"As in the daytime there is no star in the sky warmer and brighter than the sun, likewise there is no competition greater than the Olympic Games". Pindar, Greek lyric poet, 5th century BC
It seems such a short time that Guyanese were watching Cathy Freeman write her name in the annals of Olympic history while striking a blow for the indigenous people at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Yet the Games are here again and for the next two weeks many Guyanese will be glued to their television sets while others will be scouring the newspapers for reports on what is the greatest sporting spectacle in the world - The Olympic Games.
Although the Games are set to officially begin tomorrow with the opening ceremony, yesterday the Olympic football competition got underway.
It was no surprise that the USA with Mia Hamm to the fore thrashed hosts Greece 3-0 while world champions Germany inflicted an even heavier defeat on China - an 8-0 rout of the aspiring Chinese.
In the men's competition traditional powerhouses Germany swamped Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 while Greece and Korea played to a 2-2 draw.
While it is expected that the superpowers will again take the bulk of the medals interest will surely be on the Caribbean athletes who will seek to gain that coveted yellow metal which signals that you are the best of the world in your field. Since the Olympics began Guyana has only one medal to show- a bronze won by boxer Michael Parris at the Moscow Games in 1980. Expectations are high this time that Commonwealth Games gold medalist Aliann Pompey and middle-distance athlete Marion Burnette will be able to add to that lone medal. It is not altogether an unrealistic hope.
On the Caribbean stage hopes of 100m gold rests on the Jamaican Asafa Powell who has beat pre-race favourite Maurice Greene twice in recent times.
But even as athletes who have trained to the hilt seek their moment in the sun, the spectre of terrorism hangs over the Games and countries will be fearful of their athletes' safety. It seems as if all global sports event are affected by the threat of violence.
Expected to make an impact at this Games will be the International Olympic Committee's drug-testing policy.
Even before the Games has begun, Track and Field, the showpiece of the Games has been affected by the scandal of drug busts.
One would hope that the athletes respect the noble ideals of the Olympic Games and compete cleanly and not allow the Games to be tarnished with a disgrace such as that of the Seoul Olympics when Canadian Ben Johnson was stripped of his 100m gold medal.
The Greeks to their credit will try to displace Sydney, which has the distinction of being adjudged to have staged the best Games ever. They should be allowed to do so. And so, for sports enthusiasts world wide whether you are a boxing fan, a soccer fanatic or your favourite sport is gymnastics it's over to Athens and as they say:"Let the Games begin"!