP
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:54 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 2004
ATHENS, Greece - Marion Jones took the baton and sped down the straightaway. By the time she handed it off to 100-meter silver medalist Lauryn Williams, the United States was well on its way to victory in the first round of the 400-meter relay.
It was a quick burst of speed that helped the relay squad to a time of 41.67 seconds Thursday night, matching the mark it set earlier this month that is best in the world this year.
But the race may have implications for the relay squad long after the Olympics. Jones is under investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and if she is found guilty of using banned drugs it could impact any medal the team might win.
On Friday night, Jones will compete in the long jump final and the relay — her only events of the Athens Games.
She won five medals at the 2000 Sydney Games, but failed to qualify this summer in the 100 and dropped out of the 200 at the U.S. Olympic trials. Jones won both sprints in Sydney, where she also led the 1,600-meter relay team to gold.
Jones has not been charged with doping and had repeatedly denied she ever used performance-enhancing substances. But her ex-husband, former shot putter C.J. Hunter, reportedly has told federal agents she used banned drugs before, during and after the Sydney Games.
USA Track & Field officials decided to use Jones despite the drug cloud surrounding her and the precedent of the Jerome Young case.
Young ran on the victorious 1,600 relay in Sydney after testing positive for steroids a year earlier. He was stripped of his medal in June and the world governing body of track and field has recommended that the entire U.S. team — including Michael Johnson — forfeit the gold.
U.S. Olympic Committee chief executive Jim Scherr said before the games began that USATF officials should keep the Young case in mind as they decided on relay squads for the Athens Games.
“They have that benefit of hindsight now, and we would hope they exercise it judiciously,” he said.
But USOC officials also said they would leave the decision on who ran the relays up to the USATF.
U.S. women’s track coach Sue Humphrey, who announced the makeup of the relay squads Wednesday night, said last week that Jones had never tested positive for drugs and that “I don’t operate on rumor and innuendo.”
Sanchez rolls on
Felix Sanchez gave the Dominican Republic its first Olympic gold medal when he won the men’s 400 meter hurdles Thursday in 47.63 seconds.
Danny McFarlane of Jamaica won the silver medal in 48.11 seconds. Naman Keita of France won the bronze in 48.26 seconds. Danny Carter of the United States was fourth in 48.58 seconds, while Bennie Brazell was eighth in 49.51.
Sanchez hasn’t lost a race — heats included — since July 2, 2001, and he wasn’t about to let that streak end at the Olympics. He overtook Carter in the final turn and then put on a burst of speed after clearing the final hurdle, easily outpacing the field.
When he crossed the finish line, Sanchez threw his head back with a look of relief then clasped his hands together. Someone gave Sanchez a Dominican flag and an olive wreath and he walked along the side of the track, waving to fans.
Trammell qualifies in 110
Terrence Trammell of the United States qualified for the final of the men's 110-meter hurdles Thursday.
France’s Ladji Doucoure ran the fastest time of 13.06 in the semifinals. Trammell, a silver medalist in Sydney, tied for second fastest with 13.17. Also reaching the final were defending champion Anier Garcia of Cuba and medal favorite Liu Xiang of China.
Duane Ross of the U.S. failed to qualify for the finals.
World champion Allen Johnson of the U.S. literally crashed out of the Games on Wednesday when he fell in the second round of qualifying.
Holmes chasing gold again
Kelly Holmes of Britain, who won the gold in the 800 earlier in the week, qualified for the final in the 1,500 on Thursday with a time of 4:04.77 in the second semifinal.
Natalya Yevdokimova of Russia led the way with a 4:04.66. Romania's Maria Cioncan paced the first semifinal with a time of 4:06.69.
Carrie Tollefson of the United States failed to qualify for the final after posting a time of 4:08.55, the 19th-fastest mark.
Bungei leads 800 semifinals
Wilfred Bungei of Kenya was quickest in the semifinals Thursday for the men's 800-meter. He posted a time of 1:44.28.
Russia's Yuriy Borzakovskiy was second-quickest in 1:44.29.
Jonathan Johnson of the U.S. finished last among the 24 semifinalists with a mark of 1:50.10.
IRAQI paint job
An Iraqi man with his face painted in the colors of the Iraqi flag watches a men's
quarterfinal soccer match between Iraq and Australia at the Pankritio stadium during
the 2004 Olympic Games in Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete, Saturday Aug. 21, 2004.
Iraq won the match 1-0.
(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
SOCCER - Paraguay took the gold
Paraguay's players react at the end of the men's semifinal soccer match
between Iraq and Paraguay during the 2004 Olympic Games at the Kaftanzoglio stadium
in the north port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004.
Paraguay won 3-1 and will advance to the final.
(AP Photo/Giorgos Nissiotis)
SOCCER - Iraq's forward Mohammed Emad looks dejected
Iraq's forward Mohammed Emad looks dejected at the end of a men's semifinal soccer match
between Iraq and Paraguay at the 2004 Olympic Games at the Kaftanzoglio stadium in the
north port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004.
Paraguay won 3-1 and advances to the final.
(AP Photo/Nikos Giakoumidis)
Russia's Olga Slyusareva wins women's points race;
Mirabella finishes fourth
Olga Slyusareva (C) of Russia pedals her way to win the gold medal in the women's points race final at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games track cycling competition August 25, 2004. Maria Luisa Calle Williams of Colombia won the bronze medal behind Belem Guerrero of Mexico who won silver.
REUTERS/Grigory Dukor Reuters
Russia's Olga Slyusareva claimed the gold in the women's individual points race.
Photo by:
Bob Martin/SI
Updated on Wednesday, Aug 25, 2004 10:39 am EDT
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Russia's Olga Slyusareva added an Olympic gold medal to her collection of world championships, easily winning the points race Wednesday.
Slyusareva, the points race bronze medalist in 2000 and winner of four consecutive world titles in the event since, finished with 20 points. Belem Guerrero Mendez of Mexico was second with 14 points and Colombia's Maria Luisa Calle Williams was third with 12 points.
The only American in the race, Erin Mirabella of Chula Vista, Calif., was fourth with 9 points -- the best finish of her Olympic career. She was 10th at the points race in Sydney four years ago, and placed 10th in the individual pursuit competition earlier at the Athens Games.
Slyusareva's medal was the third of her Olympic career. Besides the bronze from 2000's points race, she also won bronze in the road race at the Athens Games.
Her victory capped a Russian sweep of the points races at the Olympic velodrome; 19-year-old Mikhail Ignatyev won the men's event on Tuesday. Slyusareva also joined Dutch star Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel as the only women's double cycling medalists at the Athens Games.
Mirabella's finish was the best of her career in a major international points race; she'd never been higher than sixth at the world championships in the event, and was 13th at this year's worlds.
It was the final race for women's track cyclists at these Olympics. Australia, with three medals, led the women's overall standings at the velodrome.
The men's 3000m Steeplechase
The men's 3000m Steeplechase was owned by Kenya,
as the country took all three medals yesterday.
Aug. 26
Photo by:
Heinz Kluetemeier/SI
Celebrate the Underdog - Aug. 26
Javier Soriano/Getty Images
Pittman's incredible 17 day recovery
Australia's Jana Pittman finished 5th in the 400m hurdles final in 53.92 seconds. Although her time was not fast enough for a medal, it was still better than pretty much anyone could reasonably have expected three weeks ago.
Because three weeks ago -- 17 days, to be exact -- the reigning world champion had knee surgery. That's right, knee surgery.
On August 6, at a warm-up meet in Zurich, she fell on the track in the middle of a race with a torn cartilage. The first doctor to look at it said she would probably be sidelined for four months. He gave her a 1% chance of competing at the Olympics.
A second doctor saw it differently, arranging for Pittman to have surgery two days after the injury.
Since then, according to Melbourne's Herald Sun, "Jana's knee has been photographed, autographed, dissected, bisected, diced, sliced and julienned."
She did nine hours of rehabilitation a day plus mental preparation as she tried to recover on such a condensed schedule. Not surprisingly, it had the one-time favorite reassessing her chances before the qualifying heats.
"I will just concentrate on getting through the first round," she said. "I wll try to hold up and everything after that will be a bonus."
Bonus time came thanks to a convincing time of 54.83 seconds in the heats, and an even faster 54.05 in the semifinals.
Her knee held up throughout the final, but the field was just too fast.
Afterwards Pittman said, "The moment I got injured, my chances of winning here went right out the window."
But her indomitable will to compete never waivered and her remarkable recovery revealed the spirit of a winner.
"I didn't have the last 100 metres as I should," she said. "Anyhow this all has been a journey worth doing. I'll just have to try harder next year. I am definitely going to Beijing."
Marbury Powers U.S. Over Spain; Coaches Square Off
USA basketball coach Larry Brown, left, is confronted by Spain's coach Mario Pesquera, right, at the conclusion of
their quarterfinal game at the Olympic Indoor Hall during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004. The USA won 102-94. At center is USA assistant coach Gregg Popovich.
(AP Photo/Dusan Vranic) AP
By Alan Crosby
Aug. 26
ATHENS (Reuters) - Officials had to separate the U.S. and Spanish coaches when an argument erupted at the end of the game as the United States beat Spain 102-94 in the Olympic men's basketball quarter-finals Thursday.
"It was like having an argument with my son. I tried to explain but he just wouldn't listen," said U.S. head coach Larry Brown, who had asked for a stoppage with 23 seconds to go.
"I called the time out and then saw the clock and tried to cancel it, but (the officials) wouldn't let me. I tried to explain this to (the Spanish coach), that I meant no disrespect."
Stephon Marbury finally found his shooting touch, vital in the fourth quarter, to steer the United States to their victory.
The defending champions and three-times gold medallists had gone into the game in the unfamiliar role of being underdogs, after losing to both Puerto Rica and Lithuania in the preliminary round. Spain were undefeated.
"Coming into the Olympics I hadn't played all summer so I wasn't in my rhythm. But I have taken some extra shooting practice to get it back," said Marbury.
"As everyone who knows basketball knows, repetition is the key," the New York Knicks guard said.
The Americans put together their best effort of the tournament, with Marbury breaking out of his poor form to score 31 points.
The United States came out aggressively, running up a five point lead in the first minute.
But with Tim Duncan once again in foul trouble, Pau Gasol began to dominate inside, racking up 18 points and six rebounds in the first half alone.
Clinging to a one point lead to start the third quarter, the Americans once again went on an early run to open up an eight point lead, only to see Spain level the score at 63-63 and then take a seven point lead to start the fourth quarter.
But Spain could only get as close as four points in the final frame before Marbury's three pointer closed the door.
"We were there for about 35 minutes. I'm hurt. That was a big chance for our team to make a statement, to get a lot of respect," said Gasol, who ended with 29 points and six rebounds.
Updated on Thursday, Aug 26, 2004 11:30 am EDT
http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpcTEybmJhBF9TAzk2NjcyOTgwBHNlYwN0bQ--?slug=reu-basketba...
Olympic Chiefs Ask Bush to Pull Election Ad
1 hour, 18 minutes ago Add Politics to My Yahoo!
By Karolos Grohmann
ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. Olympic Committee has asked the campaign to re-elect President Bush (news - web sites) to pull an ad that refers to the Olympic Games (news - web sites), the International Olympic Committee (news - web sites) said on Thursday.
The ad has angered Olympic officials because they feel it hijacks the Olympic brand -- a registered trademark -- even though it does not display the Games logo.
The U.S. Olympic Committee had asked the Bush election "campaign to withdraw the advertisement they are running," International Olympic Committee spokeswoman Giselle Davies told reporters.
The television advertisement, ahead of the presidential elections in November, does not feature the five Olympic rings -- one of the world's most recognizable images -- but an announcer tells viewers that at "this Olympics there will be two more free nations," referring to the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq under Bush's presidency.
Afghanistan returned to this year's Games after its Olympic Committee, controlled by the then ruling hard-line Taliban regime, was suspended in 1999 and missed the 2000 Sydney Games.
The IOC reinstated Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
The IOC said no official request had been made for the use of the reference to the Games.
"We own the rights to the Olympic name and nobody asked us," Gerhard Heiberg, head of the International Olympic Committee's Marketing Commission had said on Wednesday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=3&u=/nm/20040826/pl_nm/olympics_bu...
Hoop US wins. 102-94. Getting better every game
Athens victors’ crowns not legal in New Zealand
Olive branch wreaths banned to protect vital farming industry
Updated: 4:07 a.m. ET Aug. 26, 2004
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - New Zealand is glad three of its athletes have been crowned Olympic champions -- but if their Athens olive wreaths come home they risk going up in smoke.
Agriculture officials, who can incinerate plant material found at customs, have warned cycle rider Sarah Ulmer and rowing twins Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell that the wreaths won with their gold medals will be barred as a security threat.
“Our understanding is that they are made out of olive branches, roses and chrysanthemums -- this is plant material and it is considered to be a biosecurity risk,” Agriculture Ministry official Veronica Herrera said on Thursday.
New Zealand has some of the strictest border controls in the world to protect its vital farm sector. Travellers who fail to declare animal or plant material face hefty fines or even jail.
Neighboring Australia has told its homecoming heroes they will have to give up their wreaths -- given to all medallists in tribute to the Games’ Greek roots -- for disinfection.
But none of the three New Zealanders who have won medals has asked if that is a possibility, Herrera said.
The Evers-Swindells, identical twins, plan to split up their wreaths and offer them to support staff as a gesture of thanks for their victory in the women’s double sculls.
Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5824551/
I'm sure alot of people agree with the overpaid whiners in MLB statement.
Selig would be the last person I'd ever want to see involved in Olympic baseball. I'd rather see the minor leaguers and college kids play any day compared to the overpaid whiners in MLB.
Flamboyant wrestler assures Egypt of 1st medal
Ibrahim takes only 1:09 to destroy Turkish champ, 11-0
Ricardo Mazalan / AP
Karam Ibrahim of Egypt wrestles Mehmet Ozal of Turkey on Thursday.
Updated: 7:41 a.m. ET Aug. 26, 2004
ATHENS, Greece - Flamboyant Egyptian wrestler Karam Ibrahim assured his country of a first medal at the Athens Olympics on Thursday by reaching the final of the Greco-Roman 96 kg (211 pound) weight category.
Ibrahim registered the men’s wrestling competition’s most convincing victory so far when he crushed Mehmet Ozal of Turkey by a clear 11-0 score in only one minute, 9 seconds, well within the allocated six-minute bout time.
Ibrahim will make it a golden celebration for Egypt if he can beat Georgia’s Ramaz Nozadze in the final later on Thursday.
The 24-year-old celebrated with a display of gymnastic skills, drawing applause from the crowd with a high summersault on the mat.
Medals will be awarded in two other Greco-Roman categories on Thursday.
Marko Yli-Hannuksela of Finland meets Alexandr Dokturishivili of Uzbekistan for the 74 kg (163 pound) gold, while Jung Ji-hyun of South Korea and Roberto Monzon of Cuba grapple for gold in the 60 kg (132 pound) division.
Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
Jamaica celebrating the gold for 200m
Jamaica's Veronica Campbell, right, carries a flag
with compatriot Aleen Bailey after winning the gold medal
in the 200-meters final at the Olympic Stadium during the
2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004.
Bailey placed fourth. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Mountain Bike warm-up
AP Photo/Laurent Rebours
2003 world champion Sabine Spitz of Germany trains on the Olympic mountain bike course during the 2004 Olympic Games in the outskirts of Athens, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004.
The women's Olympic mountain bike events will take place on Friday.
Olympic baseball invisible to MLB
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:44 p.m. ET Aug. 25, 2004
With U.S. out of tournament, players not tuning in to watch
Pitcher Norge Louis Vera led Cuba past Australia to take the gold medal Wednesday.
Win or lose, the average major leaguer wouldn't have known because no one is paying attention to Olympic baseball.
With U.S. out of tournament, players not tuning in to watch Pitcher Norge Louis Vera led Cuba past Australia to take the gold medal Wednesday.
Win or lose, the average major leaguer wouldn't have known because no one is paying attention to Olympic baseball.
For most major leaguers, the Olympic baseball tournament might as well have been on the moon.
Wednesday’s gold medal game between Cuba and Australia didn’t have many of them in front of their televisions.
I don’t think anybody’s paying attention,” said the New York Mets’ Mike Cameron. “The Americans aren’t playing — it’s no fun.”
With the coverage on MSNBC and the Yankees on the road for most of the Olympics, shortstop Derek Jeter said there was no way he could tune in to the baseball because that channel wasn’t available in the team’s hotel.
Four years ago, with a group of minor leaguers managed by Tom Lasorda, the United States won the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics. But the defending champions were denied a trip to Athens by a 2-1 loss to Mexico in a qualifier last year in Panama.
“I think it’s ridiculous we’re not represented,” Houston All-Star outfielder Lance Berkman said. “I haven’t seen any of it. But we’ve got our own race going here, and we’re pretty involved in that.”
Nearly all of a dozen major league baseball owners surveyed last week said they hadn’t watched any of the Olympic baseball, although most said they had seen parts of the Athens Games.
Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner’s office, went to the start of the tournament, returned for the owners’ meetings in Philadelphia, then went straight back to Greece.
Very few major league teams thought enough of the tournament to send scouts, with Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs and San Diego among the exceptions. Alderson said the talent varied in the eight-team field, which also included Australia, Canada, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Taiwan. The impression is very few of the players could make it to the majors.
“Certainly Cuba and Japan have broad-quality teams,” Alderson said. “Australia has been very surprising, and the Canadian team has played very well. I would say that there are certainly half a dozen to a dozen (players) based on scouts that I’ve talked to here, primarily with Japan and Cuba.”
Major league baseball is opposed to allowing major league players to participate in the Olympics.
“I don’t really see it because you can’t stop a pennant race,” commissioner Bud Selig said this week.
Instead, management and the players’ association are planning to launch a 16-team World Cup in March 2006. Japan, however, isn’t sure whether it wants to participate in a tournament controlled by major league baseball.
As for the Olympics, another group of minor leaguers will be sent to qualify in 2007 for the Beijing baseball tournament the following year — unless there is no baseball tournament.
IOC president Jacques Rogge said in December that baseball’s status will be reviewed after the Athens Games to determine whether the sport should remain on the 2008 program.
“Shoot, I’m hearing more about women’s softball more than anything, and swimming and gymnastics,” said Mets infielder Danny Garcia, who has split the season between the majors and the minors. “It’s the minor leaguers, guys like me, who are on our team. I’m sure I would watch it more if they were there than I am now. But it wouldn’t be my first choice.”
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5819574/
Israeli national anthem sounds over Olympic podium after country's first gold
Israel's Gal Fridman waves to spectators after he received his gold medal for winning the Men's Mistral windsurfer sailing event at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Wednesday Aug. 25, 2004. Fridman won the first gold medal for Israel at the Olympic Games ever. At left is silver medal winner Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, at right is bronze medal winner Nick Dempsey from Britain.
(AP Photo/Herbert Knosowski)
By NIKO PRICE, Associated Press Writer
August 25, 2004
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- The Israeli national anthem sounded over an Olympic podium Wednesday for the first time in the Jewish state's 56-year history after a young man whose father named him for the sea took the gold medal in windsurfing.
As the last notes sounded, exuberant Israelis mobbed the podium, embracing Gal Fridman and snapping photographs of the gold medal draped around his neck. Frantic security officials were unable to hold them back.
``Every Olympics we dream of hearing the anthem and seeing the flag. It's the top,'' Fridman said, the victor's wreath on his head. ``I was feeling very proud and so happy to hear the people singing it. I sang as strong as I could, but nobody heard
Israel entered the games in 1952, but its Olympic history is marked more by terrorist attacks and political demonstrations than by sports achievements and medals. At the 1972 Munich games, 11 athletes and coaches were killed by Palestinian terrorists.
Fridman's win provided a more positive Olympic image: that of a winner. He secured the gold with a second-place finish in Wednesday's decisive race, giving him the best overall performance in the 11-stage competition.
Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, the Greek who lit the Olympic flame during the games' opening ceremony, took the silver and Briton Nick Dempsey took the bronze.
Israel erupted in celebration, desperate for good news after four years of bloodshed. Israeli President Moshe Katsav called to offer congratulations and invite Fridman for a visit, saying he wanted to give him a hug. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called as well.
Fridman promised to take his gold medal to the memorial in Tel Aviv for those killed in Munich, to ``give respect for the people who were in front of me and killed while they tried to represent my country.''
Fridman's father, Uri, has long been a fan of water sports. On Sept. 16, 1975, his first son was born, and he named him Gal, which means ``wave'' in Hebrew. To his second son, he gave the name Yuval -- ``creek'' -- and his daughter is Mayan -- ``spring.''
Gal Fridman began sailing at age 7, and soon his father was coaching him. He entered his first competition when he was only 11, and won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
ut even for Fridman's father and former coach, the gold-medal win felt unreal.
``It's very, very hard to believe that he succeeded in doing this,'' said Uri Fridman, who watched Wednesday's race from the Fridman family house in central Israel. Soon after the finish, it was filled with cheering friends and relatives.
``There is gold,'' Uri Fridman said, sipping from a bottle of champagne. ``There is gold. This is fantastic.''
Yaron Micaeli, spokesman for the Israeli delegation in Athens, said more organized celebrations would wait until Fridman returns home. But it was clear he was ecstatic.
`We have a gold medal,'' Micaeli said. ``What can be more than that?''
Fridman celebrated his win with a victory dip in the Saronic Gulf before wrapping himself in a blue-and-white Israeli flag. At the medals ceremony, fans waved Israeli flags and chanted: ``Israel ole ole!'' when he walked in, wraparound sunglasses perched atop his head.
Fans hugged one another as Fridman held his medal high, and sang along with him as the national anthem was played.
``It's like the best thing that could happen,'' said Eli Moskowitz, a 28-year-old gym teacher who traveled from Rehovot, Israel, to see the race. ``In Israel we don't have so many moments like this. Any reason is a good reason for celebration.''
Israel won its first medal in 1992, and had won one silver and three bronzes -- including Fridman's -- before coming to Athens. It won another bronze in judo last week.
Two other members of Fridman's sailing club had a chance to win a medal in doubles at Seoul in 1988, ranking second heading into the final day of competition. But they didn't compete because it was Yom Kippur, the most holy day of the year for Jews.
A Palestinian delegation is in Athens under its own flag. A swimmer and a runner competed, but both finished last in their qualifying rounds. The war has complicated travel, depleted funds and destroyed training facilities, making it difficult for them to train.
``The true value of a country is measured not by the number or the color of its Olympic medals,'' said Mustafa el-Ajouz, spokesman for the Palestinian Embassy in Athens. ``It is measured by its respect and adherence to the Olympic and human ideals of brotherhood, equality, friendship and peace.''
Fridman said he wasn't a fan of politics, but that he hoped that his achievement could help bring peace to the country.
``I want ... that the fight stop in the water,'' he said. ``If you want to fight someone, fight him in sports and see who is better.''
Niko Price is correspondent-at-large for The Associated Press.
Updated on Wednesday, Aug 25, 2004 4:03 pm EDT
http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/sailing/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpY29qbG50BF9TAzk2NjcyOTgwBHNlYwN0aA--?slug=ap-i...
Sweating
AFP
PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
Rulon Gardner says his sport, Greco-Roman wrestling, is just about two guys sweating on each other.
He won bronze Wednesday before announcing his retirement.
He won gold in 2000 at Sydney, also in the 120kg class.
((The act of taking off shoes in the middle of the ring is
the Retirement from Olympics tradition ))
08/26/2004 01:36 © AFP
Overnight hero
AFP
JEFF HAYNES
Fani Halkia became an instant hero in Greece when she won the 400 m women's dash in front of a delirious home crowd at Athens
08/26/2004 01:36 © AFP
Hats off to Cuba !
AFP
OMAR TORRES
Cuban players celebrate after their 6-2 victory over Australia. It is their third Olympic title after 1992 and 1996.
08/26/2004 01:36 © AFP
oh my.. that's a good one.. :)
Jones quietly qualifies for long jump final
Marion Jones will try to exorcise demons from the Sydney Games,
and conquer the long jump in Athens.
AP
Posted: Wednesday August 25, 2004 3:15PM;
Updated: Wednesday August 25, 2004 4:04PM
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Without any of the fanfare that accompanied her historic quest for five gold medals in at the 2000 Games, Marion Jones quietly advanced to the final of the long jump in her first appearance of these Olympics.
But U.S. teammate Allen Johnson, a four-time world champion and a former Olympic gold medalist, made a shocking exit from the second round of the 110-meter hurdles. He tripped over the ninth hurdle and fell under the last one -- ending up face down on the track, glasses flying off his face, as competitors crossed the finish line.
Four years ago, Jones' quest for five golds ended in the long jump. This time, she made her Athens debut in the event. She competed in virtual anonymity, drawing only a smattering of applause, with little of the celebrity worship that engulfed her in Sydney.
On her first attempt, Jones licked her lips, then paused for the start of a men's race. She took two quick deep breaths, sped down the runway -- and fouled by several inches. She immediately went over to the stands to talk with coach Dan Pfaff.
Jones opened her mouth wide and rolled her tongue around her mouth before her second jump, then took four quick breaths. She propelled herself down the runway and leaped 21 feet, 113/4 inches to surpass the automatic qualifying distance of 21-10 and advance to Friday's final.
After qualifying, she quickly dressed and prepared to call it a night.
The biggest thrill of the night for Greek fans came when countrywoman Fani Halkia won the 400-meter hurdles in 52.82 seconds, sending the sold-out Olympic Stadium into spasms of joy and flag waving. Romania's Ionela Tirlea-Manolache won silver and Tetiana Tereshchuk-Antipova of Ukraine took bronze. Australian Jana Pittman, the world champion, finished fifth two weeks after undergoing knee surgery.
Near the start of the long jump runway, awaiting her second attempt, Jones sat impassively as Halkia pranced by on her victory lap.
At the 2000 Sydney Games, Jones already had won gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters when she got a bronze in the long jump. She went on to win two more medals in relays -- one gold, one bronze.
At the U.S. trials this summer, she failed to qualify in the 100 and dropped out of the 200, citing fatigue. She hopes to run on the 400-meter relay squad, beginning Thursday.
Those are not the only differences from the last Olympics.
Jones was the darling of Sydney, her every move chronicled as she aimed for five golds. Even her defense of husband C.J. Hunter on drug charges won her praise as a supportive spouse.
Now she's under investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and has been accused by ex-husband Hunter of using banned drugs before, during and after the Sydney Games. And she is returning to Olympic competition just 14 months after giving birth to a son.
In other events Wednesday, Hicham El Guerrouj qualified easily for the final of the 5,000 one night after his dramatic and emotional victory in the 1,500. Winning that preliminary heat was 10,000 champion Kenenisa Bekele, setting up a Saturday night duel in the final between two men trying to complete a rare Olympic distance double.
Only four men have won the 5,000 and 10,000 at one Olympics, as Bekele is attempting. And a 1,500-5,000 sweep would be even more unusual -- El Guerrouj would be only the second man to accomplish that. Paavo Nurmi did it in 1924.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Agree on that... just sit back and watch them do what they do....
go Iraqi Soccer!
No argument there. I do think we should let these people (Iraqis and Afgans) enjoy the joy of competing in the games however and leave them out of our own political debates.
If he thought he could get some positive publicity doing so,
I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate to "use" her.
Volume | |
Day Range: | |
Bid Price | |
Ask Price | |
Last Trade Time: |