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High up in the arena where the thick dark crowd looks like

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High up in the arena, where the thick, dark crowd looks like bees massing on a comb, people were jumping up and down, and an entire hill seemed to be on the move. And in the royal box stood a figure in uniform, waving his military cap with such abandon that the peak came away in his hand. Little Greek flags, kept hidden until now, were pulled from pockets and held aloft, kissed, waggled, or thrown to the skies Olive branches and flowers rained down from the upper tiers. It was the sound of a nation's pent-up desire for victory being released A cloud of white doves was liberated Thousands of hats were in the air Handkerchiefs were waved until they flew from the hand. Seventy thousand individuals cheered, each at their own pitch, some for the first time in their lives, and every one of them at the greatest volume their lungs could muster. In the bluff above the arena, in among the dense press of people, first one arm, and then many, could be seen pointing. The whole stadium was on their feet now, every eye trained on the entrance There was a noise of cheering outside It got louder.

And then, after a momentary pause - a tantalising, knuckle-clenching, lip-chewing pause - there came into the arena a lean, sweat-stained, dust-covered figure in the blue and white of Greece.The stadium erupted. Now the tens of thousands in the stadium and the hordes lining the final kilometres were synchronised. In minutes, the milling throng outside the stadium entrance knew; and so did the masses on the hill overlooking the arena. It was a Greek!Not even the vaulters could concentrate on anything else.

They lay down their poles to await the arrival of a man now being carried along by the ecstasy of the roadside crowds. For the stadium, there must have been about 10 minutes of delicious anticipation before the first signs came that a runner was approaching. It was the signal that the leader was just a short distance away. The craning spectators saw him approach the royal box and say something. They saw the king half rise from his seat, lean forwards to hear the message, turn to the rest of the royal party, and then they heard and saw the crowd around the box start cheering wildly. "What are they shouting?" voices the other side of the stadium must have asked Soon there was no doubt "Hellene! Hellene!" ("A Greek! A Greek!). Within seconds the cheers had been taken up by the entire crowd.

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