Cycling will open the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as organisers look to show off the Greek capital to a worldwide audience.

A preliminary events schedule also reveals that the final event will be a historic men's marathon run.

Billions of viewers are expected to tune in for the cycling race, which will last three to four hours.

"We want to show off the host city and its beauties," said Athens Games Sports General Manager Makis Asimakopoulos.

Classic course

The marathon will be run on the original course used by an Athenian soldier in 490 B.C. to announce a Greek victory over the Persians.

"We will use the classic course," said Asimakopoulos. "It is one of the highlights of the Games."

The runners will finish at the marble Panathenian stadium, where the Games were revived in 1896, with the medals ceremony held later at the Olympic Stadium.

The final events schedule will be ready by mid-2003.