2004 OLYMPIC GAMES - Athens, Greece Aug. 13 - 29

[Mariner*]

Have the Athens Olympics been a success?



The 28th Olympic Games is set to reach its finale on Sunday with a closing ceremony in Athens.
Team GB started slowly but currently have 30 medals, exceeding their total medal tally from the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The latest successes came from Kelly Holmes's second gold, in the 1500m final, and Britain's men's relay team who took gold in the 4x100m final.

On Sunday Britain's 17-year-old Amir Khan took silver in boxing's lightweight division after losing 30-22 to Cuban Mario Kindelan.

Have the Athens Olympics been a success? What are your memories of the various sporting events? How has Team GB performed? Are the Games still the greatest sports show on Earth?


The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

I would have liked to have seen the BBC coverage showing more medal ceremonies for countries other than just the UK
Alan Asbridge, Glastonbury, UK

I am usually against too much sport on TV but I have enjoyed every minute of the Athens Olympics

Wright, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
I am usually against too much sport on TV but I have enjoyed every minute of the Athens Olympics and as far as I am concerned, the best ever TV coverage. I will be disappointed when they come to an end this evening
Wright, Amersham, Buckinghamshire

Sorry but the thought of athletes enhancing performance with drugs and for sure there are some who have not been caught turns me right off.
Graham Moir, Ladysmith Canada

Not really! Billions of dollars wasted putting Greece into penury while ignoring Aids globally, Darfur, global starvation of children, and international poverty. For some trinkets?
Kish Hahn, Waterloo, Canada

I was a volunteer during the 1984 Olympics in LA and thoroughly enjoyed the spirit of the Games and meeting people from all over the world. I wish I could have attended the Olympics this year in Athens, but alas, could not. I admire all the athletes who worked their whole lives to get to this point and wish them well, whatever nationality they may be. I commend the Greeks for hosting a successful and fun Olympics. I'm especially proud of Natalie Coughlin of the US, who was my cousin's roommate in college at UC Berkeley. Go Bears!
John, Los Angeles, California

For the last two weeks I have lived and slept the Games

Jo E, England

These Olympics have been the most entertaining for as long as I can remember. For the last two weeks I have lived and slept the Games. I am in total awe of all the participants, but most of all the GB team. From diving to rowing, from cycling to running, they were all awesome. Well done team GB, well done everyone who took part, well done BBC and well done Athens.
Jo E, England


Even with all the medals we've won during the Olympic Games, one athlete is going to be remembered above all others, and for a very long time. Paula Radcliffe. Unfotunately, she'll be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Dave, Doncaster, UK

Yes, the Olympics still reign supreme. Team GB have performed brilliantly. More money from the lottery fund please!! Sports facilities for everyone has surely got to be money well spent, especially with child obesity on the increase!!!
Annemarie Hoyle, Chorley, England


I think we should at least try to beat this medal tally by the next games in 2008

Steve Kite, Bournemouth

Well done to Team GB. Yes, I think the games are the greatest because they bring the world closer together. My memories are of Kelly Holmes' marvellous achievements in the 800m and 1500m. Team GB have performed well but they should do better. I think we should at least try to beat this medal tally by the next games in 2008 and should look at these results as the start of something great for the future.
Steve Kite, Bournemouth



The Games have been okay but not the best ever. Several outstanding moments in many sports and some excellent performances by the GB team. The one weak area I feel has been the officials. Several poor scores and diabolical decisions have cost some of the participants four years' hard work. Oh, and wasn't it unfortunate that the American basketball team missed out on gold?!
Dave Hartley, Maidstone UK

We sent over 270 people that we can be proud of... oh, and Paula.
Alfie Noakes, North of England, UK


The Olympic "games" are a drugs festival - nothing more. To think anything else is naive.
Steve, Basingstoke, England

I hated all the people that were accusing the Greeks of running late

Nick Vlastaris, Ipswich UK
I am very pleased that the Olympic Games went as expected. I hated all the people that were accusing the Greeks of running late and that they would not be ready for the games, which was nonsense. We proved that we can do as good a job, or even better, than any other nation and finally all the critics should shut up and apologise for complaining so much.
Nick Vlastaris, Ipswich UK


I haven't been back to Athens for many years - my daughter leaned to walk on the Acropolis. Even then I thought that Athens was a very nice city. Now, with all of the improvements needed to host the Olympics, it will be a great place to visit. Also, one cannot overlook the significance of holding the games where they started. A great country and a wonderful people.
Neal, Lansing, USA


I applaud the effort and celebration of sport and friendship. Wouldn't it have been more sporting and friendly if Olympic merchandising was not made in sweat shops?
Bilal, London


For the first time in living memory the Greeks, and I amongst them, are proud to be Greek!

Stelios Haji-Ioannou, London, UK
For the first time in living memory the Greeks, and I amongst them, are proud to be Greek! This should have a long-lasting effect for the benefit of the nation! Now it's cool to be Greek!
Stelios Haji-Ioannou, London, UK

When you witness truly unexpected events such as the GB victory in the 4x100m, you realise just how wonderful these games have been. Despite the various scandals off the track, the Athenians have done themselves proud and they'll be remembered rather fondly in years to come.
Tom, Rochester

Carole from the UK who is happy she missed this "silly spectacle" is definitely the loser. The winners are we privileged spectators, all the competitors and, of course, Athens. Well done BBC, brilliant coverage on both TV and Radio. But I would like Brendan Foster to stop his incessant talking - he's not on radio and we can see what's happening!
Brian Edwards, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Paula Radcliffe is a great athlete and should not feel that she has let us down

Max, London

I think GB did very well, particularly the black and Asian competitors. Paula Radcliffe is a great athlete and should not feel that she has let us down but next time let's not waste money sending Tim Henman.
Roger, Oxford

For me, it was nowhere near as good as Sydney four years ago. I thought the behaviour of the Greek crowd before the start of the men's 200m final was disgraceful. Booing eight men who earnt their place in that final without the need for drugs was not how a supposedly sport-embracing nation should act
Max, London

I feel I must say thanks to the British Olympic team for the heart and soul they have all put into their performances. They have really been great - especially Kelly Holmes and the 4x100 men's relay team. Brilliant.
Valerie, England


I nor colleagues and family have watched this silly spectacle and from the small bits on the news realise that we have missed nothing at all.
Carole, UK

The highlight for me has to be Amir Khan getting to the final

Tyra, London
Yes the Olympics have been a success especially for Team GB. The highlight for me has to be the only Asian in the team, Amir Khan, getting to the final. It's great to see people from all races, all over the United Kingdom supporting him. I wish him all the best for Sunday, whatever medal he brings home.
Tyra, London

We sent 270+ competitors to Athens and approx 1/5 of them will return home with a medal. I think that's a pretty good haul. But I think we apply too much pressure to our hopefuls. Let's not build them up before the event and save the praise for when it's deserved afterwards.
Elaine Hogan, Edinburgh, UK

Being Greek and knowing how Greeks work, I never had a doubt in my mind that the Athens Olympics would be a success, despite the fact that construction was taking place until the last hours before the opening! Beyond the success of the Games, the legacy left for Athens, a city that used to look old, dirty and well... with the public transport from hell, is what matters the most. Athens looks beautiful and attractive both for the millions of people who visit it every year and its residents. A job well done!!
Panagiotis Vagenas, London, UK

The Olympic Games is always great but I think it's been especially good this time as a British supporter as we didn't have such high expectations. Therefore the medals we have achieved have been very exciting and all the more appreciated, as were any good placings.
Judy Malone, Bristol, England

The glory of the Olympics in their homeland

Dr. John L Collins, London, UK
My son Aidan (age 7) and I visited the Olympics whilst on holiday in the Greek Cycladic islands; what a marvellous spectacle it is! The glory of the Olympics in their homeland, a spectacular opening ceremony - visually stunning and superbly performed - incredible arenas full of the world's best sportsmen and sportswomen, incredibly well managed in every respect in a sparkling Athens! Of course it's been a success and has shown that - despite considerable anti-Greek sentiments around the Olympics beforehand - the Greeks have pulled a very sizable and beautiful rabbit out of a wonderfully rebuilt hat, truly the greatest sports show on Earth.
Dr. John L Collins, London, UK

I would say that the Team GB's performances have been much better than I was anticipating. However, I would say that the Men's Athletics team has been woeful.
Chloe Sanderson, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Successful - yes, but there are two areas for improvement. First the organisers need to improve safety standards during construction. Far too many people were killed or injured building the facilities. In the Games themselves the judging of the subjective events needs to be clearer so that there is never any doubt that the medals have really gone to the best competitors.
Russell O'Brien, Nottingham, England

It was great to see the pride of the Greek people

Barbara, IL, USA
I thought the Olympics were a success. The TV coverage was good. It was great to see the pride of the Greek people. I really enjoyed watching the venues. I love the swimming, diving, and all the gymnastics. This time I watched water polo for the first time and thought it was interesting. I didn't get into the shooting, but though the canoeing and white water rafting was great. I loved all the vollyball. Track and field isn't my favourite, but I found that interesting too. The only thing that concerns me is the judging. That doesn't always seem to be up to par.
Barbara, IL, USA

Yes, these games have been a huge success. The venues and facilities have been fantastic, particularly the beautiful Olympic stadium. The opening ceremony was the best to date. From a British point of view the games haven't been as successful as I'd hoped - we haven't beaten the gold medals total that we achieved in Sydney. However, seven golds and the chance of two more before it ends is very decent.
Michael, Liverpool, UK

The Olympics this year appear to have been pulled off well in most instances, but scoring seemed to be a common weakness in some events. It's a shame that Greek bitterness over the pre-game events overshadowed the 200m final.
Andrew Bell, Edinburgh, UK

These games were okay, but spoiled for me by the excessive hype over Paula Radcliffe failing to finish the races. Don't the press have anything better to talk about? The heat got the better of her... so what!! Kelly Holmes' win for me was the crowning achievement, and I'd like to see Amir Khan take the gold medal. One thought though - there are now so many events in the Olympics, beach volleyball and the like... how (and where) could the UK host these games, especially with the unpredictable summer weather??
Alvin Shillingford, London, UK

Although the British team performed better then some sections of the media predicted, for the amount of money spent on sport we should be beating teams such as Ukraine and South Korean in the medal table. On another note it is time the BBC learnt that a British athlete can perform badly, and when they do perform badly it is ok to admit this.
Mark, Cambridge
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/3608176.stm