ST PETERSBURG. Aug 7: (AP) The first international sports event in post-communis! Russia failed to generate much interest among St Petersburg residents.

Ignoring the opportunity to watch the Goodwill Games live, those with some interest preferred to watch them on television.

"I watched the figure skating on TV, but I'm too busy during the day and at night I'd better stay home with kids," said Natalia Tsikunova, an economist.

The organising committee has refused to release attendance figures — citing lac of'statistics — but television footage has shown most-of the events going on with the stands half-empty.

Critics have blamed organisers for setting unreasonably high ticket prices, bad advertising and other glitches.

"City authorities should report on all their expenses." Tsikunova said. "They have spent a lot of money, but the city remains dail and shabby everywhere outside (its main thoroughfare) Nevsky Prc^pect."

Games' organisers have tried to dismiss snafus like murky water in the SKA pool and delays making at the Yublleiny sports complex. Many athletes have been openly critical.

World record-holder Sergei Bubka who has enthusiastically welcomed the Games before they started, expressed his disappointment In an interview with the daily Nevskoye Vremya.

■ I knew in advance that Moscow and Seattle would never repeat, but I didn't expect these Games to lie that bad." he said.

SOCCER STARS: The Russian Soccer Federation says Americans Tony Meola and Alexi Lalas will lead an international team of all-stars against a team of Russian stars in Sunday’s match during closing ceremonies. However. Goodwill Games, organisers say they don t have an official player list and won't release one until a few hours before game time.

The Russia team is loaded with players from Dlanmo Spartak — Yuri Nikiforov. Victor Onopko. Andrei Pyatnitsky and Ilya Tsymbalar. The chief absence will probably be Oleg Salenko. the Russian who scored five goals in a World Cup game last month. He apparently is training with his Valencia team in Spain.

GETTING EVEN: Goodwill Games president Jack Kelly and St Petersburg Mayor Anatoli Sobchak staged a swim relay Saturday with eight teams, Including a team of journalists. Kelly and Sobchak, who swam in the race, were trying to show that the SKA pool was safe following a flap about brown, murky water there.

Journalists have been critical of Games' organisation and nicknamed the pool "the black la goon."

Sweet revenge One Journalist had to be taken to a hospital for several hours after becoming faint swimming his 50-metre leg in the relay.

CLOSER: Russian Prime Minister Victor Chernomirdin will head the closing ceremonies Sunday, spelling President Boris Yeltsin who opened the Games on July 23 Mario Cuomo will also be on hand representing New York City, which will hold the 1998 Games.