Indeed, at the new Nikaia Olympic weightlifting hall there were more volunteers and officials than paying spectators for the early sessions.

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If you want to focus on a single Olympic hopeful, Barnett can't help much, since USA Weightlifting's charter precludes his showing favoritism.

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Mr Owen said it was especially important the torch visited Anglesey because a weightlifting centre on the island had been selected as an official Olympic training site.

BBC: Olympic torch to Anglesey appeal by Albert Owen MP

At an Olympics hit by drugs scandals around the host nation's top sprinters and in the weightlifting arena, the failure is an embarrassing end to a Olympic high point when the "homecoming Games" returned for a day to the spot in rural Arcadia where it all began nearly 3, 000 years ago.

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