Shot put to relocate to Ancient Olympia?

Actress Thalia Prokopiou impersonates a high priestess praying before a concave mirror at Hera's temple in Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics

OLYMPIC organisers have proposed moving the shot put from Athens to the birthplace of the Games in Ancient Olympia, sources said on October 29.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposal called for relocating the event from the main Olympic stadium to a site in Ancient Olympia, about 320km southwest of Athens.

The flame for each Olympiad is lit in a ceremony among the ruins. But no other Olympic events were scheduled in Ancient Olympia to coincide with the August 13-29 Games. Any change in venue would need final approval by the International Olympic Committee. There was no immediate comment from the IOC on a possible venue change.

Istvan Gyulai, the general secretary of the International Association of Athletics Federations, told the Associated Press "there is no decision about such a thing".

Changing a venue less than 10 months before the Games - a rare move by a host city - could pose complications for housing athletes and planning media coverage.

The Games were held in Ancient Olympia for more than 1,000 years after they were founded in 776 BC. The Roman Emperor Theodosius abolished them in 394 after Christianity took root, deeming them pagan.

(AP)

ATHENS NEWS , 31/10/2003, page: A04
Article code: C13038A042