IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

Finally the IOC have taken proper steps to preserve the interest in the running and jumping events. Don't blame me , but it is obvious that the shot , disc and hammer throw are slowly and steadily moving out of "T and F " . The schedule does not even concider the Shot as a T&F event. Its all about money at the Olympics, small venue equals small predicted ticket demand. Believe me, if they could sell 70,000 tickets for the Shot it would be in the main stadium.

[paulmerca]

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

Here's a follow-up release, again courtesy Athens Olympic Organizing Committee:

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HISTORIC DECISION OF THE IOC EXECUTIVE BOARD TO HOLD THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA

The IOC Executive Board today during its meeting in Lausanne approved the ATHENS 2004 proposal-initiative to hold the Shot Put event in the Ancient Olympia Stadium.

The members of the Executive Board enthusiastically welcomed the recent agreement between ATHENS 2004 and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), that had been ratified during the session of the IAAF Council, and unanimously decided to hold the Men's and Women's Shot Put event in Ancient Olympia on 18 August 2004.

ATHENS 2004 President, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki in her statement following the Executive Board meeting, thanked the IOC President and the members of the IOC Executive Board and referred to an Ò historical decisionÓ that promotes Ancient Olympia as Òpart of the uniqueness and authenticity of the Olympic Games of Greece.Ó She added that ATHENS 2004 will immediately begin the final operational planning for the staging of the Shot Put event in Ancient Olympia, always with the utmost respect for the historical significance of the and in cooperation with all agencies involved.

The IOC Executive Board took the decision following the detailed presentation by ATHENS 2004 President and Executive Director, Spyros Capralos, of the operational plan drawn up by the Organising Committee administrators. A briefing had also taken place during yesterday's annual meeting of the IOC Radio and Television Commission (RTV Commission), during which IOC and AOB officials voiced their support for the proposal to hold the Shot Put event in ancient Olympia.

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

When they telecast the IAAF events , SP,Disc and Jav aways get sheduled early in the morning to get them out of the way of the main running events. The paying public don't seem to mind either, and don't think they are missing anything. Thats what I meant.

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

I dunno but since when did the throwing ever really interfere with the running events? Or the running ever interfere with the throwing, it never happens!

[tafnut]

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

Alice, your 'slip' is showing.

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

It is best to move the SP out of the stadium and not interfere with the important running events.This is a good decision by the organizing comm't

[Pego]

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

I just read that they are also adding one women event to Olympia for "symbolic reasons".

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

I'd guess it's more about the weather than anything else. Ever been in Athens in the middle of August?>>>


i have and it can be very hot even though the weather in the worlds in 97 wasn't as hot as expected

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

<To quote John McEnroe: YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDIN' ME!
>>>


jon mac you are right !
in a similar they might decide to hold some distance events at the old olympic stadium in athens which has very sharp turns!

[gh]

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

I'd guess it's more about the weather than anything else. Ever been in Athens in the middle of August?

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

I assume this is for American TV. Is that the case?

[gh]

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

You are correct, sir! And action the next morning (men's discus Q) starts at 09:00.

But that's nothing compared to Days 5/6. Men's 1500 final starts at 23:25 on Tuesday, women's javelin Q starts at 07:30 on Wednesday. Might as well just plan on pulling an all-nighter?

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

Did I read that timetable correctly? The women's 5K races start at 23:10, getting out around midnight?

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

Re the above, these possibilities come to mind:

a) a joke
b) a farce
c) a gyp
d) all the above

[gh]

Re: IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLY

Pursuant to my "screw the ticket-buying public" comment higher up, prices for the first night of track come in three categories: 90, 70 or 40 Euros (add c10% for dollars). They may have tweaked the time schedule slightly, but for that not-cheap price, here's what you'll now see:

7:30pm SP W Hept
7:45pm 1500 M heats
8:00pm DT W Qual
8:15pm HJ M Qual
8:20pm 100 W quarters
9:00pm 200 W Hept
9:35pm 400 M heats
9:55pm 800 W heats
10:30pm 10,000 M Final
11:10pm 5000 W heats

How's that for a bang-for-your-buck Olympic experience?!