27/07/12 11:00 CET

Sport

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ATHENS 2004: Hope of a return to Olympic values

A record 201 nations took part as the Modern Olympic Games went back to its roots in Athens. The IOC had been keen to revive the ‘spirit’ of the Olympics and the values the Games represent, particularly after the perceived over-commercialisation of Atlanta ’96. The medals were changed; since 1928 the reverse side had depicted a Roman Colosseum, now they were to show the Greek Panathinaiko Stadium that hosted the first Modern Olympics.

Security was tightened after 9/11 but that did not stop one Irish protester with a message of Armageddon entering the course and attacking Brazilian runner Vanderlei de Lima. De Lima was leading at the time but finished third.

Swimmer Michael Phelps made a new individual record of eight medals at one Games (six were Gold), although his best was yet to come. Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco picked up 1,500 metre Gold at the third attempt and then went on to win the 5,000 metres.

And German kayaker Birgit Fischer won her eighth career Olympic Gold and is the only athlete to win Gold medals at six different Olympic Games.

Birgit Fischer (in German)

BEIJING 2008: Highest, Fastest, Strongest, Most Expensive

As the country that invented fireworks, and with more human and financial resources than anyone else at its disposal, China was always going to try to make its Olympics the most spectacular ever seen. The opening ceremony did not disappoint. Hundreds of millions of television viewers worldwide and tens of thousands of very fortunate people in the new ‘Birds’ Nest’ Stadium in Beijing were treated to a breath-taking demonstration of song, dance, acrobatics and pyrotechnics.

The cost of the ceremony is difficult to confirm but some estimates put it close to 100 million dollars. The spectacle drowned out criticism of China’s human rights record that had been made by various groups prior to the Games. The sporting action was as explosive as the ceremony, with 43 world records broken. Seven of those records were set by American swimmer Michael Phelps. Of his eight Golds, perhaps the most exciting was the 200 metre butterfly (see video).

Another three Gold medals and World Records went to the other man to steal the show in Beijing, Usain Bolt. He pulverised the rest of the field, easing to the world’s fastest times with, seemingly, some energy to spare.