Portal features 'Bolympics'

JAKARTA (JP): The games have yet to start, but one record has already been set: Sydney has the largest media center in Olympics history with its 40,000 square meter Main Press Center. There, hundreds of thousands of words and pictures will flow through various media, newspapers, radio, television, and of course, the Internet to the millions of enthusiasts following the quadrennial event.

In its official website, www.olympics.com, surfers can check latest developments, peruse profiles of "athletes of the day" (on Aug. 24, one was Indonesian badminton star Taufik Hidayat - whose birthplace was erroneously reported as Bundang, instead of Bandung) or even book tickets.

In Jakarta, a local portal (www.bolehmail.com) is organizing an online Olympics, called "Bolympics". It claimed to have prepared a series of entertaining events, packed with a variety of programs designed to provide a medium for Internet users to become "participants" rather than just spectators.

The "Bolympics", held from August 21 until September 30, comprises weekly events that include the medals forecasting of Indonesian athletes in Sydney. Winners will receive prizes such as cell phones and DVD players. (sim)