Crawford takes title as Greeks vent fury

AMERICAN Shawn Crawford won the men’s 200 metres gold medal amid astonishingly hostile scenes in the Olympic Stadium as the Greek public vented their spleen against the Games organisers.

The Greeks had hoped to see Kostas Kenteris, the defending champion and a national hero, running for gold. But after he failed to appear for a random drugs test on the night before the opening ceremony, Kenteris was subject to an investigation by Games officials, which prompted his withdrawal from the Games to avoid the humiliation of being thrown out. The Greeks have been incensed at the treatment of Kenteris, who claimed a shock gold in Sydney four years ago. And there was one aborted start because of the chants of “Hellas! Hellas!” and constant whistling and booing.

Then Mauritian Stephane Buckland was false-started as the deafening din only slightly abated. When the race began, the nightmare result for the hosts materialised.