Event Program
Wed, August 11 2004
The men's and women's football tournaments begin a couple of days before the Games' opening cermony and the Australian teams are both in action first up.
Australia's women, the Matildas, face a tough first-up challenge with a match against Brazil, while the Olyroos play Tunisia.
Thu, August 12 2004
Both men's and women's football matches are played on the day before the opening ceremony, but there is no Australian involvement.
Fri, August 13 2004
The Games themselves won't begin until Saturday but the traditional call to action: "Let the Games begin", will be heard as the Greeks start festivities with the opening ceremony.
Sat, August 14 2004
All eyes will be on the pool at the end of day one as Ian Thorpe takes to the water to try to defend the 400m freestyle gold medal he won in Sydney.
Thorpe was only handed his chance to compete in the event after Craig Stevens - the swimmer who effectively took the Thorpedo's place in the event after Thorpe's disqualification fiasco at the trials - decided to pull out. There's a real chance Australia could quinella the event - Thorpe's biggest threat is Grant Hackett.
While he'll hog the spotlight, Thorpe's not the only gold medal hope on day one. Australia's gun 4x100m women's freestyle relay team, led by world record holder Libby Lenton, will start favourites while the nation's first-class posse of road cyclists will compete in the men's road race.
The Hockeyroos begin their campaign for another gold medal against Germany and our softballers, bronze medallists in 2000, kickstart their quest for gold against another of the sport's top nations - Japan.
Australia's female footballers, the Matildas, meet hosts Greece, their male counterparts the Olyroos play Serbia and Montenegro and Australia's women basketballers the Opals play Nigeria.
Australia has medal aspirations in the 10m synchronised platform diving event where Robert Newbery and Matthew Helm are world champions.
Action also kicks off in a host of other sports in which Australians should feature prominently including beach volleyball, rowing, sailing and shooting.
Sun, August 15 2004
Fourth place getters at the past two Games, the Boomers face a huge task against hosts Greece as the men's basketball competition gets underway. Australia's softballers also have their work cut out for them, with a match against the mighty United States and things won't be much easier for our baseballers who meet Cuba.
Shooter Michael Diamond begins his campaign for a third consecutive Olympic gold in the trap event. The men's water polo team plays Egypt while the Kookaburras begin their quest for elusive men's hockey gold against cross-Tasman rivals, New Zealand.
The tennis events start as does an event in which Australia has a rich history - the three day eventing. The Australian team will be hoping for its fourth consecutive gold medal in the blue ribbon equestrian event.
After the men's road race on day one, the women get their turn and again Australia has medal hopes. The women's artistic gymnastics also begins - watch for Australia's Allana Slater.
It's another big night in the pool and again there will be plenty of attention on Ian Thorpe. Australia will be looking to defend the gold medal they won four years ago when they smashed the Americans like guitars in the 4x100m freestyle relay, the Thorpedo famously swimming down Gary Hall Jnr. Thorpey won't have all the glory - Australian swimming's bionic woman, Petria Thomas, will be in action in the women's 100m butterfly.
Mon, August 16 2004
There's only ever been one Olympic water polo tournament for women and it was won by Australia, thanks to a last-second (literally) goal, in Sydney. On day three of competition the Australian women begin their campaign to make it back to back gold against Italy.
Another gold medallist from Sydney will also begin his quest to defend his title. Simon Fairweather started the 2000 Games as an unknown and ended them as the talk of the town by managing to shoot arrows at a target better than anyone else. After a short-lived retirement, he's back for another shot at glory at his fifth Olympics.
One of Australia's true international sporting superstars, Lauren Jackson will lead the Opals, Australia's women's basketball team, as they try to wrest the gold medal from the grasp of the Americans. It was silver for the Opals four years ago and the disappointment at their meek performance in the final still burns in the Opals and in Jackson most of all. On day three they meet Russia.
Both Australia's baseballers and softballers have clashes with Chinese Taipei while the Hockeyroos meet South Africa.
Ian Thorpe will be in action in the pool again, seeking revenge for his surprise defeat at the hands of Pieter van den Hoogenband in the 200m freestyle in Sydney. This could be one of the events of the Games, with the Thorpedo and Hoogie facing stiff competition from US superfish Michael Phelps and Australia's Grant Hackett.
Matt Welsh will be taking on the best in the 100m backstroke and Giaan Rooney will compete in the women's 100m backstroke. And in the women's 100m breast stroke, the star of the Australian Olympic trials Brooke Hanson will go up against her countrywoman, Leisel Jones.
Tue, August 17 2004
Australia are a great chance of winning another gold medal in the pool when the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team, the red hot favourites to defend their title won in Sydney, takes to the water.
This is one of the events Craig Stevens is focusing on, having given up his place in the 400m freestyle and he'll be in the same team as the man who took his place in that event - Ian Thorpe. Grant Hackett should also be on the team and looking to add to his already impressive haul of Olympic medals.
Queensland's pocket rocket Alice Mills should be in action in the women's 200m individual medley where she's a realistic medal chance.
The Boomers face Angola in the men's basketball competition and our softballers, after a day off, are up against Italy. The Australian baseballers and the men's water polo team, the Sharks, also meet Italian opposition.
The Opals take on Angola in the women's basketball while the Matildas play the US in the women's football and the Olyroos meet Argentina in the men's football. In men's hockey, the Kookaburras also play the Argentinians.
The three-day eventing medals will be decided and Australia will be hoping for more gold. Our female gymnasts will also be in action and their rapid improvement over the past four years has put them in the medal frame.
Also today the canoe/kayak events begin and the first judo medals of the Games are decided.
Wed, August 18 2004
Day five of competition sees the track and field program begin with the men's shot put event - featuring Australia's Justin Anlezark. It's a taste of things to come as the track and field program features many of the blue ribbon events at any Olympics.
Australia will have high hopes as the road cycling program continues with both the men's and women's individual time trials taking place.
The gymnastics, always a highlight at the Games, features the men's all around competition competition with Phillippe Rizzo hoping to be a part of the action. Australia's softballers will be in action for their fourth game, meeting China, an emerging force in the sport.
In baseball it's Australia v Japan and our women's basketballers also meet Japan. The Stingrays, Australia's gold medal winning women's water polo side, will be up against Kazakhstan.
It's gold medal day in equestrian's three day eventing, with the Australians hoping for their fourth consecutive gold in the teams event.
It's also another big night of action in the pool with Ian Thorpe and Ashley Callus carrying Australia's hopes in the 100m freestyle. Petria Thomas will be hoping to add to her medal haul in the 200m butterfly and she's also likely to be a part of Australia'a 4x200m freestyle relay team.
Thu, August 19 2004
Simon Fairweather became perhaps Australia's most unlikely gold medallist four years ago when he won an archery gold medal. He'll be hoping to be back again when the gold medal is decided on day six in Athens.
Perhaps the most graceful of events, the women's all around gymnastics, takes place with Western Australia's Allana Slater hoping to be part of the action.
The Boomers take on the US Dream Team in the men's basketball,the Kookaburras play India in the men's hockey and the Sharks meet Spain in the men's water polo.
Our softballers' busy schedule continues with a match against Canada and Australia's top tennis players will be hoping to be a part of the quarter-finals, which get underway.
The swimming program is reaching its climax and Australia will have high hopes in the women's 100m final with new world record holder Libby Lenton and national title holder Jodie Henry hoping to grab spots on the podium. Also in the pool will be the final of the women's 200m breast stroke where Leisel Jones will be aiming to go one better than her silver medal in Sydney.
Elsewhere the rowing finals begin, and Australia will be aiming to be well and truly in the action. The badminton finals also begin on day five, but Australia is less likely to feature here.
Fri, August 20 2004
The athletics program begins in earnest on day seven of competition and the first three gold medals to be decided are in men's endurance events - the 5,000m and 10,000m on the track and the 20 kilometre walk, where Nathan Deakes may feature in the medals.
Two of the blue ribbon events in the track cycling will be decided - the men's "kilo" as the 1 kilometre time trial is known, and the women's version which is raced over 500m.
The tennis tournament reaches the semi-final stage while the Matildas and Olyroos will be hoping to have some involvement in the women's and men's football quarters.
Australia's Nathan Baggaley will be hoping to win a medal as the canoe and kayak finals begin while the tennis tournament reaches the semi-final stage.
In the pool the splash and dash men's 50m freestyle final and the heats of the 1,500m are highlights and our softballers will again be in action, facing the hosts, Greece.
Australia's baseballers and female water polo players will also take on Greece while the Hockeyroos will face South Korea in the women's hockey.
Sat, August 21 2004
The eighth day of competition in Athens looms as a big one with major highlights on the track, at the velodrome and at the sailing and rowing venues.
But for Australians, all eyes will be on the pool. The 1,500m freestyle has become an Australian Olympic staple, an event in which Australia has enjoyed unparalleled success. And Grant Hackett will be hoping to write another proud chapter in this history by winning his second successive gold medal in the event.
It could be one of a trio of gold medals for Australia in the pool with the men's and women's 4x100m medley relay also realistic chances.
On the athletics track arguably the most exciting Olympic event gets underway with the preliminaries of the men's 100m. Also on the track the women's 100m final and the women's pole vault qualifiers will be highlights.
At the velodrome the men's 4,000m individual pursuit final and the men's team sprint medals will be decided and Australia will be hoping to grab a share of both.
Rowing finals will be held including the men's four, the women's pair and the men's pair - where Drew Ginn and James Tompkins will start as favourites. Some sailing medals will also be decided as the final races in a number of classes are held.
The tennis finals begin and the football quarter-finals continue.
In the men's basketball tournament the Boomers will be up against Puerto Rico while our baseballers take on the Netherlands, the Kookaburras face South Africa in the men's hockey and the Aussie Sharks play hosts Greece in the men's water polo.
The Australians will take on the US in the men's volleyball.
Sun, August 22 2004
In athletics, the men's 100m final is the cream and on August 22 it rises to the top. There is something special about the nine-and-a-bit seconds of pure power and speed that is the ultimate prize in sprinting and it is always one of the highlights of the Games.
Australians were looking forward to double dose of excitement on the track, given that our world championships golden girl, Jana Pittman, was scheduled to be going around (just once) in the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles. But alas, her knee cartilage injury has put her in serious doubt.
Australia's pre-eminent wheelchair athlete, Louise Sauvage, will also be in action in the women's 800m event. The Opals take on the Brazilians in a tough women's basketball match while our baseballers meet Canada.
On the sand the beach volleyball starts to get serious with the quarter-finals and the Australian softballers will hope to be part of the semi-finals, but not the bronze medal match, both of which are on day eight.
The women's water polo quarter-finals - where Australia is the defending gold medallist - will be taking place as will the men's singles and women's doubles gold medal tennis matches.
There are final races in more sailing classes and rowing finals in both the women's and men's eights.
Male and female gymnasts will be taking part in apparatus finals and the boxing reaches the quarter-final stages.
Australia's world record men's 4,000m team pursuit outfit will be hoping to continue Australia's proud history in this event as the preliminaries kick off. Also on the cycling track the men's sprint finals and the women's 3,000m individual pursuit finals will be run and won.
Mon, August 23 2004
Four years ago Australia's Jane Saville was leading the women's 20km walk with the stadium in sight when she was dramatically disqualified. Her tearful reaction became one of the enduring images of the Sydney Games. On day 10 in Athens, she will be given her chance for redemption.
Later in the day another Sydney Olympian, Tamsyn Lewis, will be hoping to feature among the finalists in the women's 800m.
Australia's beach volleyball golden girl from 2000 Natalie Cook, along with new partner Nicole Sanderson, will be hoping to feature in the semi-finals while in the boxing ring there will be more quarter-finals.
Australia will start a red-hot gold medal favourite at the velodrome in the final of the men's 4,000 teams pursuit event, in which they hold the world record. In gymnastics, Phillippe Rizzo is a medal chance in the final of the horizontal bar.
In team sports the softball final will be played and the Boomers face a tough task against Lithuania in the men's basketball. The Kookaburras play the Netherlands in the men's hockey the Aussie Sharks meet the Germans in the men's water polo.
The women's soccer semi-finals take place while in the pool the synchronised swimming duets, a sport rarely seen between Olympics, begins with Australians Amanda Laird and Leonie Nichols in action.
Tue, August 24 2004
The semi-final stage has been reached in both the women's hockey and the women's water polo and in both the defending champions are Australian. The Hockeyroos are out but the Aussie Stingrays will be hoping to win through to the gold medal match so they can attempt to defend their title won four years ago.
Another of Australia's golden girls from Sydney - beach volleyballer Natalie Cook - will be in action with her new partner Nicole Sanderson when the beach volleyball bronze medal match is played.
In other team sports, the women's volleyball quarter-finals, the baseball semi-finals and the soccer semi-finals will all be held.
It's a big day at the velodrome with events including the men's and women's sprints and the men's points race being decided.
Nathan Baggaley will compete in the flat water canoeing, both as an individual and as part of a team with long-time rival but now K2 partner Clint Robinson.
In the pool there will be more diving finals and in the ring the boxing quarter-finals continue. In the athletics the men's metric mile - the 1,500m -will be run and the final of the women's pole vault, in which Tatiana Grigorieva thrilled Australia by finishing second four years ago, will be contested. She's missing this time, but there's still plenty of Australian interest in the event with Kym Howe the leading light.
Wed, August 25 2004
August 25 in Athens might just be Jana Pittman day. The reigning world title holder in the women's 400m hurdles will be hoping to add Olympic gold to the world championships gold she won in Paris last year, despite having knee surgery just a fortnight before the Games began.
The campaign of the Opals in the women's basketball gets serious as the quarter-finals kick off while in the baseball competition the gold and bronze medal matches will be held.
The men's beach volleyball medals will be decided - with Julien Prosser and Mark Williams shooting for bronze - as will some sailing medals as final races in a number of classes are held. In diving, Irina Lashko and Loudy Tourky will compete in the 3m springboard event.
Australia's Kookaburras will hope to continue their campaign for an elusive men's hockey gold medal in the semi-finals while quarter-finals in the men's water polo and volleyball will also be played.
Canoe/kayak semi finals will be raced as will another event in which Australians should feature prominently - the women's triathlon where Loretta Harrop, Rina Hill and Maxine Seear will be aiming to do Australia proud.
And it's another big night at the velodrome as the cycling program comes to an end with finals in the men's keirin, men's madison and women's points race.
Thu, August 26 2004
Australia will be hoping to defend its gold medal in women's water polo on August 26.
In both women's water polo and women's hockey the gold and bronze medal matches will be played - alas the Hockeyroos won't feature this year having not made the semi-finals.
The Boomers missed out but the men's basketball quarter-finals get underway while the women's soccer gold and bronze medal matches and the women's volleyball semi-finals will be played.
Australia will have high hopes of a medal in the men's triathlon through competitors Peter Robertson, Simon Thompson and Greg Bennett.
In diving the women's 3m springboard final will see Australia's Irina Lashko attempt to add Olympic gold to those she's won at world championships and Commonwealth Games levels. The taekwondo finals begin and on the athletics track the men's long jump and 200m finals will be held.
Fri, August 27 2004
Crunch time comes in the men's and women's basketball competitions on August 27 with semi-finals taking place in both. The Opals carry Australia's hopes with a realistic chance of being a part of the action.
The Kookaburras will also be hoping for action with the gold and bronze medal matches being played in the men's hockey. Can the Kookaburras finally crack it for an Olympic gold? August 27 is the day.
In other team sports the men's volleyball and water polo semi-finals will be held while in the ring the same stage has been reached in the boxing.
Taekwondo, canoe/kayak and synchronised swimming medals will be decided and on the track the men's 50km walk and the women's 4x100m relay will be among the highlights. Elsewhere the women's mountain biking event will take place.
Sat, August 28 2004
Action on the athletics track reaches a crescendo on August 28, the penultimate day of competition, with the men's and women's 4x100m and 4x400m relay events.
The men's and women's basketball medals will be decided with the gold and bronze medal matches and there will be a host of finals in boxing, canoe/kayak and taekwondo events.
The sailing program wraps up with final races in the Star and Tornado classes and the men's soccer gold medal match will be played. Volleyball takes centre stage with the women's gold and bronze medal matches while the men's mountain biking event will also be run.
Australia's sole wrestler, Ali Abdo, hits the mat in the men's 74kg freestyle class.
Sun, August 29 2004
The final day of competition in Athens will have as its centrepiece the men's marathon which will finish just before the closing ceremony begins. Australians Sisay Bezabeh, Nicholas Harrison and Lee Troop will be in action.
Earlier in the day the final boxing medals will be decided as will the rhythmic gymnastics all around medals.
The final taekwondo medals will be awarded and the men's and women's handball finals will be played. In team sports, the gold and bronze medal matches will be played in both the men's volleyball and men's water polo events.
