I have to second what Helen and Alison said. We in Australia are as much victims of the Bumbling Olympic Board as anyone. It is not the Australian Government that made this decision. The Board seems to be a power of its own. They are planing to modify our public transport system, modify working hours, and change the time we switch to daylight savings time just for the games!

As I recall, the invitation to the US marching bands came last September. This is a helluva time to change their minds. There was a reason at the time for choosing the US bands over the native ones. They had some skill that we lacked. I can't remember what it was.

I'll go one further, Gil. I don't think ANYONE with taste should visit Olympic games ANYWHERE.

Murray