After a relaxing swim in the warm summer water of the  Mediterranean, I  jumped on a trolley where 2
fellow travelers had  dropped me off. The public transportation in Athens during the Olympics was great, no lines, you didn’t even have to pay the .80 euros if you didn’t’ want to, as no one checked. 40 minutes later I was in front of the gates to the Olympic Sports Complex.

The Complex housed brand new venues built for the country where the Olympics first started some 2300 years ago. Here were the tennis venue, the swimming pool, the Gymnastics arena, as well as the main 100,000 + stadium, holding track and field events, and the start of it all, the opening ceremonies.

I arrived at the gates of the complex not knowing what to expect, armed with mostly just my
powers of observation, and the adrenaline pump of an awesome day of sight seeing in Greece.
Also in my possession were some mail ordered judo tickets, 40 euros, plus an extensive
knowledge of security procedures gleaned from years of international travel, and over 
100 Grateful Dead concerts.

My hopes of being ‘Miracled’ by someones ‘extra’ corporate ticket soon faded as scalpers
seemed to outnumber those with tickets.  Both of which were willing to part with the
cardboard keys to the gate, but for a fee upwards of 950 euros,(over a thousand dollars, US).

Surveying the scene I had flashes of the Soccer World Cup in Japan, where an English hawker proudly claimed to have beaten the excessively anal security of Japan at every venue, and
seen every football match without a ticket.

I saw the usual security gauntlet consisting of several check points where a ticket was briefly
checked, your bags were x-rayed and your person airport
security-walk-through metal detected.  I decided to give it a go.  I easily made it through the first check point
using my fellow attendees to block the notice of yours truly on the first set of ticket checkers.

30 meters later I am at the main gate.  When asked “Can I see your ticket?”, I could only reply,
“Oh, .. I have just this judo ticket.” They of course politely informed me that I needed an Opening Ceremonies ticket if I were to pass by them.  I came back to center, and tried another line as there were a good 20 lines of entrance into the grounds.  My second pass was very close, I was just about to put my small bag on the conveyor belt when I heard “Did I see your ticket?”.  Once again, “I have a judo ticket.” No go. 

On that last attempt learned that there were two distinctly different groups of guards.  There were the security men, in military uniforms, all 2 heads taller than me, they seemed only concerned that you placed your bags and jackets, on the x-ray, and that you did not buzz when going threw the medal detector. Then there were the volunteers recognizable by their white, blue and orange Athens 2004 volunteer polo shirts.  These were the guys that really looked at your ticket, they did not rip the ticket, but were checking each one methodically to make sure it had the hologram, or whatever it was that made it an official ticket, I don’t know exactly, as I didn’t have an opening ceremonies ticket, or I would not be writing this story.

Walking away from my second denial I had an epiphany, “Wow, I think I can get through, there are enough checkers working that they could easily think that their co-worker must have checked my ticket, especially if I get my bag on the conveyor belt.”  I thought of the English dude I met in Japan at the World Cup, and realized, if you want it bad enough you can get in. 

Sure enough next try I made it through.  After walking through the security gate, and picking
up my bag from the conveyor belt I heard “Excuse me.” I thought perhaps they saw my pocket knife in my bag, as this has stopped me occasionally at airports in the past, post 9/11 of course.  I was ready to give up my knife.  Also I had a water bottle that often works as an extra diversion at times.  The guard asked for my water bottle, no problem, water is a ubiquitous resource, but
he only asked that I remove the label, done deal I was into the complex, I couldn’t believe it, I was so elated.

I realized there must be some other check points, as they didn’t even rip tickets from where
I came through, but the main security must be the toughest, and I could no doubt make up a
story or slip through anything else as I must have had a ticket if I was that far.  I didn’t have
much of a problem with the 2 other check points.  “Oh, my girlfriend has my ticket.” and “I’m
meeting my friend.”  In no time I was down by the field, great seats, in with a delegation from Germany.  I had only to move one time, as one person came to the seat I had occupied, no problem, there were plenty of extra seats for some reason. I could have laid down there were so many.  I saw my first and likely only opening ceremonies that I will see in person, for free.  The show was spectacular, 202 countries was a bit tiresome, but wow, I made it in.