Olympic Games
ATHENS, GREECE
Athens Olympic Games
In 1896, the ancient Olympics were reborn in Athens, nearly 1,500 years after the last games were staged on the plains of Olympia. Only 14 nations participated in this enthusiastic revival, which was devoid of the rituals that define the Olympics today –there was no Athletes ‘Oath, or lighting of the flame, and when American James Connolly won the triple jump and became the first Olympic champion in over 15 centuries, he was awarded a silver medal and an olive branch. Today, the main attraction in Greece’s capital is the hill upon which the Acropolis and the Parthenon stand – it’s a tough climb, but you won’t want to miss out. Head for the Plaka if you’re looking to shop or dine – the charming tavernas and cobblestone streets are quaint and inviting.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA
The 1996 Olympic Games got off to a dramatic start when legendry-boxing champion Muhammad Ali lit the Cauldron. The Atlanta games are best remembered for their sporting achievements but perhaps, unfortunately, also for the tragic terrorist bomb attack, which killed one person and injured over a hundred. On the games front, 79 nations won medals, out of which 53 took home the coveted Olympic gold. Today, Atlanta is still a bustling, vibrant, business city, where gleaming high-rises jostle with old Southern mansions. No one can complain about the nightlife. The Centennial Olympic Park is and oasis of quiet in the middle of the frenetic downtown area; the World of Coco Cola is a fun, interesting trip for the whole family, and the Margaret Mitchell House, for fans of Gona with the Wind, is not to be missed.
BEIJING, CHINA
This August, the Games commence in Beijing, and mass rehearsals for the opening ceremony have already begun. There’s a proposal for an Olympic Museum to be set up, and a giant panda breeding center is even loading 10 bears to the Beijing Zoo for display at the Games. Beijing has come a long way from the dusty communist capital of the Seventies; today, its beautiful, traditional old building are surrounded by skyscrapers and shopping malls. Still, there are plenty of old monuments and gardens to visit- Beihiel Park, miss out on the Great Wall while you’re there