ATHENS, Aug 14: Olympic Games quotes on Saturday, August 14: "The general fan is still thinking of the Dream Team in 1992 where we beat everybody by 48 points. The general public doesn't understand how good these teams are."

USA assistant coach Gregg Popovich warning fans not to expect the American team to steamroll their opponents in the men's basketball.

"I don't know why it should. There's water in every lane."

- Australia's Ian Thorpe dismissing fears that lining up in lane five of the 400m freestyle final will be a disadvantage.

"Although I have trained for months and was in good shape I refused to fight my Israeli opponent to sympathize with the suffering of the people of Palestine."

- Iranian world judo champion Arash Miresmaili pulling out of the Olympics because he had been drawn to face Ehud Vaks of Israel in his first round flyweight bout.

"We've talked about even boycotting the Olympics if they are allowed to compete. That's how strongly our athletes have reacted to this."

- Swedish Olympics federation captain Ulf Karlsson making a stand if Greece's 200m champion Kostadinos Kenteris is allowed to compete despite having missed a drugs test.-AFP