The sand in the hourglass of time rolls inexorable fast to the day "X" of the beginning of the Olympic games 2004 in Athens.The day of challenge for Greece but mainly for her sports and athlets. The Olympics 2004 have been characterized as a big bet for the Greek society and the state, but mainly and above all it is the big challenge for the persons of sports and particularly those that will give the battles in the stages, in the grounds and in the gyms. They have declared anyway with all the ways and in all the tons the key holders of the Olympic circles, from the former chairman of International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samarank to his successor Jacques Rogk: "The Olympic Fights of Athens will be achieved if the Greek athletes accomplish to distinguished". Samarank and Rogk know that the hopes for medals and victories will only lead the Greeks in the stadiums. For this they attend to transport the message not only to the athletic factors but also in the political leadership of country, which announced recently the Olympic athletic objective of Greece, the conquest of 26 medals. The number it is heard satisfactory, perhaps and ambitious, if conteplates no one that from the Atlanta in 1996 and the Sydney! in 2000, two Olympic organizations exceptional for Greek colours, our athletes had returned with 8 and 13 medals respectively. The big question however is how also who athletes will give in Greece these medals. attempts from today - beginning with the athletics the king of Olympic Fights - investigates how are prepared the 28 athletic federations that cultivate the 37 sports of the Olympic program, in who athletes they support their Olympic hopes, the problems and the difficulties in the course to 2004, but also the general situation of health of Greek sports. From this "check-up" the Greek Athletism aspire to lit up the conditions upon it will be present to the bigger appointment of modern history ,not as good hotel keeper, but as an equivalent participant of the Olympic rank Citius, Altius, Fortius (more fast, more tally, more hard). 

"I want trully the Olympic Games of Athens to be the best in better history and I will help with all my forces. The Cultural Olympic Games are exceptional idea and certainly you know very well that in ancient Greece the Olympic Games were not only athletic but also cultural. It will be very beautiful if Greece accomplishes today to restore the art in the Olympic Fights. I ensure you that from our side we make what we can in order to help ." Extract from the interview of Vivian Renting, delegate on issues culture and sports in Brussels, that were published in the VIMA newspaper .

PICTURES AND MEDALS OF THE GREEK OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS BARCELONA ATLANTA SYDNEY

OLYMPICS 2004 IN ATHENS GREECE

DIARY OF EVENTS