Transexuals Cleared to Compete at Olympics

History was created this week as Transexuals were given the go ahead to compete in the Athens Olympic Games in August.

'Under a proposal approved by the IOC executive board, athletes who have undergone sex-change surgery will be eligible for the Olympics if their new gender has been legally recognized and they have gone through a minimum two-year period of postoperative hormone therapy.

The decision, which covers both male-to-female and female-to-male cases, goes into effect starting with the Athens Olympics in August.

The IOC had put off a decision in February, saying more time was needed to consider all the medical issues.

Some members had been concerned whether male-to-female transsexuals would have physical advantages competing against women.

Men have higher levels of testosterone and greater muscle-to-fat ratio and heart and lung capacity. However, doctors say, testosterone levels and muscle mass drop after hormone therapy and sex-change surgery.' - Source

Tony Blair Assassination

Today was Assassinated in Greece at the Olympics. Well he was in the minds of Olympic security forces who tested their ability to handle 77 security disaster scenarios including such an assassination attempt.

'The U.S.-led drill covered 77 scenarios, among them a poisoning attempt on Games chief Gianna Angelopoulos, a rocket attack on an Air France plane, a suspected anthrax attack and riots and looting on the capital's streets, it said.'

Source - Olympic police practised Blair assassination plot

In other Olympic security news today:
- Security costs for the games are predicted to go over $1.2 billion mark - Source
- Greece will deploy their army to secure their railway system during the games. - Source

China Eyes Badminton Olympic Gold

'CHINA blasted a clear Olympic badminton warning with victory this weekend in the finals of the sport's prestige team competitions, the Thomas and Uber Cups.

The Chinese men beat Denmark 3-1 in the Thomas Cup 24 hours after the women overcame South Korea by the same score to retain the Uber Cup.' Source

US Simmers not phased by lack of Roof

The US Olympic Swimming Team says it is not concerned if the Olympic swimming venue does not have a roof in August.

'Athens organisers had come under intense criticism in March when construction delays forced builders to scrap plans to cover the swimming venue.

While spectators can expect to broil in the searing summer sun, American swimmers like 18-year-old Michael Phelps, who will attempt to match Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics, are predicting fast times and few problems.

"A pool is a pool," Phelps said. "We're all going to be competing under the same conditions and the swimmers will adapt.

"If a pool has lanes and water that's all you need."

There had been fears that without the protection provided by the steel and glass roof, swimmers would suffer under the elements and force drastic changes to training programs in the final build-up to the August 13to 29 Games.'

Source - Pool roof no worry for US

Greek Security Officals are Satisfied

'Greece's top security official is satisfied with the results of a four-day exercise testing the country's ability to respond to terror attacks during the Athens Games.

The joint Greek-U.S. exercise, code-named "Olympic Guardian II," started Thursday and involved more than 300 security personnel.'

Source - Greek security official pleased with Olympic test

Japan, Korea, Russia and Italy quality for Olympics Womens Volleyball

Japan, Korea, Russia and Italy have all won berths in the womens volleyball competition at the Olympic Games later this year in Athens.

Source

Pope Blesses Olympics

Pope Offers Blessings To Athens Organizers - 'Pope John Paul II urged the Athens Olympics to be a show of fraternity and peace, and he offered his blessings to the organizers....

"I express the wish that the next celebration of the Olympic Games in your city be a show of brotherhood for all the participants and a message of peace and union for all those who will be spectators across the world," John Paul said. "In this spirit, I invoke divine blessings for you and all the organizers of this celebration."'

U.S. Athletes Aware of Possible Backlash

The US Olympic team are aware of possible backlash at the Olympic Games in August this year.

'"When you're competing internationally, everyone wants the USA to lose," said Lopez, who won gold at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Lopez was one of several athletes who spoke Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in New York. And he's not the only American athlete who has thought about a possible backlash at the games.

"We tend to rub everybody the wrong way, no matter how hard we try not to," men's volleyball player Lloy Ball said. "Whether it's the Ryder Cup, or whether it's carrying the flag around like some of the track athletes were doing after winning the last Olympics. That's the way we are, though. We're confident people."

Balancing that confidence with a sense of diplomacy is important to many American athletes - especially those who have been to the Olympics before and understand the joy of competing and living in a friendly environment.' - Source

Olympic Flag Raised on Everest

The Greek and Olympic Games flags have both been raised on top of Everest by the first Greek to climb the mountain - Source

Athens Olympic Games are Smoking!

SFGate reports that Olympic Organizers are hoping that Greeks will cut back on their out of control smoking habits in August in consideration for their millions of visitors.

'Studies suggest at least 40-45 percent of the adult population in Greece is regularly puffing away. In some age categories, including 25 to 34, it rises to about 60 percent....

They have appealed to Greeks to try to offer a less smoky reception for visitors to the Aug. 13-29 games. No one is demanding American-style blanket restrictions. But Greeks have been urged to establish no-smoking zones, respect rules and think twice about lighting up. Etiquette classes planned for taxi drivers will include a stern warning to keep butts in the packs while on the road.

"We want to show the healthy side of Greek society," said chief organizer Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.'

US Trim Medal Expectations

'The United States has trimmed medal expectations for the Athens Olympics but said Friday it still expects to win over 100 even if the team is forced to drop top athletes because of the BALCO steroid investigation.'

Source - U.S. Trims Medal Expectations for Athens Olympics

Lebron, Marbury, Stoudemire Join Olympics

'A dozen years after shunning college players, the U.S. Olympic basketball team turned Friday to a pair of players who jumped to the NBA right out of high school: LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire.

The NBA's last two rookies of the year were among five players added to this year's Olympic Dream Team, along with New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, New Jersey Nets forward Richard Jefferson, and Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion.' Source

Olympic Games Issues - Steroids and Security

Monterey Herald reports that the biggest issues for the Olympic Games will be Steroids and Security.

'Just 91 days before the start of the 2004 Summer Games, ongoing questions about security and drug use by American athletes dominated the USOC news conference on Friday that marked the start of the organization's four-day U.S. Olympic team media summit here.'

Fortress Athens

Yet another article on the increased security that is being mobilized in Athens in preparation for the Olympics in August.

'Already, teams of American, Israeli and British intelligence officials are in Athens, preparing for the massive policing operation that will unfold during the event. The heightened security measures - set to peak a month before the competition begins - involve heightened surveillance of Muslim immigrants; warnings to immigrant community leaders to cooperate in rooting out potential extremist networks; and plainclothes Greek and foreign police operatives patrolling tourist areas. Closed-circuit cameras will scan the streets as will microphones enabled to listen in on conversations. During the games, a blimp bristling with surveillance equipment will hover over the city.'

Source - Fortress Athens awaits a summer of discontent

Athens Mayor - 'Don't let Terrorists Win'

Athens Mayor, Dora Bakoyianni is pleading that the world sees the recent bombings in Athens as minor and that they would not allow them to impact the Olympic Games in August for fear of giving victory to those behind the attacks.

Source - Athens mayor doesn't want to see terrorists win

Marion Jones is Focused despite Steroids investigations

'MARION JONES believes lingering questions about the BALCO steroids investigation won't take a toll on her track career."All the things going on off the track have made me even more focused," said Jones during a tele-conference today....

Jones said she has never accepted, taken or even been offered any performance-enhancing drugs. She seems tired of having to defend herself.'

Drugs probe 'focuses' Jones

Olympic Games Sponsorship Frenzy

USA Today reports on the Olympic Advertising frenzy that is about to descend upon us!

' The gold medal of sports marketing has lost some of its luster, but even security worries are not deterring some advertisers and sponsors from the Olympics....

NBC has sold 80% of ad time and expects to net $1 billion over 17 days of coverage....

Olympic Cauldron - Spindle Shaped

'The Olympic flame will burn in a huge spindle-shaped cauldron that will be visible from all parts of the main stadium, according to plans by the designer....

The cauldron is 100 feet long and 5 feet maximum in diameter, with a slot in its top section, the document said. The plans added that the main structure will be connected to the base by a hinge, suggesting it could move.'

Source - Documents reveal Olympic cauldron is spindle-shaped

Athletes weigh security risks of Olympics

The Mercury News reports that American Athletes are weighing security risks of going to the Athens Olympic Games.

Olympics Insurance Boom

Many industries will be rubbing their hands together in glee in the lead up to the Olympic games, but the insurance industry would have to be at the head of the list if this article at Forbes is anything to go by.

The amount of things that can go wrong at the Olympic Games are vast and the IOC, organizing committee, teams and individuals must be paying billions of dollars in premiums...

'Some teams and sponsors offer their athletes big perks if they do well, but quietly buy insurance against the risk their stars exceed expectations, leaving them with a big bill.

These are just two of the risks -- which range from Athens being hit by a huge earthquake to U.S. President George Bush dying during the Games pushing Olympics coverage off the world's primetime TV schedules -- that are covered in one insurance policy or another issued for the Games.

Though fears of a terror attack have reached fever pitch after a string of Athens bomb attacks and many of the venues remain building sites, insurers have staked billions of euros on the Athens Games being a success....

By the start of the Games on August 13, $1 billion of cover will have been bought to protect against the risk of the Athens Games being called off, insurers said.

That's on top of $1 billion of insurance cover bought to protect the venues, athletes, officials and spectators.

The policies range from major TV networks insuring themselves for up to $350 million to Greek firms producing Athens 2004 memorabilia buying cover worth a million euros. '

Queer Eye for the Olympian Guy

'The Games need a makeover, and fast. - Fortunately, the Fab Five is on the job. Yes, the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy quintet who made their bones by showing slovenly straight men the importance of "tszujing" and fine wine are being turned loose on the five-ring circus that is the Olympics.' - Source - Queer Eye for Athens

Olympic Roof Slides into Place

BBC reports that the Olympic roof is taking shape - 'Workers and officials have celebrated in Greece after efforts to start raising a grand arch over the main Olympic stadium went without a hitch.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials watched as one half of the hi-tech roof began to slide into place.'

The British Team are getting ready and are making a few announcements this week including:

- Naming their Triathlon Team
- Announcing their Equestrian line up

Greek Police Arrest Journalists in Olympics Venue

ATHENSReuters - 'Greek police briefly detained five British and German journalists who illegally entered two main Olympic sports complexes at night, Athens Games officials said on Thursday.

They said a reporter and a photographer for the London Times tried to approach the Olympic stadium after climbing over a fence and entering the main compound in the suburb of Maroussi.

"A guard on the site saw them and arrested them," the police official said. "The two journalists were taken to a police station for questioning and after a few hours were released."

"Yes we were detained last night and spent a few hours in a police station," Times reporter Laura Peek told Reuters.

The officials said three German journalists, working for a production company, were also detained late on Wednesday in the Hellenikon sports complex, the second biggest after the Olympic Stadium compound. They were later released.'

Also read Athens Olympics: Security Announcement

Iraq Soccer Team Qualify for Olympics

The Globe and Mail reports that Iraq is celebrating as their soccer team qualifies for the Athens Olympic games with a win over Saudi Arabia with a score line of 3-1.

Greek extremist group threatens Olympic visitors

ATHENS Reuters - ' A makeshift bomb has exploded outside an Athens bank, and a Greek fringe group claimed responsibility for three blasts in the city last week, saying they were to protest heavy security measures for the Olympics.

Thursday's early morning blast outside a branch of Alpha Bank caused minor damage and no casualties, but will raise more concern about the safety of the Games this summer.

The group "Revolutionary Struggle" told the newspaper "To Pontiki" last week's bombs which damaged a police station but caused no casualties were a response to Olympic security plans....

"With regard to the Olympic Games we say that Greece's transformation into a fortress, NATO's involvement, the presence and activities of foreign intelligence units show clearly that (the Olympics) are not a festival like Games organisers say, but it's a war," it said in a statement sent to the newspaper.'

Get more on this topic from Sydney Morning Herald

Warning against Games Profiteering

Greek Premier Costas Caramanlis has warned Greek business owners not to hike up prices in an attempt to profiteer from the Olympic Games in August.

'"For those planning to exploit the Olympic Games ... we tell them to think again," Caramanlis told parliament Wednesday.

"We will all be on alert - ministries, agencies and producers - to insure that the market is adequately supplied with products of the highest quality and at the best prices."'

Security Tight for Athens Olympics

India's deepikoglobal.com reports that IOC head Jacques Rogge believes that security is tight for the Athens Olympics and that everything possible is being done to ensure a disaster free Athens Olympic Games.

'''An atmosphere of security must prevail. Everything that was humanly possible has been done,'' he told French daily Le Monde in an interview.

Belgian Rogge said last week's explosion of three bombs in Athens 100 days before the opening ceremony should not be taken as a sign that security will not be optimal during the Olympics. '

The Seattle Post reports that Athens are about to conduct a four day exercise to 'examine "counter-terrorist response scenarios and management of the consequences" of an attack, a statement said Wednesday.'

'Earlier this month, Greece increased its Olympic security budget to more than $1.2 billion, while 70,000 police and soldiers are set to patrol Athens and Olympic-related areas during the Aug. 13-29 games.'

Australia Issues Travel Warning for Athens

The Australian Government has issued a travel warning to its citizens wanting to travel to Athens for the Olympic Games in August. The IOC and Greek organizing committee have rightly been concerned with the warning but Australian IOC member Kevin Gosper says that they are overreacting to the warning:

'He said the Australian government had a responsibility to warn its citizens of security risks.

Greece has expressed shock and anger at the Australian government's warning for tourists to the country to look out for bombs, hooligans, sexual predators and other criminals.

The updated advisory from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) came after bomb attacks in Athens last week at the start of the 100 day countdown to the Games.

"Australians in Greece are advised to exercise caution and keep themselves informed of developments that might affect their safety," the advice said.

"Australians should be aware of a recent series of firebomb attacks on domestic, political and commercial premises in Greece, mainly in Athens and Thessaloniki."

Mr Gosper said the advice was credible.
AdvertisementAdvertisement

"It contains good and sound advice to people travelling in Greece and that's a normal responsibility of a government to upgrade that level of advice, if there's been some incident as there was in Greece last week," he told the Nine network.' - Read more of this article at 'The Age'

Marathon Route in Athens - Under Construction

The Washington Post today reports that it is still a Mad Dash to the Finish for Athens in their preparations for the Olympics - especially when it comes to the Marathon route...

'Athletes have been running the mostly uphill route from this village to Athens for about 2,500 years, ever since a swift soldier named Phidippides legged the 26.2 miles to deliver news of a military victory over the Persians. But with just three months to go until the Olympic Games return to Greece, the ancient path is hardly fit for the world's best modern-day marathoners.

Hundreds of dump trucks, excavators, cement mixers and laborers with old-fashioned pickaxes are working double shifts to widen the racecourse along a narrow highway, but are far behind schedule. About half the route remains under construction. In Marathon, the starting line is nowhere to be seen; even the local work crews say they aren't sure where it's supposed to go.

2 Euro Coin to Commemorate Athens Olympics

The Bank of Greece is to circulate a new two-euro coin on Thursday to mark the Athens 2004 Olympics.
 
The 50 million commemorative coins totalling 100 million euros will circulate in all eurozone countries, central bank officials told a presentation on Wednesday. Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas said that collectors at home and abroad had shown strong interest in the issue. Source

US Olympic Team has Opportunity to Reverse Global Public Opinion

USA Today's column by Christine Brennan talks about how the Olympics are actually an opportunity for the US to reverse global public opinion that has been accumulating after some of the recent negative publicity over some of the images coming out of Iraq of abuse by US Soldiers.

Her call is for the US team to behave well and not badly.

'But right around the corner comes the Olympics, the only regularly scheduled gathering of the world. The Summer Games will be the most watched television event on earth this year; that's quite a platform to try to do a little rehabilitation work on one's image.

The U.S. Olympic Committee is so aware of the nation's precarious standing in the world court of public opinion that it has asked former spokesman Mike Moran, now its senior media consultant, to give seminars on behavior, sportsmanship and even Greek culture to U.S. athletes heading to Athens.

"It is not business as usual for us at these Olympics," Moran said. "We're telling athletes who like to jump around and yell and grab a flag from the audience and wrap themselves in it that they should rethink their exuberance for this Olympics, not only for their own safety but because of the way that some of the world views us.'

Athens Olympic Games News Resources

Athens Olympic Games News has a great collection of online resources dedicated to reporting news from the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens.

I'm sure the web will be flooded with Olympic Games information so this site will be useful in helping to find quality news.

Its sister page AThens 2004 Olympic Games has an amazing array of links and resources for anyone wanting to visit the Athens Olympic Games or anyone wanting to watch from home.