Olympics wrap-up sure to be a sight

After two weeks of stirring competition and doping and judging controversies, the 2004 Summer Olympic Games come to a close in Athens this weekend.

Even folks who haven’t been paying much attention may want to tune in to NBC at 7 p.m. Sunday for the sheer spectacle of the closing ceremony, which will feature hordes of dancers and athletes cavorting on a stadium floor that has been transformed with 45,000 stalks of wheat.

“The opening ceremony was a celebration of humanity, while the closing ceremony will be a warm and human celebration,” reads a statement by Dimitris Papaioannou, concept creator and artistic director of the opening and closing ceremonies. “It will be like an invitation to eat, drink and dance and sing with us, the Greek way.”

That will be followed by the traditional medal ceremony for the men’s marathon, the parade of flags and a Chinese “cultural show” intended to point toward the Beijing Games in 2008. Then the Olympic flag is lowered, and we say goodbye to the flame until the next Games.

The competitions themselves continue tonight, of course, when NBC’s prime-time coverage begins at 8, with events including track and field, men’s platform diving and rhythmic gymnastics. Bob Costas hosts.

There’s also coverage of other events on NBC’s corporate siblings, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo and Telemundo. Schedules for these stations are at nbcolympics.com. Oh, and “Saturday Night Live” is pre-empted for late-night Olympic coverage.

Back on Sunday, however, the closing ceremony faces competition for younger viewers from the 21st annual MTV Video Music Awards, tape delayed from Miami’s American Airlines Arena, at 8. The awards, of course, are just a pretext for one of MTV’s happening parties.

Scheduled performers include OutKast, Alicia Keys, Nelly, Jet, Usher, Kanye West and the Polyphonic Spree. Celebs on hand to present, receive or simply cheer the awards include Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, Brandy, Mase, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Queen Latifah, John Mellencamp and Ludacris.

Expect plenty of bling, plenty of outrageous outfits, some off-color jokes and perhaps a few election-year swipes at President Bush. Diamond-and-platinum-crusted peace medallion, anyone?

The preshow starts at 6:30.

Highlights

Football, CBS tonight at 5: New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers.

“America’s Most Wanted,” Fox tonight at 9: New information in the disappearance of a college student.

“60 Minutes,” CBS Sunday at 7: Mike Wallace talks to former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, who was accused of committing securities fraud.

“Oliver Beene,” Fox Sunday at 7: Coney Island trip turns into a war over a parking space. Repeat.

“Malcolm in the Middle,” Fox Sunday at 7:30: Continuing the family crisis, as Reese thrives in the Army and innocent Hal faces jail time over his company’s Enron-style misdeeds. Can Malcolm save the day? Funny repeat.

“The Simpsons,” Fox Sunday at 8: Jon Lovitz returns as the voice of Marge’s geeky admirer Artie Ziff, who makes another play to come between her and Homer. Followed by a rerun of “Arrested Development.”

“Cold Case,” CBS Sunday at 8: Repeat of a hit-and-run investigation that turns into something else.

Repeats, ABC Sunday at 9: An “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and the canceled “The Practice.”

“Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997), CBS Sunday at 9: Pierce Brosnan’s 007 and Michelle Yeoh’s Wai Lin try to bring down an evil media tycoon (Jonathan Pryce) in this James Bond outing.

“The Casino,” Fox Sunday at 9: A high roller gets hitched.

“Mystery!” KSPS Sunday at 8: Repeat of the Inspector Morse installment “The Infernal Serpent.”

Family Fare

Little League World Series, ABC today at 4:30: It’s the U.S. championship game, followed Sunday at 3:30 by the world championship.

Cable Cast

NASCAR racing, TNT today at 4:30: The drivers will probably sign lots of autographs at the Nextel Cup Sharpie 500 in Bristol, Tenn.

College football, ESPN today at 4:45: Season coverage begins with USC vs. Virginia Tech.

“Underworld” (2003), HBO tonight at 8: Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman star in a murky thriller about a world of vampires and werewolves.