Highlights » Pre-Olympic Day 2: Thursday August 12 2004

Greek Athletic Hopes In Road Accident

Konstantino Kederis winning Gold in Sydney in the 200m courtesy Reuters

August 13 2004 (11:31am AWST)

Winner of the Men's 200m in Sydney, Konstantinos Kederis, and silver medallist in the Women's 100m four years ago, Ekatarini Thanou, have been involved in a motorcycle accident in the Olmypic city overnight.

It was widely tipped that Kederis would be the one to light the Olympic cauldron during Friday night's (Athens time) Opening Ceremony at the main stadium.

The two were meant to front an IOC Disciplinary Commission to answer questions as to why they didn't turn up to a doping test.

The two are said to be in a stable condition and are believed to have not suffered any serious injuries from the crash.

Iraqi teammates celebrate after a goal. They won their opening round Football match against Portugal 4-2 courtesy athens2004.com

Constant war in Iraq has been replaced by jubilation in the streets, following their country's massive upset victory over Portugal in the Men's Football tournament played at the Pampeloponnisiako Stadium in Patra,

Portugese striker Boa Morte was sent off in the 51st minute, which opened the door for Iraq to pile on the pressure. They scored just five minutes later through a Mahmoud Younis strike. Then the result was sent in stone when substitute Sadir Salih rammed home the team's fourth to take them to the top of Group D.

The other Group D match finished nil-all between Costa Rica and Morocco. Morocco had to play the last half hour without Jamal Alioui, who was sent off for a crude tackle.

There were two matches in Group B as well. Paraguay won a high-scoring match against Japan, 4-3. Paraguay seemed to have the game won in the 62nd minute when Aureliano Torres put his country's fourth into the back of the net. But there were nervous times in the last ten minutes, when Yoshito Okubo brought Japan back within one goal in the 81st minute. Paraguay held on to take top spot in Group B.

And Ghana have managed a draw against the highly fancied Italian side. Ghana should have won the match, when they led at half time 2-0. But goals to Giampiero Pinzi and Alberto Gilardino saved slight embarrasement for Italy.

Three world records have fallen in the qualifying of the Archery tournament at this year's Athens Olympics.

In the Women's Individual Ranking Round, Park Sung Hyun of Korea broke the 72-arrow qualification world record of 679 by three points. While her teammates, who finished second and third from the ranking round, set a record for a 216-arrow team qualification world record of 2030 point.

In the Men's Individual Ranking Round, Im Dong Hyun, also of Korea, smashed a nine-year world record when he shot a score of 687 - beating the previous mark by two set by Shim Young-Sung.

The Archery competition continues on Sunday with the Women's Individual tournament continuing with the 1/32 Eliminations at the Panathinaiko Stadium.