Sometimes, the stadium is the star of the show

By DAVID LEGGAT in Athens

"Socrates used to walk through here," said the man from the Cultural Affairs Department.

He doesn't know that for sure, but it's a safe bet the philosopher spent some time expounding his theories around Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Zeus in downtown Athens.

Move on a few hundred metres from there and I can guarantee it is 105 steep steps up the side of the Panathinaiko Stadium, venue for the Olympic archery competition.

This doubles as the finishing point for the two marathons next week and is probably the most spectacular setting of all those in use for these Games.

This was where the 1896 Games were staged. If that sounds a long time ago, it is not in Greek terms.

During that first Olympics of the modern era, a Greek marathoner ran into history. Spiridon Louis wearily completed his victory with Crown Prince Constantine of Greece accompanying him, a few metres from the spot where Christchurch's Ken Uprichard was yesterday firing his arrows in a vain bid to make the final 32 in the men's singles.

Talk about ancient and modern.

But in case the Greek organisers get all the praise for having the foresight to use this setting at the Games, let's do a quick double check.

According to James Easton, the American president of the International Archery Federation, it was not that straightforward.

He says the archery was originally pencilled in for the Helleniko complex which is hosting the hockey, fencing, baseball, basketball and softball, and has the sailing event just along the road.

Knowing that what is good for sailing is not good for archery, he settled on the horseshoe-shaped stadium. The Greek Olympic Committee poo-poohed the idea, but the boss of the Games organising committee, the formidable Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, did not.

"She was a big factor," Easton told the International Herald Tribune. "She made it happen."

The capacity for the archery is about 7500. For the marathons it will be heaving with 34,000 spectators.

"It's very special," Uprichard said. "It's got the perfect history behind it, it's great for spectators. They get in nice and close to you."

Not that it's all cosy and staid at the archery.

The sport is far from the preserve of the old or the nerdy.

There was an eclectic bunch sprinkled around the cool stone seats, including young, liberally studded pink-spiky-hair types.

The competition was sudden-death matchplay. An 18-shot match, with 10 points for a bullseye.

Uprichard, who had qualified a disappointing 54th, was up against 11th-ranked Liu Ming Huang, of Chinese Taipei.

It was tight as a drum until the penultimate shot. Uprichard, a point behind, appeared momentarily distracted by a mobile phone. He produced a six out of 10. Liu hit a nine and as the arrow struck with a soft "thwunk", that was that.

As the beaten archers trooped out of the arena, Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles boomed out.

And for a piece of land which has witnessed plenty since it was built in 330 BC, that surely was a first.