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| Wednesday, 18 August 2004 |
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Greece proud, but upset over soccer defeats Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Greece ATHENS, Tuesday - Hosts Greece are proud of having the Olympic Games in its birthplace, but they have suffered early setbacks, especially after their Euro 2004 champion soccer team lost back to back Games. The things looked even more gloomy for the host nation when their leading sprinter Costas Kenteris was caught up in a controversial motorcycle accident, which had taken place just hours after allegedly missing a scheduled dope test at the Athletes Village. The hearing has now been postponed until tomorrow (Wednesday). But the Greek sports officials said it was an isolated affair and athlete is just a member of the 400 plus strong contingent for the Games from the host nation. Nevertheless, the Greeks cannot just forget the incident and wash off their hands. It is because Kenteris is a national icon. His photographs and images have been used in many signboards and hoardings to put more weight on the host nation's Olympic campaign. Hence, the incident is a great concern to Greeks. Instead of Olympic spectacle, the untimely saga of Kenteris and his training partner Katerina Thanou is dominating the news out of Athens. A state prosecutor has launched an inquiry into the circumstances of their alleged motorcycle accident. The duo have been hospitalised since last Thursday, despite reports they only suffered minor injuries. The accident has not been reported to the Police and is part of the intrigue surrounding the affair. The pair has been suspended from the Greek Olympic team, pending the outcome of the IOC disciplinary committee hearing which is now scheduled for tomorrow. Kenteris and Thanou are due to be discharged from hospital and are expected for the haven of their Athens apartment or some other hideaway. Despite the unfortunate incident faced by two of their competitors, the Greek athletes were busy with their final work outs for the athletic competition which begins at the Olympic Stadium here tomorrow. Meanwhile, Argentina, China and the Netherlands won their respective women's hockey tournament matches worked off at the Olympic Hockey Centre last evening. China scored a goal in each half to beat New Zealand 2-0 while the Dutch team edged out Korea in a 3-2 thriller. After being tied one-all at 'lemons', Argentina cut lose with two impressive goals to beat Japan by three goals to one. Bottom seeded Amelie Mauresmo beat Conchita Martinez of Spain in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 in 54 minutes in their women's singles preliminary round tennis tie at the Olympic Tennis courts here. The French lass was in impressive form and took just 18 minutes to win the first set. In another women's singles first round game, fourth seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia lost to Australian Alcia Molik 6-4, 0-6, 3-6. In women's doubles round one, bottom seeds Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain and Conchita Martinez overcame Hungarians Petra Mandula and Kyra WC Nagy 6-4, 6-0. In the preliminary rounds of women's volleyball competition of the Olympic Games, Cuba beat Russia 3-2, Korea beat Germany 3-1, Italy beat Japan 3-0 and China beat Dominican Republic 3-0. Australian Ian Thrope bagged gold in men's 200m freestyle event in swimming at the Olympic Aqua Centre where five Olympic records and two world records were established last night. The most impressive of them all was that three minutes and 13.17 seconds timing registered by South African team to establish a new world record in men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay world record. Australian women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay team clocked 3:35.95 to account for new world mark. Among the new Olympic Games record breakers in swimming were American Natalie Coughlin (women's 100m backstroke) and Chinese Xuejuan Luo (women's 100m breaststroke). Coming in to action at the Olympic Aqua Centre pool on Thursday will be Sri Lanka's ace swimmer Conrad Francis in the preliminaries of men's 100m butterfly stroke. It would be interesting to see what Francis could offer, having come to the Greek capital on the middle of his IOC scholarship in Australia. Francis created history at the recent Asia Pacific Age Group championship with two gold medals. The only other Lankan swimmer to be seen in action at the Athens Olympiad is former St. Bridget's star Menaka de Silva, who has now joined Sri Lanka Navy. She will compete in women's 50 m freestyle event on Friday. |
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