Selected events at the Athens Games:
WHERE: Panathinaiko Stadium.
WHEN: Sunday to Aug. 21.
MEDALS: Men's and women's individual and team competitions.
OUTLOOK: Archery competition will be at stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. South Korea won men's and women's team competitions in 2000, and swept the podium in women's individual. Jennifer Nichols is the top U.S. woman, while 2000 silver medalist Vic Wunderle is back for the U.S. men.
WHERE: Goudi Olympic Hall.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 21.
MEDALS: Men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles.
OUTLOOK: China has three of the world's top five men, the top three women in the singles competition and the two top-ranked women's doubles pairs. The United States will be represented by one men's doubles pair, Howard Bach and Kevin Han.
WHERE: Helliniko Olympic Complex.
WHEN: Sunday to Aug. 25.
MEDALS: Men's team competition.
OUTLOOK: Baseball was a demonstration sport at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and 1988 Seoul Games and became a medal sport at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Eight teams are in the competition. Professionals were first allowed to participate in the 2000 Sydney Games, which the United States won, but major league baseball does not allow players on 40-man major league rosters to participate, causing the IOC to periodically say it will review baseball's status as an Olympic sport. The U.S. team was eliminated by Mexico with a 2-1 loss in the semifinals of regional qualifying last Nov. 7. Japan and Cuba are the favorites.
WHERE: HOSC Indoor Arena, OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall.
WHEN: Sunday to Aug. 28.
MEDALS: Gold, silver and bronze awarded to players, but not coaches, from top three teams.
OUTLOOK: The United States is a perennial favorite, but many of the best American players withdrew from the team or turned down invitations. A 95-78 whipping by Italy served as a wake-up call for the Americans, which will be led by Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan and young phenoms, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Defending world champion Serbia-Montenegro and 2003 European champion Lithuania are among the favorites.
WHERE: Preliminary games at Helliniko Indoor Arena; medal rounds at OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall.
WHEN: Saturday, Monday, Aug. 18, 20, 22, 24 to 25, 27 to 28.
MEDALS: Team competition.
OUTLOOK: The United States won the last two gold medals and is favored again with Olympic veterans Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Dawn Staley and rising young star Diana Taurasi. Many of the top foreign players in the WNBA will compete for their home countries, including Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor for Australia. The United States is 34-3 in Olympic competition with 17 straight victories.
WHERE: Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre, South Attica, Faliro Coastal Zone.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 25.
MEDALS: Men's and women's team competition.
OUTLOOK: This will be only the third Olympic beach volleyball competition. American men have won the first two gold medals, but the U.S. teams — Punahou alum Stein Metzger/Dax Holdren and Dain Blanton/ Jeff Nygaard — will be underdogs this year. The Brazilian tandems of Emanuel Rego/Ricardo Santos and Marcio Araujo/Benjamin Insfran are the world's two top-ranked teams. On the women's side, Americans Misty May and Kerri Walsh have dominated the sport since 2003, winning 90 consecutive matches during one stretch. May and Walsh may get their stiffest competition from fellow Americans Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs, who've won five tournaments in the past two months. The Brazilians, especially the team of Adriana Behar and Sandra Bede, are also strong on the women's side.
WHERE: Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall, Municipality of Peristeri.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 25, Aug. 27 to 29.
MEDALS: Gold, silver and two bronzes in each of 11 weight classes.
OUTLOOK: Cuba has dominated Olympic boxing in recent years, and will bring another strong team that includes defending 119-pound gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux and 132-pound gold medalist Mario Kindelan. Missing from the Sydney team that won four gold medals and two bronzes is three-time heavyweight gold medalist Felix Savon, who retired and is helping coach the team. Cuba is in danger, however, of losing the medal race to Russia, which won two gold, three silver and two bronze medals in Sydney, then topped Cuba in the 2003 world championships. The United States is sending nine boxers to Athens, trying to rebound from a disappointing 2000 Olympics where no American boxers won gold medals for the first time in 52 years. Middleweight Andre Dirrell is perhaps the most talented of the Americans, who lack vital international experience. Light heavyweight Andre Ward, a two-time U.S. champion, hasn't lost since 1998 and figures to be a medal contender.
WHERE: Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre for flatwater sprints and the Helliniko Olympic Complex for whitewater slalom.
WHEN: Tuesday to Aug. 20 (slalom) and Aug. 22 to 28 (sprint).
MEDALS: Men compete in nine flatwater sprints — kayak single and pair at 500 meters and 1,000 meters, canoe single and pair at 500 and 1,000 meters, and kayak four at 1,000 meters. Men's whitewater slalom events are the kayak single, canoe single and canoe pair. Women compete in three flatwater sprints — kayak single, kayak pair and kayak four, all at 500 meters. Women have one whitewater slalom event — kayak single.
OUTLOOK: Manmade Helliniko venue pumps in water from the nearby Mediterranean Sea, making it the first Olympic whitewater course to use saltwater. That makes the boats more buoyant and causes more eye irritation from splashing; also creates more foam, making it more difficult for paddlers to judge water surface.
WHERE: Velodrome, Athens Olympic Sports Complex (track); Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue, in Mount Parnitha (mountain bike); Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre (road time trials); downtown Athens with start-finish at Kotzia Square (road races).
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 18 (road); Aug. 20 to 25 (track); Aug. 27 and 28 (mountain bike).
MEDALS: mountain — medals for men and women; road — men's and women's road race and men's and women's time trials; track — time trial, sprint, individual pursuit and points race are for men and women; team pursuit, madison and keirin races are contested by men only.
OUTLOOK: Mountain — Belgium's Filip Meirhaeghe and Norway's Gunn-Rita Dahle will be heavily favored to win individual medals. Canada has probably the best depth top-to-bottom in the women's field. The United States is sending only one woman's rider to Athens. Road — American men's side will be without Lance Armstrong, who declined an invitation. Track — France, Britain and Australia each won five medals at this year's world championships. And the Russian women figure to be strong; 2000 sprint gold winner Marty Nothstein is the lone returning medalist for the United States.
WHERE: Olympic Aquatic Center (Indoor Pool).
WHEN: Saturday, Monday, Aug. 20 to 28.
MEDALS: Men compete in 3-meter springboard, 10m platform, 3m synchronized and 10m synchronized. Women compete in 3-meter springboard, 10m platform, 3m synchronized and 10m synchronized.
OUTLOOK: The Chinese are the sport's dominant country, winning a record five gold medals in Sydney. The only non-Chinese winner was American Laura Wilkinson, who pulled off a stunning upset in platform and is back to defend her title. The top U.S. male is Troy Dumais, who will compete in springboard and team up with brother Justin in synchronized.
WHERE: Helliniko Fencing Hall.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 22.
MEDALS: Individual — men's and women's epee, foil and saber. Team — men's epee, men's foil, men's saber, women's foil.
OUTLOOK: Italy's Valentina Vezzali has three golds and one silver in individual and team women's foil in the past two Olympics, and should add to her total in Athens. The Americans, who have not won a medal in fencing since 1984, have their best chance in women's saber, where sisters Sada and Emily Jacobson, and Mariel Zagunis are all ranked in the top 10.
WHERE: Olympic Indoor Hall.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 19, Aug. 23 and 24.
MEDALS: Men's and women's team. Men's and women's all-around. Men's floor exercise, still rings, pommel horse, parallel bars, high bar, vault. Women's floor exercise, balance beam, uneven bars, vault.
OUTLOOK: For the first time, men's and women's teams must select three of their six athletes to compete on each event in finals, and all three scores will count, leaving no room for error. In the past, five or six athletes would go and the lowest score would be dropped. U.S. women won gold at world championships last year, and men won silver. Both are expected to be in the medal hunt again. China, Japan, Russia and Romania have strong men's and women's teams. Women's all-around should be the highlight of the individual competitions. Russian Svetlana Khorkina will be one to watch in her final competition.
WHERE: Sports Pavilion at the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex; and Indoor Arena at the Helliniko Olympic Complex.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 24, Aug. 26 to 29.
MEDALS: Men's and women's team competition.
OUTLOOK: After sweeping all medals in Sydney, European teams should again dominate. Russia is reigning men's Olympic champion. On the women's side, 2003 world champion France is grouped with 2000 gold medalist Denmark. The United States did not qualify.
WHERE: Ano Liossia Olympic Hall.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 20.
MEDALS: Men's weight classes — 60 kg, 66 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 90 kg, 100 kg, 100kg-plus. Women's weight classes — 48 kg, 52 kg, 57 kg, 63 kg, 70 kg, 78 kg, 78 kg-plus.
OUTLOOK: Introduced as an Olympic sport in 1964; no country has dominated but the Japanese are always strong. This year will be no exception with six-time world champion Ryoko Tani returning to defend her gold medal in the 48 kg weight class. Jimmy Pedro, whose bronze in 1996 was the last American medal, qualified in 73 kg.
WHERE: Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre at the Goudi Olympic Complex.
WHEN: Aug. 26 (men), Aug. 27 (women).
MEDALS: Men's and women's competition.
OUTLOOK: The five-sport discipline created by modern Olympics founder Pierre de Coubertin was introduced in 1912. Athletes compete in shooting, fencing, swimming, horseback riding and finish with a cross-country run. Eastern European men have won all individual medals past three Olympics.
WHERE: Schinias Olympic Rowing. and Canoeing Centre.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 22.
MEDALS: Men compete in single sculls, double sculls, lightweight double sculls, quadruple sculls, pairs, fours, lightweight fours and eights with coxswain. Women's events are single sculls, double sculls, lightweight double sculls, quadruple sculls, pairs and eights with coxswain. All races are 2,000 meters.
OUTLOOK: U.S. women's eight comes in having won its last two world cup events. The U.S. rowing team has 15 members with Olympic experience, none with medals.
WHERE: Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Center on the Saronic Gulf, southeast of downtown Athens.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug 26, Aug. 28.
MEDALS: Eleven sailing events in nine classes: the 49er double-handed skiff; Europe (women), Finn (men) and Laser (men) single-handed dinghies; 470 men's and women's double-handed dinghy; men's and women's windsurfing; Tornado double-handed catamaran; Star double-handed men's keelboat; and the Yngling triple-handed women's keelboat that replaces the men's Soling.
OUTLOOK: American Paul Cayard, one of the world's best sailors, will compete in his first Olympics at age 45 after beating Mark Reynolds, the defending gold medalist and a four-time Olympian, at the trials.
WHERE: Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 22.
MEDALS: Ten events for men — prone rifle, three-position rifle, air rifle, free pistol, rapid fire pistol, air pistol, running target, skeet, trap, double trap. Seven events for women — air pistol, sport pistol, air rifle, three-position rifle, skeet, trap, double trap.
OUTLOOK: Nearly 400 men and women will compete. Matt Emmons will compete in air, prone and three-position rifle, becoming the first American to qualify in three disciplines since 1960.
WHERE: Various locations throughout Greece. Men's final at Olympic Stadium; women's final at Karaiskaki Stadium in Athens.
WHEN: Today and tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, Tuesday and Aug. 18, Aug. 20 and 21, Aug. 23 and 24, Aug. 26 to 28.
MEDALS: Men's and women's team competition.
OUTLOOK: None of the top four men's teams from 2000, including gold medalist Cameroon and the fourth-place U.S. team, qualified. Four-time world under-20 champion Argentina is the favorite. 2003 World Cup winner Germany and the United States are favorites in women's event; defending champion Norway failed to qualify. The Games are essentially the last hurrah for several players who have defined virtually the entire history of U.S. women's soccer. Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy and probably Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain — five players who debuted in the late 1980s for a team that didn't even exist before 1985 — are ending a journey that turned an obscure women's sport into a major social phenomenon.
WHERE: Olympic Softball Stadium at Helliniko Olympic Complex.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 23.
MEDALS: Women's team competition.
OUTLOOK: U.S. team will again be prohibitive favorite to win third straight gold. Led by three-time Olympian Lisa Fernandez, biggest challenge for the Americans could come from themselves. U.S. team took a 110-game winning streak to Sydney before losing three straight and nearly missing medal round. The Americans recovered to win gold. The U.S. team's pitching staff of Fernandez, Jennie Finch, Lori Harrigan and Cat Osterman is unmatched. Australia, China and Canada will also be in medal hunt. This competition is crucial for the future of women's softball as an Olympic sport. The IOC has only guaranteed it a spot through the 2008 Beijing Games and will make another review later this summer.
WHERE: Olympic Aquatic Center.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 21.
MEDALS: Men compete in 50 meter, 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley, 400m and 800m freestyle relay and 400m medley relay. Women compete in 50 meter, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley, 400m and 800m freestyle relay and 400m medley relay.
OUTLOOK: All eyes will be on American Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe of Australia. Phelps hopes to take a run at Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at 1972 Munich Games. The teenager will be in five individual events and hopes to swim all three relays, as well. Thorpe won three golds and two silvers in Sydney, but nearly missed 400m freestyle — his signature event — after an embarrassing DQ in Australian trials. A teammate gave up his spot so Thorpe could compete. Natalie Coughlin and Amanda Beard lead the American women, while 10-time medalist Jenny Thompson is back for her fourth — and final — Olympics.
WHERE: Olympic Aquatic Center. WHEN: Aug. 23 to 27.
MEDALS: Women compete in duet and team.
OUTLOOK: Russia swept both events in Sydney, while Americans didn't win any medals, the first time that's happened since this often-maligned sport joined Olympics in 1984. Sure to draw plenty of attention is Tammy Crow, allowed to compete by U.S. Olympic Committee despite pleading no-contest to vehicular manslaughter charges in a crash that killed her boyfriend and a 12-year-old boy.
WHERE: Galatsi Olympic Hall.
WHEN: Saturday to Aug. 23.
MEDALS: Men's singles, doubles, women's singles, doubles.
OUTLOOK: Chinese have dominated since sport was added to Olympics in 1988 — they won every available gold medal in 1996 and 2000. American Gao Jun, who won a women's doubles silver medal in 1992 while competing for China, represents the United States' hope for its first medal.
WHERE: Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex, Sports Pavilion.
WHEN: Aug. 26 to 29.
MEDALS: Men's weight classes — 58 kg, 68 kg, 80 kg, 80 kg-plus. Women's weight classes — 49 kg, 57 kg, 67 kg, 67 kg-plus.
OUTLOOK: American Steven Lopez, who won gold in 68kg in Sydney, will try for another medal in the 80kg weight class.
WHERE: Olympic Tennis Center, Athens Olympic Sports Complex.
WHEN: Sunday to Aug. 22.
MEDALS: Men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles.
OUTLOOK: Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and the Williams sisters head a high-quality field, with ATP and WTA ranking points at stake. The hard courts are the same as those used at U.S. Open, so that favors Roddick's 140-150 mph serves.
WHERE: Olympic Stadium.
WHEN: Aug. 20 to 29.
MEDALS: Track events include sprints (100 meters, 200m, 400m), middle-distance running (800m and 1,500m) and long-distance running (5,000m and 10,000m), hurdles (100m and 400m for women, 110m and 400m for men), relays (400m and 1,600m) and the men's 3000m steeplechase. Field events, for men and women, include the long, triple and high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw. Road events consist of the men's and women's marathons, the men's 20km and 50km race walks and the women's 20km race walk. Men, led by Hawai'i's Bryan Clay, compete in decathlon and women in heptathlon.
OUTLOOK: Marion Jones was the darling of the 2000 Olympics after winning five medals. This time around, she qualified in just the long jump at the U.S. trials, where doping stories dominated the headlines. The United States has a young team that will battle Russia in the medal count. Allen Johnson goes for another gold in the 110-meter hurdles but faces competition from China's Liu Xiang. Gail Devers made her fifth Olympic team, but is going for her first gold medal in the 100 hurdles. The women's pole vault could provide the best competition, with former world record holder Stacy Dragila going against Russian Svetlana Feofanova, the current record holder and the first woman to vault over 16 feet.
WHERE: Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre.
WHEN: Aug. 25 (women), Aug. 26 (men).
MEDALS: Men's and women's.
OUTLOOK: After being shut out in Sydney, U.S. team appears poised to medal in 2004 — Barb Lindquist and Sheila Taormina were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world. In men's race, New Zealand's Bevan Docherty will look to repeat first-place finish at worlds. American Hunter Kemper has risen to No. 5 in world rankings.
WHERE: Peace and Friendship Stadium.
WHEN: Women's pool play Saturday to Aug. 22, quarterfinals Aug. 24, semifinals Aug. 26, and medal matches Aug. 28. Men's pool play Sunday to Aug. 23, quarterfinals Aug. 25, semifinals Aug. 27 and medal matches Aug. 28-29
MEDALS: Women's and men's team competition.
OUTLOOK: The U.S. women, now ranked second in the world with three players with Hawai'i ties (see Page 4), have a good chance to capture first gold but face tough pool that includes top-ranked China, three-time defending gold medalist Cuba and 2000 silver medalist Russia. On the men's side, Serbia-Montenegro is back to defend gold from 2000. The sixth-ranked Americans hope to make up for a disappointing showing in Sydney.
WHERE: Olympic Aquatic Center.
WHEN: Men's Sunday to Aug. 29; women's Monday to Aug. 26.
MEDALS: Men's and women's team competition.
OUTLOOK: Hungary, the defending Olympic and world champion, has dominated the Olympic competition with seven gold medals. Wolf Wigo, returning for a third Olympics, will captain the U.S. men's team, which includes goalie Brandon Brooks. Australia won the first women's gold medal in Sydney, edging the United States 4-3 in the final. The Americans won the world championships in 2003 and return seven Olympians.
WHERE: Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall.
WHEN: Saturday to Monday, Aug. 18 to 21, Aug. 23 to 25.
MEDALS: Men compete at 123 pounds (56 kg), 137 (62 kg), 152 (69 kg), 170 (77 kg), 187 (85 kg), 207 (94 kg), 231 (105 kg) and 231-plus (105 kg-plus). Women compete at 105 1/2 pounds (48 kg), 117 (53 kg), 128 (58 kg), 139 (63 kg), 152 (69 kg), 165 (75 kg), 165-plus (75 kg).
OUTLOOK: Most of Greece will likely be watching when countrymen Pyrros Dimas (187 pounds) and Kakhi Kakiasvilis (207 pounds) try to become four-time Olympic champions. Neither is a favorite; Dimas is 32, Kakiasvilis is 35. The big story might again come from one of the smallest competitors — two-time gold medalist Halil Mutlu of Turkey is only 4-11 but can lift more than 400 pounds. Women's weightlifting debuted debuting in Sydney, and American Tara Cunningham (105 1/2) goes for a second gold after surprise 2000 win.
WHERE: Ano Liossia Olympic Hall.
WHEN: Aug. 22 to 29.
MEDALS: Men's freestyle compete at 121 pounds (55 kg), 132 (60 kg), 145 1/2 (66 kg), 163 (74 kg), 185 (84 kg), 211 1/2 (96 kg) and 264 1/2 (120 kg). Men's Greco-Roman wrestlers compete at 121 pounds (55 kg), 132 (60 kg), 145 1/2 (66 kg), 163 (74 kg), 185 (84 kg), 211 1/2 (96 kg) and 264 1/2 (120 kg). Women compete at 105 1/2 pounds (48 kg), 121 (55 kg), 138 1/2 (63 kg) and 158 1/2 (72 kg).
OUTLOOK: Can Rulon Gardner do it again, without having to beat Russian super wrestler Alexander Karelin? Gardner has had a series of mishaps since pulling off his "miracle on the mat" upset of Karelin in Sydney, but now looks to be healthy and a gold medal contender again. Otherwise, U.S. freestyle and Greco-Roman teams don't look especially strong, but Americans could get a medal count boost from a talented four-member women's team. Russian star Bouvaisa Saitiev (163) looks to rebound from upset in Sydney to American gold medalist Brandon Slay; it was Saitiev's only loss in major competition since 1995.
