|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 12 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Sri Lanka's Olympic medal prospects bleak Countdown for the Olympic Games with Dinesh Weerawansa We are just a day away from the historic moment we have been eagerly awaiting. The latest edition of the summer Olympic Games will unveil at the original birth place of the mega event, the Greek capital of Athens. Thousands of athletes from all corners of the globe have gathered for the big event considered as the greatest sporting event in the world. Finally the Greek Olympic dream is becoming a reality. Despite producing a medallist after 52 years in Sydney 2000, Sri Lanka's expectations here in Athens are limited with sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe failing to qualify for women's 200, her pet event which brought fortunes. She has also withdrawn from the 100 metres event. The motivating force and soul of the Games is above all the Olympic Volunteers. These are the people who help the athletes, the visitors, and the spectators at the most amazing sport event in the world. The success of the Olympic Games was due to all 34,548 volunteers at Barcelona, all 60,422 volunteers at Atlanta, and all 47,000 volunteers at Sydney. The Olympic Games is returning to Greece, to the country where it was born and to Athens, the city where it was first revived. Everyone will have the unique opportunity to experience the magic of the Games at first hand. Participation in the organisation of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games means participation in the largest celebration of humankind. Participation is based on will, passion, dedication and professionalism, qualities shown by every volunteer. The Olympic flame returned to Greece July 9, after an international journey on all five continents, through 26 countries and 34 cities. It will now continue its journey in Greece, to arrive at the Athens Olympic Stadium on the evening of August 13. The historic records indicate that the first ancient Olympic Games had been in way back in 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian Gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia, famous for its magnificent temples of the gods Zeus and Hera. They initially had a religious character and combined a number of ancient sporting events, many of which were based on ancient Greek myths. The ancient Games actually occupied an important position in the life of our ancestors. An Olympiad was a time unit, measuring the four-year interval between two Games. Participants came to compete from every corner of the Greek world aiming at the ultimate prize: an olive wreath and a "heroic" return to their city-states. But apart from the glorious victory, it was the Olympic values themselves which accorded special meaning to the Games: noble competition and the effort to combine body, will, and mind in a balanced whole. As the Games developed, so did a set of procedures such as a standard schedule of events and the practice of the Olympic Truce.. They continued for nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius decreed, in 393 AD, that all such 'pagan cults' be banned. He asserted that the Games placed an excessive public focus on athletic and spiritual affairs and abolished them. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
