Αψίδα

Wrestling, Olympic Games Issue Athens, Republic of Cyprus

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Title

Wrestling, Olympic Games Issue Athens, Republic of Cyprus

Description

One hundred and eight years after the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, the Games returned in full glory to their ancient and spiritual homeland in a 21st century world living in fear of unprecedented terrorist attacks. Never in the history of the Olympics was security such a prominent issue than at the Athens 2004 Games. Land, sea and air security measures cost Greece some 1.5 billion Euros and the 70,000 armed soldiers patrolling the Games were almost inconspicuous. Four billion television viewers and 70,000 spectators who packed the futuristic Olympic stadium were captivated and enchanted by an opening ceremony that combined thunderous pyrotechnics, state-of-the art technology, magical lighting, music, fire and water. The flooded infield of the stadium reflected the hundreds of drummers drumming to the rhythm of a racing heartbeat while a fiery comet hitting the expanse of water set into flames five Olympic circles. As Eros, the God of Love, hovered above the oval arena, a parade of actors in statuesque poses enacted 3,000 years of mythology, culture, philosophy, history and civilization from the early Minoan age to the Archaic, the Classical, the Byzantine, the Christian, the Ottoman as well as the present and future times. 202 nations and 11,099 athletes took part and Gianna Angelopoulos Daskalaki, President of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, addressing the athletes said: ""You give flight to our souls; Greece is going to fire the world's imagination"". For the first time since the 4th century A.D. the shot put event was held at the ancient stadium of Olympia, while the runners in the marathon race re-traced the route that the legendary messenger Pheidippides ran from Marathonas in Attica to the Marble Stadium in Athens to announce Athens’ victory over the Persians in 490 B.C. The men's and women's marathon winners were crowned by olive wreaths made from 3,000 years old trees. World and Olympic records tumbled and in the women's pole vault the Russian athlete Yelena Isinbayeva broke her own world record by clearing 4.91 meters. A hitherto unknown Greek athlete Athanasia (meaning immortality) Tsoumeleka gave the Greek nation an emotional uplift when she won the gold medal in the 20 km walking event, and when Fani Halkia unexpectedly won the gold medal in the women's 400 meters hurdles event, Greeks everywhere went into a frenzy. Michael Phelps, the 19 year old American swimmer won eight medals, six of them gold, and matched the Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin’s 1980 record for the most medals won by an individual at anyone of the Games. The closing ceremony of multi -colored flashing fireworks, music, songs and dances from yesteryear to present days, corn harvesters and grape treading was a magnificent show of joy and jubilation no less spectacular than the opening ceremony. To the famous tune of Zorba the Greek, the corn harvesters carrying bundles of corn stalks formed the five interlinked Olympic rings. Athens gave the world an unforgettable and enthralling experience that would be remembered for years to come. It triumphed and humbled all its critics who had berated its ability to host the Games and earned their thanks and congratulations on an impeccably and imaginatively staged Games.

Source

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus
Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Publisher

Library of Cyprus University of Technology
Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology

Contributor

Designer: G. Theofylaktou

Rights

Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.

Relation

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

Format

TIFF

Language

EL, EN

Type

Identifier

2004-OLYMPIC-40C

Coverage

35.160417, 33.346556

Provenance

Alex Matsoukis, Athens

Files

Citation

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus and Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία, “Wrestling, Olympic Games Issue Athens, Republic of Cyprus ,” Αψίδα, accessed March 28, 2024, https://apsida.cut.ac.cy/items/show/13819.