Games organizers tried to defuse the controversy that surrounded their choice of Greek windsurfer Nikolaos Kaklamanakis to light the Olympic cauldron at Friday's opening ceremony. Sprinter Kostas Kenteris was the odds-on favourite, but the bizarre saga of a missed doping test and subsequent motorcycle accident took him out of the mix.

ATHOC representative Michalis Zachrotos said the decision of who would light the cauldron was made only Friday morning from the list of six athletes. This despite the fact the pre-ceremony press notes noted seven athletes.

"Using Nikos Kaklamanakis (who won gold in the event at the 1996 Games in Atlanta) linked up with the concept of water in the program because he was a windsurfer," Zachrotos said.

TORRI WILL HAVE SAY

U.S. sprinter Torri Edwards' appeal against her two-year drug ban will be heard tomorrow by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The result will determine whether the reigning world champion in the 100 metres competes at the Athens Games.

Edwards tested positive for the stimulant nikethamide at a meet in Martinique in April, blaming a glucose supplement she took because she wasn't feeling well for the result.

TOUGH BREAK

A Brazilian soccer player was hospitalized with a broken collar bone after she collided with another player and collapsed in a game against the United States.

TICKET SALES SLUMP

Olympic ticket sales have hit a sudden slump, Games officials said.

After daily sales close to 90,000 through the week, barely a third that number were sold on Friday.