ATHENS, Nov 10: Greece wants to host the 2004 ■ Olympics in Athens, returning the Summer Olympiad to the country where the Games were born in 776 BC. report agencies.

"The government will effort to have them (the 2004 Olympics) In Athens. We believe that it is essential for the Olympic Games to be staged in Athens at long last.' government spokesman Tylemachos Hytiris told a daily news briefing on Friday.