Olympics
Notebook: Greek baseball has U.S. flavor

By Seattle Times news services

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The United States didn't qualify its baseball team for the Games, but that doesn't mean Americans won't be there.

The Greek Olympic team, which automatically gets a berth because it's the host country, includes only two Greeks on the 24-man roster. The rest are Americans and Canadians of Greek heritage.

At the Olympics, Greece will play favorites Cuba and Japan as well the Netherlands, Taiwan, Canada and Australia.

The United States lost to Mexico in a qualifying tournament and was eliminated from the Olympics.

The Greek Olympic team was created with the help of Peter Angelos, the Greek-American owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

Budget crisis?

Greece's costs for the Olympics will top $7.2 billion, the nation's deputy finance minister reported last week.

Petros Doukas added that the rising costs could put the country in violation of European Union fiscal rules. He said Greece's 2004 deficit could exceed 4 percent of gross domestic product, and the EU sets a ceiling of 3 percent. Violations could lead to a downgrading of the country's financial rating.

The initial budget was set at $5.6 billion, but delays forced the government to pay contractors in recent months for around-the-clock work. Most of the Olympic works, including security costs of $1.5 billion, are being paid for with public funds.

Some analysts predict the price tag could climb to $12.5 billion and burden Greek taxpayers for at least a decade.
 
Drug patrol

With all the news about drug use, there will be extensive testing in Athens.

Each medalist must submit a urine sample, as do others picked randomly. Athens has a $5.4 million drug testing lab to examine the samples, and they have developed tests for drugs that were undetectable at previous Olympics.

Closing ceremony will showcase Greece

The closing ceremony will include traditional Greek dances and a wedding, along with light-carrying performers dressed in black to symbolize the galaxy, The Associated Press has learned.

Participants will begin the ceremony at the main Olympic stadium with clapping, then perform traditional Greek dances before holding at least one symbolic wedding, when they will lay tablecloths and bring out wine.

The opening ceremony on Friday will recreate ancient Greece's connection to the sea, reportedly using a replica of a ship and mythological figures.

Forecast is good

Meteorologists predict good weather for the Olympics, but new weather patterns may force spectators to bring umbrellas along with their tickets.

"We can say the conditions during August will be excellent," said Seraphim Kotrotsos, an Olympics spokesman. "The danger of a heat wave during August is very, very small."

But new weather patterns in the Mediterranean may threaten to bring showers and thunderstorms that may last throughout the Games. The average high in August is 88 degrees, and temperatures are expected to be in the 90s, which is normal.

Some of the competition has been moved to evening, to avoid daytime heat in outdoor venues, such as swimming.

Dogs rounded up

Stray dogs that evaded hundreds of police and soldiers during a security sweep at the Olympic athletes' village are being gathered by animal activists.

The activists and municipal officials were called by Olympic organizers after British Olympic Association officials complained about the dogs.

"They will neuter them and treat them and will put them back in the place they were found once the games are over," spokesman Michael Zacharatos said.