ATHENS, Aug 9 (AFP) - Two villages on the Greek island of Crete which have been duelling for years over whose olive tree is older and, therefore, qualified to supply the leaves of Olympics victors' wreaths, have finally settled their row.
The argument was laid to rest not by either village conceding that their tree was younger than their rival's, but by the Games' organisers agreeing to take leaves from both trees for the wreaths, the head of the Athens Olympics organising committee Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki told journalists Monday.
Kavoursio, which lies in southeastern Crete, will provide leaves for the winner of the women's marathon on August 22, and Kolybari, on the opposite, northwestern side, for the men's marathon a week later on the last day of the Games.
Other wreaths will be made from leaves of olive trees planted in 1987 by members of the International Olympic Committee in a park in Goudi, site of the modern pentathlon and badminton events, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, herself a Cretan, said as she told the story of the two villages' war over a symbol of peace and victory.
Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch planted one of the trees in Goudi, she said.
The park in Goudi will be officially inaugurated Tuesday, when the current head of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, and other Olympic officials will be able to sponsor trees.
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki recounted how at one point, at the height of their bitter enmity over the trees, one of the villages told the other to chop down its olive tree to count its rings and ascertain its age, assuring it would do the same.
The bait wasn't taken, and the row ground on until it was settled by the Athens Olympics offering an olive branch to each side.
Olive trees are extremely hardy and can live for hundreds of years.