Centennial Olympics applauded and criticized<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (Agencies): Tension and enthrallment filled the
\ntrouble-plagued Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, but everybody
\nshared a last hurrah when the Centennial Games concluded on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
Criticism started at the opening of the Games and continued.
\nThroughout the course of the Centennial Games, buses ran late or
\ndid not run at all. And when fans eventually reached the Games
\nthey were often met by pouring rain.<\/p>\n
Official results were slow in being released by the media and
\nwere, on many occasions, incorrect.<\/p>\n
And in the middle of it all, someone planted a bomb which
\nexploded in the midst of hundreds of people who were simply
\ntrying to enjoy themselves. Two people were killed and 112
\ninjured in the sporting tragedy which reminded us all too much of
\nthe 1972 massacre in Munich.<\/p>\n
On the playing fields, the sports world celebrated some of the
\nmost tremendous progress ever seen in Olympic's 100-year history.<\/p>\n
More than 10,000 athletes from a record of 197 nations invited
\nby the International Olympic Committee poured into Atlanta. As a
\nresult, more countries (79) won medals and more countries (53)
\nwon gold medals than in any other Olympics.<\/p>\n
Big achievements continued, with Michael Johnson leading a
\npack of his namesakes to make the headlines of the Olympics. In
\nlowering the 200-meter world record to 19.32, Johnson established
\na mark that should last well into the next century. He also
\ncompleted the double he set out to achieve with his 400m triumph.<\/p>\n
Michelle Smith of Ireland was the only person to win three
\nindividual gold medals -- dominating the swimming events with
\nvictories in the 200 and 400 individual medley and 400 freestyle.<\/p>\n
Miguel Indurain of Spain won a gold medal after losing the
\nTour de France.<\/p>\n
While 3.5 billion of the world's population hailed record-
\nbreaking feats, sportsmanship faces new legal challenges. Two
\nRussian bronze medalists won their appeal against
\ndisqualification for taking the drug Bromantan on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Drug controversies also marred the run-up of the Games when an
\nItalian women's high jumper and an Australian sprinter were
\nallowed to compete despite the fact that they failed dope tests.<\/p>",
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