Olympic flame in Athens
2004-08-11 21:20
Athens - The Olympic flame was welcomed on Wednesday into Athens by cheering children and brass bands after a global journey, even as several top athletes said they won't be making the trip - including six-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams.
Eight soccer matches - four men's games and four women's games - were scheduled around Greece on Wednesday as preliminary competition two days before the opening ceremony.
The host country, still euphoric over its victory in Euro 2004, was involved in two of the contests, with the men playing South Korea in Thessaloniki and the women playing the United States.
After an unprecedented relay through 26 countries, the Olympic flame began a two-day trip through the greater Athens area at dawn in the ancient town of Marathon. The flame will spend the night on Thursday on the Acropolis hill, then head on Friday for the new Olympic stadium as the games return home 108 years after their revival.
- AP