Organizing
the Olympic Games is an enormous challenge and makes some people wonder why any
city would want to do it in the first place. Dick Yarbrough, communications director
for the group that hosted the 1996 Games in Atlanta, argues that the event is
a big boon to a city's business, tourism and infrastructure, with effects that
last for years. However, he believes it works better in some cities than others.
Greece's population of just 11 million makes it the smallest country to
host the Olympics since Finland in 1952. So far the games have cost an estimated
 total
of $8.4 billion -- 52 percent more than what was initially planned. The city built
a new light rail line and more than 100 miles of new roads and highways. However
organizers are having trouble attracting spectators. Ticket sales are down
in comparison to other Games, with less than half sold just a few days before
the opening ceremony. Concerns over terrorism and construction delays at Olympic
sites have hurt sales according to Chief Athens organizer Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.
Despite all the ongoing concerns, Athens Mayor Dora Bakoylannis recently
told reporters that "Athens is ready." According to Olympic project
officers, the stadiums, swimming pools and arenas are complete, and the last major
transportation project, a subway station in north Athens will  open
before the games. However, safety concerns remain. The fact that much of
the world tunes into the Games makes them an attractive target for terrorists
trying to make a statement. At the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany, Palestinian
terrorists took Israeli athletes hostage, demanding the release of prisoners in
Israeli jails. A failed rescue attempt ended with the deaths of 11 Israelis, five
terrorists, and a German policeman. This year, more than 5 times the amount
has been spent on security than in the 2000 Sydney Olympics; however, system failures
and delays persist and have reportedly prevented the proper training of personnel.
With more than 70,000 soldiers and police officers assigned, Prime Minister of
Greece Costas Karamanlis believes that there is not need for concern and that
everyone will be as safe as "humanly possible." | 
five-day
event, when the moon was full, the priest marched 100 white oxen to the Great
Altar of Zeus, where each one was sacrificed and then roasted in a sacred flame.
One
athlete in particular to watch is 19-year-old Michael Phelps. The U.S. team hopes
he can make Olympic history by beating Mark Spitz's 32-year-old record of seven
gold medals set in Munich, Germany in 1972. Many people say it cannot be done,
including Australia's Ian Thorpe, who will face Phelps in the 200-meter freestyle.
American schools and financial aid should be only for legal citizens of the United States. There should be no exceptions to this.
