Hestrie not at opening

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Athens - The curtain finally went up on the 2004 Games as a dazzling opening ceremony lifted the mood at the global sporting showpiece after a drugs scandal and a massive security operation.

A packed Olympic Stadium witnessed a smoothly-choreographed portrayal of Greece's rich history before 10 000 athletes representing 202 countries marched together in front of 70 000 spectators.

Greek president Costis Stephanopoulos declared the 28th Games open before 1996 windsurfing gold medallist Nikolaos Kaklamanakis set the seal on the glittering spectacle by lighting the Olympic flame in front of a worldwide audience of billions.

The colourful, marathon ceremony, which also featured a dramatic live satellite link-up with International Space Station astronauts, erased memories of the tournament's troubled build-up.

"Athletes from the 202 countries, show us that sport unites by overriding national, political, religious and language barriers," said International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.

An electrifying atmosphere had earlier swept through the stadium during the march past of the athletes.

Huge cheers greeted the arrival of Afghanistan, returning to the Games after being suspended during the brutal years of the Taliban regime while the athletes from war-ravaged Iraq were also rapturously welcomed.

The United States's reception was more low-key but far from hostile as the powerful line-up respected demands that they behaved discreetly.

NBA basketball star Yao Ming carried the flag ahead of China's 407-strong team while competitors from rivals North and South Korea marched side-by-side.

In a gesture laden with symbolism, athletes from the Stalinist North and capitalist South entered the Olympic stadium together under a neutral banner depicting a simple picture of the peninsula.

Hestrie not there

One person, however, did not attend - and she is a candidate for gold at this year's Games.

Hestrie Cloete stayed in her room and joined the 4 billion people watching the opening ceremony on TV.

"My preparations have gone very well and I thought it would be better to lie low as long as I can," the high jumper said.

Other South Africans who did attend, included First Lady Zanele Mbeki and Sport Minister Makenkesi Stofile.

The South African flag bearer was Mblulaeni Mulaudzi, 800m indoors world champion and Commonwealth champion.

Cloete only arrived in Athens on Thursday.

"My coach and I may have to make a few adjustments, but otherwise I am ready.

"It is very peaceful in the athletes' village. I have my own room and I can make myself very comfortable," the South African world champion said.

Doping scandal

The spectacular three-hour show wiped out memories of a day which had begun with the host nation struggling to digest a doping scandal embroiling local hero Kostadinos Kenteris.

Reigning Olympic 200m champion Kenteris and training partner Ekaterini Thanou were still in hospital on Friday after sustaining cuts and bruises in a motorcycle accident after failing to turn up for a doping test on Thursday.

Kenteris - believed to have been the original choice for the honour of lighting the Olympic flame in Friday's opening ceremony - has been idolised in his homeland ever since striking gold at the 2000 Sydney Games.

But the public mood was rapidly turning against the 31-year-old on Friday, with newspapers and Athenians condemning his failure to appear before testers.

"The Olympic Games start with a megaton bomb on their Greek foundations," daily Eleftherotypia said, while the Ethnos daily demanded in a headline: "Tell us the truth".

The controversy was quickly put on hold by the remarkable opening ceremony that proved every bit as memorable as organisers had promised despite blanket security that had threatened to stifle the party atmosphere.

The birthplace of the ancient Olympics more than 2 700 years ago, Athens also staged the first edition of the modern summer games in 1896.

Security

This year's Games are costing $7.2bn to stage with about $1.5bn of that budget being spent on a suffocating security operation designed to deter terrorists in the first summer games since the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

Heads of state and royal VIPs attending Friday's opening -with Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US president George Bush among the guests - will be protected by a vast security blanket.

A total of 110 000 security personnel, or 11 for every athlete, will be on duty at the games in a massive show of strength.

The first medals of the games will be won on Saturday, when 13 golds go up for grabs.