Despite skepticism from the rest of the world, the organizers of the Athens games have done so many things right, and nothing exemplifies this more than holding the shot put at Olympia. I don't know who thought of it, but it was a stroke of genius.

In a games already steeped in history, the organizers thoughtfully connected the ancient and modern Olympics in a serene setting that was so unusual that it will probably be remembered as one of the highlights of these games whenever they are recalled. The competition was exciting and the setting was as intimate as it was historical.

The shot put normally takes place in the middle of the field with the track separating the crowd from the event that seems so distant as if it's happening in another place. In Olympia, the shot put took center stage as the only event being competed with 15,000+ fans watching right on top of it from the grassy knoll right next to the pit. It must have been great to be a part of it.

The crowd was treated to a fascinating men's event, which ended in controversy when the Ukraine's Yuriy Bilonog tied the United States' Adam Nelson, which meant Bilonog would really beat Nelson, unless Nelson could come back with one last amazing throw, which he did, except he fouled, except he said he didn't foul, but he really did.

So Nelson settled for the silver, while two other Americans, John Godina and Reese Hoffa, finished out of contention, far short of his prediction that Americans would sweep the event.