Spectators at the Athens Summer Olympics (August 13-29) will relive the ancient spirit of the games thanks to the approval granted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to a proposal by Greek organizers to move the shot put event to the birthplace of the Olympics in ancient Olympia , some 300km southwest of Athens.
“The IOC executive board has taken a historic decision," said Athens 2004 organising committee (ATHOC) president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki. . "Ancient Olympia becomes the symbol linking the ancient Olympics to their revival in 1896, and to the modern Games," she said.
According to Daskalaki, the idea, which also received the unconditional backing of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), “is not all about what we can get from the games…but what we offer the games.”
A unique monument
A main actor behind the decision, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said ancient Olympia will serve as a showcase of Greece’s heritage. “Each country can have a great Olympic stadium…a swimming centre, roads, a tram and metro network,” he said. “But only we have ancient Olympia to show. And we are obliged to show it to billions of spectators around the world.”
It is reminded that the Olympic Games endured at Olympia for over 1,000 years before the rise of Christianity consigned them to history until the first modern games were held in Athens in 1896 http://www.forthnet.gr/olympics/athens1896/.
The plan, however, to hold both the men’s and women’s competition at the ancient stadium will mark the first time, since the games began in 776 BC, that female athletes will compete there, as the original games were an all-male affair. In antiquity, actually, men competed naked before a male audience. This summer, the event will feature 32 men and 32 women; none will be naked.
No risk of damage
A world heritage monument, organizers are adamant that Olympia’s ancient stadium will run negligible risk of damage, not least because it can only cater to a minimal media and sports infrastructure and because no more than 15,000 passes will be handed out. 7,500 will be reserved for people who have already purchased tickets for the event.
Organizers insist preparations for the event will be made “in total respect for the history of the area.” It is reminded that Ancient Olympia is also the site where the Olympic Torch , for both Summer and Winter Games, is lit up every two years. ATHOC says limited access to spectators and media will ensure the site’s protection.
"The shot put event will be held without temporary stands, electronic scoreboards and artificial lights," ATHOC executive director Spyros Kapralos said in early December. "There will be no change to the ancient stadium, aside from the installation of removable toe-boards [for the athletes]."
The medal ceremony for the winners in the shot put event will take place in the Olympic stadium in northern Athens on August 20.
Reliving ancient event
True to ancient tradition, spectators, lucky enough to attend, will pass through the impressive entrance arch and will be seated on the grassy slopes overlooking the arena of the remarkably preserved stadium, dated to the 4th century BC. In its heyday the stadium had a capacity of 40,000 people. “We will organize the shot put under conditions almost identical to those of the ancient event,” Venizelos said. “The result will be sensational.”
Nonetheless, a group of Greek archaeologists have already indicated they will oppose the idea, fearing the site will fall prey to hordes of people seeking to attend the event scheduled to begin on August 18, two days before the main track and field events kick off in Athens. But Kapralos insists that security concerns alone will limit the amount of people attending this special event. “There will be a great demand for the shot put, but we have to limit the amount of spectators for reasons of security."
