A victory this evening in Kalamata and the Papaflessia meet for Nicolas. His time of 10.26 seconds was more than 2/10ths of a second faster than number two finisher Morne Nagel of South Africa, an eternity in the world of 100m sprinting. Complete results: (+1.8m/s) 1. Nicolas Macrozonaris (CAN) 10.26; 2. Morne Nagel (RSA) 10.49; 3. Dwayne Grant (GBR) 10.49; 4. Alexandros Terzian (GRE) 10.53; 5. Angelos Pavlakakis (GRE) 10.62; 6. Konstantinos Kokinos (GRE) 10.72 galako62904@yahoo.com

Nicolas departs for the southern Peloponese city of Kalamata today where he will contest the 100m this coming Saturday at the Papaflessia meeting.

He will line up against American Tim Harden and Greek 100m record holder Aggelos Pavlakakis.

Nicolas Upcoming Races:

1-  Papaflessia Meeting, May 29, Kalamata, Greece

2-  GP Regione Lombardia, June 2, Milan, Itlay

3-  Meeting Napoli, June 8, Naples, Italy

galako62904@yahoo.com

The 2004 version of the Banamex Grand Prix 100m race proved to be much slower than it's inaugural 2003 version.

While 4 men were able to run below 10.1 seconds last year, the winner of last night's race in Mexico City, World Championships silver medallist Darrel Brown of Trinidad, crossed the line in 10.11 seconds.

The race was run into a slight headwind of -0.6 m/s.

Nicolas came in 5th in 10.23 seconds, however still managed to stay ahead of American WR holder Tim Montgomery and 2003 World Championships bronze medallist Darren Campbell of Great Britain, who clocked 10.24 and 10.28, respectively.

With his 10.15w in California two weeks ago and last night's 2nd outdoor race of the season, Nicolas sits atop the 2004 Canadian 100m rankings in both wind legal and wind-assisted times.  He will look to improve on the all important wind legal time as he prepares for several European stops in the coming days and weeks.

galako62904@yahoo.com

Thursday 20 May 2004, from IAAF

Mexico City, Mexico - Almost 20 World and Olympic medallists are set to highlight the 2nd Banamex Grand Prix Athletic Show, to be held this Saturday (22 May) at the Estadio Olνmpico Universitario in the Mexican capital.

Unfortunately, Mexico's World champion Ana Guevara has had to withdraw due to a foot injury. The 27-year old Mexican idol would have been the star attraction at the competition in her home country, but having made the Olympic Games her priority this year, she is unwilling to take any risks.

She has not been able to compete so far in 2004 due to tendinitis in her left foot and only returned to training two weeks ago.

Freeman to be honoured

Last year, Guevara was the star of the inaugural Grand Prix, when she set a new world best over the rarely contested 300m distance (35.30), defeating Australia's Olympic champion Cathy Freeman in front of a 50,000 plus crowd.

The 2004 Banamex Grand Prix Athletic Show will honour Freeman, the 1997 and 1999 World champion and the 2000 Sydney champion in the 400m, who put an end to her successful career last July.

With Guevara out, the main competitive focus will now be on the glittering line-up of international stars
 
Competitive dash

USA's Tim Montgomery, the fastest man ever, has made a last minute decision to run in Mexico, as he did last year. Montgomery wants to take revenge from last year's defeat to Canada's Nicholas Macrozonaris, who is also registered to race.

Trinidad and Tobago's Darrel Brown and Great Britain's Darren Campbell, World silver and bronze medallists in the French capital, and five sub-10 second performers: Nigeria's Emedolu Uchenna and USA's Bernard Williams, John Capel, Jon Drummond and Mickey Grimes complete the all-star list in the men's 100m.

In the women's sprint field, USA's Torri Edwards, Chryste Gaines, Inger Miller, Allyson Felix and Bahamas' Olympic 4x100m relay gold medallist Debbie Ferguson will start as the top favourites.
 
World versus Olympic clashes in Hurdles and Long Jump

There are two other events that should call special gain special attention  as both the men's 110m Hurdles and Long Jump will have the Olympic and World champions aiming to win.

In the sprint hurdles, USA's Allen Johnson, the world's number one in the 110m Hurdles, aims to break the Estadio Olνmpico Universitario's 35-year old stadium record (13.33), set by US Willy Davenport when he cinched the gold medal in the 1968 Olympic Games.

In Mexico this year, the quadruple World outdoor champion is expected to face strong opposition from Cuba's Olympic champion Anier Garcia, Yuniel Hernandez, Yoel Hernandez and USA's Duane Ross. Johnson is one of the six 2003 winners who will return to Mexico this year.

Garcia has recently recovered from a slight muscle injury which forced him to curtail his 2004 indoor season.

In the Long Jump Cuba's Olympic gold medallist Ivan Pedroso will face USA's Dwight Phillips and Savantι Stringfellow, the current outdoor and indoor World champions, respectively.

Pedroso, who has also won nine World titles - five indoors and four out - wants to regain the world's no.1 spot, which now belongs to Phillips after claiming the 2003 World titles, indoor in Birmingham and outdoor in Paris.

Phillips has shown great form this season. He improved his personal best with a world leading 8.43 to win a meeting in Modesto, on 8 May. Stringfellow is also in fine form, after leaping 8.31 in Walnut, California, on 18 April.

Other notable jumpers confirmed are USA's Kevin Dilworth, Ghana's Ignisious Gaisah, fourth in Paris, and Cayman Islands' 2001 World Indoor bronze medallist Kareem Streete-Thompson, the fastest of all jumpers.

Cloete faces best local hope

South Africa's Hestrie Cloete, the World Female Athlete of 2003, is defending her 2003 title in the High Jump. Among her rivals are Romary Rifka, the 2003 Pan American Games silver medallist, who improved the Mexican record with a world leading 1.97 in Xalapa, on 4 April. As Guevara has opted out, Rifka carries the host country's best hopes in the Banamex Grand Prix.
 
Back to the track, the men's 400m promises to be a good race with Paris winner Jerome Young and runner-up Tyree Washington set to hold off the challenge of Grenada's 2004 World Indoor champion Alleyne Francique. The latter has been the fastest man this year thanks to his 44.47 win in Osaka, on May 8.

Kenya's Bernard Lagat, the 1500m Olympic bronze medallist and the current World Indoor 3000m champion, will run the 800m against Spain's 2002 World Cup winner Antonio Reina and other top class runners.

Quality line-up

In all, thirteen medallists from the 2003 World Championships in Paris, including nine individual and relay champions, will guarantee a top quality event, as well as seven Sydney 2000 gold medallists.

The field also features four 2004 World Indoor champions, other seven past World medallists (indoors and out), as well as eight individual and relay winners from the 2002 World Cup in Madrid.

As last year, 13 events will be contested: 100, 200, 400 metres and long jump for both men and women. Men will also compete in 800, 3000m and 110m Hurdles, while women will do the 1500m and High Jump as well.   

Located in the southern part of Mexico City and a facility of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Olympic Stadium has seen 30 World record equalled or broken, including a record 24 global marks in the 1968 Olympics.

It has also hosted the 1954 and 1990 Central American and Caribbean, the 1955 and 1975 Pan American Games, the 1979 World University Games and the 1988 Iberoamerican Championships.

Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF

Meet records and 2003 inaugural GP winners:
 
Men:
100m: 10.03 Nicholas Macrozonaris CAN
200m: 20.13 Coby Miller USA
400m: 44.83 Derek Brew USA
800m: none
3000m: 8:04.21 Shadrack Kosgei KEN
110m Hurdles: 13.42 Allen Johnson USA
Long Jump: 8.46 Miguel Pate USA

Women:
100m: 11.02 Chryste Gaines USA
200m: 22.11 Allyson Felix USA
400m: none
1500m: 4:26.59 Nouria Mιrah-Benida
High Jump: 1.96 Hestrie Cloete RSA
Long Jump: 6.49 Jackie Edwards BAH

MONTREAL, May 18 /CNW Telbec/ - Tonight, the Palais des congrθs de Montrιal was host to the seventh edition of the Sports Celebrities Festival benefiting Special Olympics Quebec (SOQ).

Presided over by Tom Quinn, president of The Forzani Group, the 2004 edition of the Sports Celebrities Festival, SOQ's main source of funding, raised $457,000. "These funds help the Special Olympics movement in Quebec fulfill its mission of enriching the lives of individuals with an intellectual disability through sport.  More than 3,300 athletes have the opportunity to participate in specifically designed training programmes and competitions fostering their personal development and inclusion into society," said Daniel N. Granger, chairman of the Board.
   
Always ready to lend special athletes their support, Jean Bιliveau, Isabelle Charest, Nick DeSantis Mathieu Garon, Eric Lucas, Nicolas Macrozonaris, Annie Pelletier and Stιphane Quintal were among the celebrities attending this event, in addition to singer Nicola Ciccone who gave a moving rendering of "The right to dream", the Special Olympics theme song.
   
At the silent and live auctions held in the course of the evening, the highest bidders purchased one-of-a-kind lots such as a BBQ served by two sports celebrities, a golf package in Port St. Lucie, Florida, a salmon fishing trip to British-Columbia, a trip to Ottawa aboard a helicopter flown by Guy Lafleur to see a hockey game and a 2004 Echo Hatchback.
   
The success of the Sports Celebrities Festival is due in large part to the support of our Platinum Partners: Bell Canada, The Forzani Group and Rιno- Dιpτt.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS QUEBEC
Established in Quebec since 1981, the Special Olympics movement is active in over 150 countries. More than 1 million special athletes are registered worldwide and over 28,000 in Canada, of which 3,300 take part in the programmes offered throughout Quebec.

For further information: Isabelle Montpetit, Special Olympics Quebec, (514) 843-8778, Cell: (514) 346-5800, montpetit@josq.qc.ca

On the fast track to Athens
Sprinter Nicolas Macrozonaris hopes to become Canada's golden Greek at the 2004 Olympics

RANDY STARKMAN, Toronto Star, May 18 2004

MONTREAL—No one has to tell Nicolas Macrozonaris that he's an appealing storyline heading to the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The unheralded Canadian sprinter knocked off a top-flight field — including world record holder Tim Montgomery of the U.S. — to win a 100-metre race in a personal best 10.03 seconds last May in Mexico City.

Add in the fact Macrozonaris has Greek blood — his father Spiros is from the island of Corfu — and he's bound to get a lot of attention both here and in the host Olympic city.

He returns to the site of last year's big victory for another race this Saturday with his circumstances much changed. For starters, he's got a lucrative three-year deal with Reebok that has taken care of his financial worries for the present. He also has a much stronger resumé now to get into races where meet directors wouldn't have given him a second look before.

An engaging 23-year-old with a somewhat quirky sense of humour, Macrozonaris sat down with Unplugged to talk about all things Greek, his favourite movies and not falling in love before the Olympics.

Q Was my Big Fat Greek Wedding true to life?

A A lot of things you see in that movie are funny because it happens to a lot of us. I went to Sunday night Greek school. I don't know about that Windex thing. That doesn't relate to my family. But so much of it is true.

Q What kind of Greek foods do you like?

A Taramasalata. Good stuff. Souvlaki. I like that stuff a lot. My grandma cooked a lot. She raised me a lot. My mom raised me, but she worked a lot and my grandma took care of us. She passed away two days before Christmas. She was 84. ... Good food was always on my table. Another thing that was always on my table was the red wine and the beer. It was very important. That wine was there every day. If I wanted it at 7 years old, if I wanted to drink wine, I would drink wine. I wouldn't abuse it obviously. Over the years, you realize that thing was there for you so when I turned 18, in my mind alcohol wasn't a big deal. I had it all my life. As soon as some people turn 18, bam, forget it.

Q How proud is your dad that you'll be running in Athens?

A Like any father, you're proud of your son when he achieves. And every father loves his son. He's going around telling everyone. He was with me at the Grand Prix in (Greece in) June. I took the plane, but he drove for like seven hours. I told him not to come. It's the pressure. You're coming all the way here. You expect your son to do good, you know what I mean. What if you finish dead last? `Dad, you don't have to, you can just watch it on TV.' `No, you're my son, I'm close to where you are. You're in Greece ...' `Okay, come.' I finished third there. He was happy. The Greeks were so nice to me down there.

Q You have a night out, some money in your pocket, what are you going to do?

A How much money? A hundred dollars? Two hundred?

Q Well, what kind of things do you like to do when you go out?

A Let's say I have some money and it's a good day for me, I want to celebrate something, I like to have my best friends, people close to me, and go, let's say, to order hot chicken wings and beer and just party, relax. For me, that's the best kind of enjoyment, to be with your friends. And I like chicken wings and beer.

Q What do you like to do to get away from track and field?

A I don't know if it's safe to say. But you know what, it's not a big deal. I like to go out just like any other 22-, 23-year-old guy. I like to go party, you know what I mean? That's youth. At the same time, I like going to the beach. There's lots of things I like to do.

Q To what degree did your life change from that one race?

A It changed by a lot. Words cannot describe how much a split second can change a person's life. ... It's a good change. Reebok has been amazing for me — really, really great. It's worked out to be the best for us. It's amazing what a difference it has made to my life, financially.

Q What's your favourite movie?

A Scarface by far. Al Pacino did some great acting. Look at his character. Shoot, man, it's so real. He's so evil. I love that, man. The movie's great and the lines that he says. `I want the world and everything in it.' That's crazy, you know what I mean. It's crazy talk. A lot of movies now, there's people hanging from helicopters and jumping to planes, you know what I mean? I don't like watching that stuff. That's what I love about that movie — good acting, the cast was good, the storyline was good and it was a character I loved, a guy who didn't give a crap. I can't emulate that.

Q What about TV shows?

A I'm a guy that loves bloopers, practical jokes, Just for Laughs, Candid Camera, Jamie Kennedy Experiment. I love that.

Q What's your favourite food?

A It would have to be hot dogs. Grilled. With relish, ketchup, mustard. I really watch what I eat, but every Saturday, I eat anything I want. How bad can it get? I'm going to eat the breads. Anything. Guys want to go to Burger King, let's go to Burger King. Poutine. Nothing's too fat.

Q What's your favourite country to visit? I guess you have to say Greece.

A Okay, Greece. You know what it is, though? If you have a wonderful experience in your life, wonderful, regardless of where it is, whether it's in a hellhole, your life goes great there, it changes your life there. For me, I would say Mexico. In Mexico, I had a great time there. What, are you kidding me? Just like a person that's going to wear an ugly hat, and you're going to love that person if she's your wife. `Ah, the hat's nice.' I mean, it's your wife. But if it's a person you despise, and he has that hat, and then you look at your wife having that, keep that hat out. Same thing in Mexico, great things happened to me, so I love Mexico.

Q Are you recognized when you're out in Montreal?

A Yeah, a few times. It depends. I don't really look big, with a sprinter's physique. So if I'm going to dress like a normal guy, very rarely. If I dress more sporty, people recognize me. Funny story. Sometimes in a nightclub, you get, `Congratulations, keep up the good work.' Many times. I don't know for what reason it is. Maybe because there's younger people there. People are very nice. I play it cool. I buy them a shooter and I get out. I don't want them to start thinking I'm out all the time drinking beers. Realistically, a guy like me is not supposed to be out at bars, coffee shops. When you're training hard, you take your rest and you stay home. You're not supposed to be in crowded places with smoke and end up having a beer. I stay at home and use my PlayStation. That helps me to stay put. It's a good investment and it's a good way to rest your body.

Q Are you superstitious?

A I don't believe that stuff. I mean, I'd like to believe some. Like having that bottle of water that keeps you going. But that's just an added problem. Where's that bottle of water? I have to do this. I have to do that. Man, that's a waste of time, a waste of energy. That's something I don't have to worry about.

Q Do you have a girlfriend?

A Yes, she's a very nice girl. She's very understanding of the demands I have on me right now. You know what I was saying to my friend the other day? I don't want to get into a huge relationship because in the Olympics you don't have to have a girl messing up with your brain. And, believe me, for a girl to do that, it's nature with them. It's very easy. Very easy, man. The girl I have right now, she's so, so understanding. Sometimes, she doesn't want to bother me, she text-messages me. I won't put myself in position to fall in love — first of all, love is a Hollywood thing. Cool girl. I'm happy. Not too serious. The girlfriend right now is the track. Believe me, I'm on it (laughs).

MONTREAL, May 13 /CNW Telbec/ - The media are invited to attend the 7th annual Sports Celebrities Festival Cocktail which will be held at the Palais des congrθs on Tuesday, May 18, starting at 6 p.m.

Presided over by Mr. Tom Quinn, president of The Forzani Group, this event will bring together nearly 1,000 guests, among them several professional and amateur athletes such as Jean Bιliveau, Mauro Biello, Anthony Calvillo, Isabelle Charest, Eric Lucas, Nicolas Macrozonaris, Annie Pelletier and Stιphane Quintal (see complete list attached).

The funds raised on this occasion will go towards fulfilling Special Olympics Quebec's (SOQ) mission of providing over 3,300 special athletes with sports programmes and competitions designed to foster the personal development and social inclusion of people with an intellectual disability.

Special Olympics Quebec's spokespersons and the sports celebrities in attendance will be available for live interviews.

WHAT : 2004 SPORTS CELEBRITIES FESTIVAL

- Live broadcast

- Interviews with sports and other celebrities

WHO : SPECIAL OLYMPICS QUEBEC

- Pierre Boivin, president of the Montreal Canadiens

- Daniel N. Granger, SOQ Chairman of the Board

- Annie Pelletier, SOQ Honorary Patron for 7 years

- Tom Quinn, president of The Forzani Group

- Tom Wright, CFL commissioner and Chairman of Special Olympics Canada

WHEN : TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2004, AT 6 P.M.

WHERE : PALAIS DES CONGRES DE MONTREAL

For further information: Isabelle Montpetit, Special Olympics Quebec, Office: (514) 843-8778, Cell: (514) 346-5800, imontpetit@josq.qc.ca

Dan Barnes, CanWest News Service

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

EDMONTON -- Nic Macrozonaris and Anson Henry fumbled their exchange on Sunday in Modesto, Calif., and the Canadian men's 4x100-metre relay team lost a tuneup race by .01 seconds.

But this is a good thing, for two important reasons. First, Macrozonaris did not try to hit Henry in the back of the head with the baton. And secondly, Henry did not turn around and threaten to kick Macrozonaris's behind all the way to the finish line.

Eight months ago in Paris at the world championships, either of those unfortunate happenings was a distinct and embarrassing possibility.

Macrozonaris and relay team coach Glenroy Gilbert had a celebrated conflict over the Montreal sprinter's rightful leg in the race and the team went ahead without him, finishing in ninth, a mere .03 seconds out of the final. According to Gilbert, Macrozonaris said he would run only the anchor leg. Macrozonaris told reporters, after he had been excluded from the team, that he told Gilbert he would run either second or fourth, the straight sections of the relay. He was adamant that he would only embarrass himself if he ran the curve. Gilbert said he wanted Macrozonaris to run leadoff, in part because of his good start out of the blocks.

It has since been described by both men as a case of miscommunication. But it was obviously a clash of personalities and egos, too.

"There were a lot of puffed chests in Paris," said Edmonton sprinter Angela Whyte, who was there at the time and watched the kerfuffle from a slight distance. "That was boys being boys, especially sprinter boys being sprinter boys."

The quicker all involved realized it and fixed it, the better. Macrozonaris had to fall in line with the rest of them and put the team first, or their vast potential was going to be wasted. Gilbert had to do whatever he could to ensure that the four fastest sprinters in Canada were on the track, in the most advantageous positions, and as close to happy as possible.

If the rift between Gilbert and Macrozonaris didn't get resolved, it would have been a crying shame, because the foursome of Macrozonaris, Henry, Pierre Browne and Charles Allen are quick enough to make some noise at the Olympics in Athens. Gilbert thinks they can run in the 38.20-second range and, if they do that, they will be on the podium.

"We fixed the mistakes," Macrozonaris said on Monday. "We both admitted our rights and wrongs. Everything is settled. The relay team overall is going pretty smooth."

Despite the shaky pass from leadoff man Macrozonaris to Henry on Sunday, they ran 39.29, finishing an eyelash behind the star-studded Hudson Sports International team, which was anchored by Ato Boldon of Trinidad & Tobago.

"We almost went out of the zone," said Henry. "We lost a lot of time out there. But we caught up and almost had the race. HSI wouldn't have been close if we had that first exchange down. We're getting better every week. As far as chemistry, everyone seems to be gelling."

You would have raised long odds on that happening after Paris. The rest of the team was angry with Macrozonaris, who claimed they threatened to kick his behind. It was an ugly mess that threatened to fester during the crucial pre-Olympic preparations.

"After Paris it was kind of left in a state of 'where do we go from here?' It seemed to be falling apart," said Henry. "It wasn't looking good. Now we have something to look forward to and we can see we're going someplace."

They are getting there in a hurry and Gilbert couldn't be much happier, though the first pass on Sunday was much too long for his liking. He hasn't set the relay order in stone and he'd like to expand the pool beyond the four sprinters who have been carrying the baton the last couple of times around the track. But he thinks Paris in the fall is just an unfortunate memory.

"Everyone seemed relaxed and very much focused on running and not the drama of what happened last year," he said. "I'm hoping that's all water under the bridge. Nic and I talked over Christmas and he said he would run where he was asked."

Macrozonaris has done exactly that and the team has improved steadily over four tuneup meets, running at the Texas, Mt. SAC and Penn Relays before Modesto. That fulfills their obligation to the program, though they might be asked to assemble for another run in June. If not, they will next get together at a pre-Olympic training camp in France, and then on to Athens.

"They stand a very good chance, if they want it," said Gilbert. "You have to be committed to the program. The biggest thing is just getting excited about it and getting comfortable together."

It's only May but they appear to be on the right track.

Tuesday 11 May 2004,  From IAAF

Mexico City, Mexico - Track and field stars from 29 countries have confirmed their attendance in the 2004 Grand Prix Athletic Show, to be held at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario on May 22.

More than 20 World and Olympic medallists are set to provide a true athletic show as it was last year. Many of those athletes are expected to star three months later during the Olympic Games in Athens.

Frantic scenes of jubilation

Mexico's World 400m champion Ana Guevara, considered the hostess of the event, is the main attraction taking her only outing on home soil before aiming for her Olympic dream in Athens.

Last year a packed stadium of 50,000 plus spectators screamed 'Ana, Ana, Ana' for the best part of 15 minutes, before, during and after her 300m world best victory over Australia's Cathy Freeman, and again there are sure to be the same fanatical scenes of jubilation on 22 May this year.

Freeman to be honoured

It is thus appropriate that the 2004 Banamex Grand Prix Athletic Show will also honour Freeman, the 1997 and 1999 World champion and the 2000 Sydney champion in the 400m, who put an end to her successful career last July.

Solid international line-up

Other 2003 Paris World champions are USA´s John Capel (200m) Jerome Young (400m & 4x400m), Tyree Washington (4x400m), Allen Johnson (110m hurdles), Dwight Phillips (Long Jump), Bernard Williams and Joshua J. Johnson (4x100m), Kelly White (100-200m), Dominican Republic´s Félix Sánchez (400m Hurdles) and South Africa´s Hestrie Cloete (High Jump).

The deep field also features 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medallists in the shape of the Cubans Anier Garcia (110m hurdles) and Iván Pedroso (Long Jump), Germany´s Heike Drechsler (long Jump) and the Bahamas' Debbie Ferguson (4x100m).

As last year, 13 events will be contested: 100, 200, 400 metres and long jump for both men and women. Men will also compete in 800, 3000m and 110m Hurdles, while women will run 1500m and High Jump as well.

Of the 13 meet winners from 2003, five will attempt to defend their titles: Canada´s Nicholas Macrozonaris (100m), South Africa´s Hestrie Cloete (High Jump), the Bahamas' Jackie Edwards (Long Jump), USA´s Chrystie Gaines (100m) and Allen Johnson (110m hurdes). Allyson Felix, the 200m winner, will run the 100m and 400m this time.

The Mexicans - it's not just Guevara!

Apart from Guevara, Mexican athletics will be represented by other decorated athletes. Alejandro Cardenas, bronze medallist in the 1999 World Championships, will try to reach the Olympic standard (45.55) in the 400m to participate in Athens. This is also the aim of Juan Pedro Toledo in the 200m.

Romary Rifka recently improved the Mexican High Jump record with a world leading mark of 1.97m, and Teodoro Vega, a 2003 Pan American Games gold medallist, will try to better his second place finish from last year over 3000m.

The Mexican competition is aiming to join the IAAF Grand Prix calendar in the near future. So far, only two Latin American cities (Brazil's Belem and Rio de Janeiro) are part of the IAAF circuit.

Located in the southern part of Mexico City and a facility of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Olympic Stadium has seen 30 World record equalled or broken, including a record 24 global marks in the 1968 Olympics.

It has also played host to the 1954 and 1990 Central American and Caribbean, the 1955 and 1975 Pan American Games, the 1979 World University Games and the 1988 Iberoamerican Championships.

A very interesting article on how technology is impacting the world of athletics is now available at:

http://www.timecanada.com/story.adp?storyid=10

The story includes a discussion on how Nicolas and coach Daniel St-Hilaire are using modern technology in preparing for Athens.  It is a very good read!

Tue May 11, 4:37 PM ET, By Karolos Grohmann

ATHENS (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (news - web sites)'s chief inspector of the Athens Games gave a resounding vote of confidence Tuesday to Greece's accelerated preparations for the August event.

Denis Oswald, who on many previous inspections visits has left behind warnings about the pace of work, said his confidence was now sky-high that all sports venues and key infrastructure would be ready in time for the August 13 to 29 Games.

"I am very confident," Oswald told reporters.

He said his inspection of sites and meetings with top Athens and Greek government officials had built up his confidence that the city would stage a "very successful Games."

Olympics organizers admitted Tuesday that they wasted the first three years of preparations.

A day after builders successfully started sliding a huge steel roof over the main Olympic stadium -- one of the IOC's biggest concerns -- Athens Olympics chief Gianna Angelopoulos said organizers had made up for the lost time.

"Athens has won back three years of lost time...it's a fact that we are completing a seven-year project in four years," Angelopoulos told the IOC's inspection team.

"We had promised that Greece was fit for the Games and we are keeping this promise."

FRANTIC PACE

Angelopoulos, who took over the top job in 2000 after the IOC warned Athens to speed up work or risk losing the Games, said everything will be in place.

More than half the venues, as well as major infrastructure projects including new train and tram lines, are still many weeks from completion, unlike previous Games when most preparations were in place months before the opening ceremony.

Builders are working round the clock to meet deadlines and the IOC has said that thanks to the new frantic pace they expect all arrangements to be in place.

The roof sliding Monday and Tuesday allowed IOC officials to breath a sigh of relief as the spectacular 18,000-tonsteel and carbon panel structure above the main stadium is currently hampering other landscaping work.

Over the coming days, the second arch will also be moved into position at the opposite end of the stadium so the latticed blue translucent roof, some of it already attached to the arches, can cover the 55,000-seat arena.

As well as protecting the stadium from rain, the roof's carbon panels will provide protection against soaring summer temperatures and has crucial broadcasting and surveillance cameras attached to it.

Performances encourageantes pour Macrozonaris et Tadili

Montréal, 8 mai 2004 (Sportcom) – Le sprinter Nicolas Macrozonaris et le coureur de demi-fond Achraf Tadili ont montré aux Américains de quel bois ils se chauffaient à la rencontre d’athlétisme Modesto Relay en Californie et ce, même si on leur avait tous deux attribué le couloir numéro neuf, une place habituellement réservée aux coureurs de moins fort calibre.

Macrozonaris a remporté le 100 mètres grâce à un temps de 10,15 secondes, mais le vent favorable de 2,2 m/s dépassait quelque peu la limite permise de 2,0 m/s pour que les temps soient reconnus.

« Cela a très bien été, a commencé par dire le Lavallois. Ils m’avaient placé dans le couloir numéro neuf et ils ne voulaient pas me changer de place, mais j’ai tout de même réussi à courir dans le numéro un, en raison d’un faux départ, et à remporter la course, a-t-il dit avec un sourire en coin. Mon entraîneur, Daniel St-Hilaire, et moi sommes très contents de ma performance, car c’est ma première compétition de l’année (sur 100 mètres) », a conclu celui qui, en compagnie de Charles Allen, Anson Henry et Pierre Browne, a terminé deuxième du relais 4x100 mètres.

De son côté, Tadili a pris le troisième rang du 400 mètres, qui a été remporté par l’Américain Calvin Harrison. Le Montréalais a arrêté le chrono à 46,64 secondes.

« C’est le meilleur chrono canadien jusqu’à présent cette saison. Cela me donne un point de référence quant à ma vitesse et à mon endurance. Ce chrono me donne aussi la preuve que je peux faire partie du relais 4x400 m aux Olympiques. Quand je me suis présenté sur la ligne de départ, j’étais dans le couloir numéro neuf et il n’y avait que des Américains spécialistes du 400 mètres à mes côtés. Je ne pensais jamais finir troisième contre ces gars-là. Le gagnant, Calvin Harrison, est même médaillé d’or du 4x400 m des Jeux de Sydney! » a lancé avec fierté celui qui est un spécialiste du 800 mètres.

La prochaine compétition de Macrozonaris sera celle de Mexico où, l’an passé, il avait vaincu le recordman mondial Tim Montgomery, tandis que Tadili prendra part à des compétitions Grand Prix en Europe au cours des prochains mois.

Rédaction : Christian Jutras

How does a sprinter burn off a little steam? Well, if the sprinter happens to be Nicolas Macrozonaris and the setting is this evening in Modesto, he does it by winning his opening race of the season is how.

Why the aggravation you ask? Nicolas was assigned the very tight lane 9 this evening, but with fans hanging out of their seats directly to his right and a vacant lane 8 to his left as well as a vacant lane 1, he asked to be moved. Made a whole lot of sense, but apparently not to the organizers. After pleading his case for several minutes Nicolas was finally cleared to run out of lane 1 or 8, a little short of warm up time but quite long on the aforementioned aggravation.

He went on to run a solid 10.15 seconds to win his heat out of lane 1, with a +2.2 m/s wind reading. Although trailing at the 30-metre mark after a less than ideal start, Nicolas accelerated very nicely to pass the field and win his 2004 outdoor opener. Nicolas was happy with the run, but did say he felt a little awkward, as his upper body was not in the position he would of liked.

The Canadian men's 4x100 metre relay team improved on their Penn Relays showing, running 39.29 seconds. The team of Nicolas, Anson Henry, Charles Allen and Pierre Browne finished in second place behind team HSI.

galako62904@yahoo.com

Coca Cola Modesto Relays - 4/13/04 to 5/8/04
Men 100 Meter Dash INVITATIONAL
============================================================
    Name                                    Finals  Wind H#
============================================================
  1 Nicolas Macrozonaris  Canada            10.15   2.2  2
  2 Pierre Brown               Canada            10.19   2.4  1
  3 Nicconner Alexander   Unattached       10.19   2.4  1
  4 Leonard Scott             Nike                 10.21   2.2  2
  5 Anson Henry             Canada              10.27   2.4  1
  6 Jason Smoots          Vector Sports      10.28   2.2  2
  7 Kaaron Conwright      Nike                   10.28   2.2  2
  8 Jerome Avery          High Performance  10.29   2.4  1
  9 Julian Dunkely        Nike                      10.34   2.2  2
 10 Jeff Laynes           Puma                     10.35   2.4  1
 11 Patrick Jarrett       Nike                       10.35   2.2  2
 12 E.J. Jackson          West Coast Elite   10.43   2.4  1
 13 Le Shaunte Edwards  Elite Athletes N  10.43   2.4  1
 14 Mike Michelle         Apu                       10.48   2.4  1
 -- Bernard Williams      Nike                          FS   2.2  2

Nicolas heads to California this weekend where on Saturday, May 8 he plans to make his 2004 debut in the 100m at the Modesto Relays. He will also run in the 4x100m with his Canadian relay teammates.

His western swing continues two weeks later as he returns to beautiful Mexico City, Mexico and the 100m event at the Banamex Grand Prix Athletic Show.

We could try and write about what returning to Mexico City means to Nicolas, but we won't. We wouldn't do it any justice. Suffice to say he is looking forward to returning to the storied El Estadio Olimpico Universitario track where, one year ago today, he won the invitational 100m race in a personal best time of 10.03 seconds.

galako62904@yahoo.com

Thu Apr 29, 7:36 AM ET  ATHENS (Reuters) - More than 2,500 U.S. citizens have applied to be volunteers for August's Athens Olympics, organizers said on Thursday. The Americans top the list of 188 foreign nationalities who want to be volunteers. Spaniards are in second place with just under 2,000 applications and Germans in third with about 1,300. "Our mobilization to attract volunteers lasted two years and the results are impressive," Games organizers ATHOC said in a statement. Organizers said a record 160,000 people sent in applications, 25 percent of whom were foreigners and about 10 percent Greeks living abroad. The remaining 65 percent were mainly Athenians. At least 50,000 volunteers are needed, compared to the 47,000 used in Sydney in 2000. The record number of applicants comes despite concerns from foreign media about security arrangements for the Olympics. The Games' security plan, costing more than 650 million euros ($769 million), includes 45,000 security officers -- three times the number used in Sydney -- and NATO (news - web sites) air and sea patrols. The Olympics take place from August 13-29.