III 108th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 427 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 15, 2004 Mr. Sarbanes (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Levin, Mr. Biden, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Allen, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Miller, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Dayton, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Specter, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Fitzgerald) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Congratulating the citizens of Greece, the members of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, the 2004 United States Olympic Team, athletes from around the world, and all the personnel who participated in the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

Whereas Greece—birthplace of the Olympics—was selected on September 5, 1997, as the host of the 2004 Olympic Summer Games; Whereas from August 13 to August 29, 2004, the Olympic Summer Games returned to Greece, more than 100 years after Athens staged the first modern Olympics in 1896 and nearly 3 millennia after Greece staged the first Olympics in 776 B.C.; Whereas the people of Greece opened their hearts to the athletes who came together from all over the world and took part in the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in the best spirit of good sportsmanship; Whereas the President and Managing Director of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their associates, the Mayor of Athens, and the Government of Greece—particularly the officials from the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works—did an outstanding job in staging a great Olympic Summer Games in a manner that embodied the legacy, ideals, and values that Hellenic culture has given the world; Whereas the Government of Greece, entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the athletes, coaches, judges, and spectators of the 2004 Olympic Summer Games, rose to the challenges to provide a safe Olympic Summer Games; Whereas 10,500 athletes and 5,500 team officials from a record 201 National Olympic Committees prepared for and competed in the Olympic Summer Games with unmatched dedication, and inspired the world with their spirit of peaceful competition; Whereas over 5,000 athletes from 140 nations will compete in the 2004 Paralympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece, representing the broadest country participation in Paralympic history and reminding the world that physical challenges are no limit to human achievement; Whereas the Olympic venues constructed by Greece have been hailed as world class and have set a new standard of modernity for all future Olympic Games; Whereas the 531 members of the United States Olympic Team added substantially to the great legacy of sportsmanship and athleticism that has characterized the history of United States Olympic competition; Whereas the security personnel at the 2004 Olympic Summer Games all worked to ensure that the 2004 Olympic Summer Games were safe and secure for athletes and spectators alike; Whereas over 5,000 individuals of Greece and other citizens from around the world volunteered their time and talents to show the world the best that Greece has to offer; and Whereas the 2004 Olympic Summer Games accomplished the principles set forth by the Olympic movement, including the aim to encourage the Olympic spirit of peace and harmony, which brings the people from across the world together around Olympic sport: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate extends its heartiest congratulations for a job well done to the citizens of Greece, the members of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, the members, coaches, and officials of the 2004 United States Olympic Team, athletes from around the world, and the security personnel and volunteers who ensured that the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens was a great success.