August 29, 2004 in Sports

Busy NBC to show 12 hours of final day air time

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Ward
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ATHENS, Greece — The Athens Olympics are all over but the shouting. And the fireworks at the closing ceremony. And another American medal. And one last lengthy trip down memory lane, stopping at 490 B.C.

But then, after 17 sun-splashed days, the Olympics really conclude tonight. Except on NBC, where they will continue replaying clips for several more hours.

The real-time last day of the 2004 Summer Games events concludes with the marathon, the 26.2-mile race that originated in Greece a mere 26 centuries back. The competition begins in the village of Marathon, where doomed runner Pheidippides took off with word of a Greek battle victory against the Persians in the fifth century B.C.

This one should have a happier ending, since Pheidippides promptly collapsed and died after reaching Athens. The favorite to collect the 301st and final medal of the games — it will be handed out as part of the closing ceremony — is Paul Tergat of Kenya.

On NBC, the Olympic farewell merits 12 hours of Sunday programming, running from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and 7 p.m.-11 p.m. (all times PDT; coverage tape-delayed), with the marathon airing starting at 11 a.m. The last four hours will be dedicated to the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium, an extravaganza promising an experience unseen since … well, the over-the-top opening ceremony.

“It will be like an invitation to eat, drink, dance and sing with us the Greek way,” said Dimitri Papaioannou, conceptual creator for the gala.

That explains the 2,100 volunteers performing traditional folk dances on the stadium floor, which at another point will sprout 45,000 strands of wheat. There will also be musical performances by well-known Greek singers, including Sakis Rouvas, a Mediterranean version of “American Idol” Ruben Studdard.

Soccer star Mia Hamm will carry the American flag at the ceremony.

Don’t expect any Americans to step onto the platform when the marathons medals are distributed. The team’s two neophyte runners will likely extend a medal-free streak that dates back to 1976.

U.S. marathoner Alan Culpepper will run in only his third marathon, while teammate Meb Keflezighi — the team veteran — took up the distance race just two years ago.

America’s best hope for gold before the sun sets in Greece belongs to light-heavyweight boxer Andre Ward, who steps into the ring against Belarus’ Magomed Aripgadjiev. A victory would give the U.S. its first gold in the weight class since Andrew Maynard in 1988, and its first gold in any weight class since 1996.

At the very least, he’ll go home to Oakland, Calif., with a silver. He can show the medal off to his wife and two boys, the family he left behind eight months ago to focus on his Olympic training.

Ward, 20, hasn’t lost a bout in six years — and he doesn’t intend to end the streak now. “I know that to be the best, you have to beat the best,” he said before the Olympics. “And that’s what I plan to do.”

Ward’s fight from the Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall airs on NBC’s morning session.

In all, there are 17 medals awarded on the Olympic getaway day. NBC’s early coverage also features the men’s water polo, rhythmic gymnastics and men’s handball.

Before NBC starts up, CNBC presents nine hours of final day coverage with live shots of the U.S. men’s volleyball team playing Russia for the bronze, as well as gold medal contests in women’s handball and taekwondo.

At the closing ceremony, Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni will hand the Olympic flag to officials from Beijing, host of the 2008 Games.

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