Torch at UN THE ATHENS 2004 Olympic torch was welcomed by representatives from several countries and other guests in an impressive ceremony held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The event took place in the UN forecourt and was presented by the world renowned television reporter Barbara Walters. Torchbearer Tony Jones and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan kindled the special altar installed in the forecourt with the flame. Annan and Athens 2004 President Gianna Angelopoulos- Daskalaki spoke briefly at the ceremony. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki spoke about the significance of the Olympic flame visiting the UN and the historical homecoming of the Olympic Games which was "an invitation to the world to embrace once more the Olympic ideals that unite all of us: our humanity, our aspiration for a perfect result -- and most important of all, peace". In reference to the symbolism of the Olympic flame, Annan said: "I hope the influence of the flame on the Olympic Games of 2004 will silence the rumble of war in the world and everyone will acknowledge the message of hope conveyed to all the world -- a message that gives hope for a better and more peaceful world." Price to pay THE COST of hosting the Athens Olympics will be much higher than predicted, Greece's finance minister has said. The bill is now likely to reach six billion euros (�3.9 billion), George Alogoskoufis told a parliamentary committee. The original budget for the Games was 4.6 billion euros, but Alogoskoufis admits "there will be significant overruns." Preparations for the Games have been beset by problems with construction delays and the pressures of shouldering a massive security operation. These will be the first Olympics since the 11 September attacks in the US and the security bill will be the biggest ever. Some 995 million euros has already been spent on making the Games safe. Alogoskoufis warned that the overspending had reached such a level that Greece's budget deficit was likely to spiral. "I have to warn you there will be deviations from the 2004 budget and it will be hard to keep the deficit under three per cent of GDP," he told parliament. Welcome back YOLANDA GRIFFITH was added to the US women's basketball team. Griffith, a centre forward for the WNBA's (Women's National Basketball Association) Sacramento Monarchs, was a member of the gold medal-winning 2000 Olympics team. Her addition completes the 12-member team that will compete at the Summer Games in Athens beginning 13 August. "I did it in 2000 and I want to get back and get the gold medal," Griffith said. "Other countries are trying to take the gold medal from us and we're going to have to defend what we did in 2000." The other members of the Olympic team are: Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Shannon Johnson, Lisa Leslie, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Katie Smith, Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson. Through nine games in the WNBA season, Griffith is averaging 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.67 steals. In the US team's 8-0 run in the 2000 Olympics, she was its top rebounder (eight) and No 3 scorer (11.5). Runway probe TRIPLE JUMPER Ashia Hansen will miss the Olympics as a result of an injury from what could be a faulty runway. Hansen ruptured tendons in her knee while trying to make a jump in Saturday's European Cup. But the area where she launched herself to jump into the pit had a two centimetre dip which could have contributed to her problems. Sunday's men's triple jump was staged on the runway next to the women's one with the sandpit at the opposite end. Hansen will undergo surgery in the coming days but an Olympic appearance has been ruled out. British athletics officials have reported the runway to event organisers.
