Changing time
Clocks in Britain and throughout most of Europe are put back one hour on the last Saturday of October marking the end of summer time. This means that we have an extra hour of daylight in the mornings but darker evenings. The changing the clock ritual is reversed at the end of March when the clocks are put forward an hour and we go into summer time.
What is the purpose of it? Most people don't know. It was first invented in 1784 by American politician Benjamin Franklin. He noticed that people were wasting daylight hours on summer mornings by lying in bed. Back in the 1970s it was seen as a good way to save energy in offices and factories. But with shorter working days this argument does not seem very convincing. In fact, it seems that changing the clock has become a tradition which no-one really controls. We do it because we always have done it.
Swedish monster
Most people have heard of Nessie, the famous Scottish monster which lives in Loch Ness. Some people have heard of Selma, the Norwegian monster which lives about 220 km south-west of Oslo in a huge lake called Seljord Water. But who has heard of Nessie and Selma's Swedish cousin?
This terrible monster lives 400 km north-west of Stockholm in a lake called Storsjön, which means "the Great Lake", and is named Storsjöodjuret - the Great Lake Monster - or just Storsie.
The descriptions of this monster are extremely varied. Some people say it is green, others red; some people have seen a long, snake-like animal, others a short, fat one.
One particularly interesting point is that the three monsters all appear at the same time of year - in the high tourist season of July and August. They also appear more often when the weather is bad. The monsters are obviously very similar and it is even possible that they are members of the same family!
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An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.An Olympic success story
Before the Athens Games got underway, many people in the media had predicted chaos. They said that the Greece wouldn't be ready in time for the Games. But all the critics were wrong. Greece got its act together in time and the 2004 Olympic Games were a huge success. The Greeks can be proud of their Games which were as good as those in Sydney in 2000.
The opening ceremony was a superb 4-hour show which enchanted the audience with special effects. The high point was a temporary lake in the middle of the stadium which underlined the importance of the sea in Greek history. It disappeared as if by magic just before all 10,000 athletes from 202 countries paraded into the stadium behind their national flags. The show closed with a song from Bjork about mother earth while her dress transformed itself into a map of the world which stretched over the heads of the athletes.
The Sporting events started the following day and carried on for two weeks. There were tears of joy as records were broken and tears of disappointment when stars failed to perform as well as expected. All the events went off smoothly with only a few judging controversies in gymnastics, fencing and swimming. According to the Olympic Committee's president, Jacques Rogge, it is almost impossible to avoid controversy in some sports.
One Olympic record which Athens broke was the war on doping. A record 22 athletes were tested positive for drugs and were excluded from the Games. However, this was due to the increased number of drug tests and not because there were more cheats on the track. Commenting on the high number of athletes who tested positive, Rogge said that he was pleased with the progress in the fight against doping.
The only shadow over the Games was the cost which was a huge $7.5 billion and which will take Greece years to pay off. One of the causes was the massive security bill which reached $1.4 billion. Because of the international terrorist threat, the Greek government had made security its priority. Over 70,000 police were at work and there was even a NATO force on standby during the Games. Many Greeks say that the countries which were most at risk, including the US, the UK and Israel, should have helped pay the bill.
But for spectators all over the world the Games were a fantastic festival of enjoyment. In the closing ceremony, after the flame had been extinguished, the Olympic torch was handed to a Chinese athlete to start its four year trip around the world to Beijing where the 2008 Olympics will be held.Dół formularza