The Agora

Far more than the future government of the 200,000 inhabitants of northern Cyprus rides on tomorrow's election. It could be the last chance of reuniting the island, divided since the Turkish invasion in 1974 - and perhaps the decisive moment for deciding whether Turkey enters the European Union.

The ruling National Unity Party wants to strengthen ties with what it calls "Motherland Turkey" and rejects United Nations proposals to re-unite the island. But for the first time its stranglehold on the Turkish Cypriots is under threat from three parties all favouring re-unification and joining the EU.

According to Mustafa Akinci, the Peace and Democracy leader, decades of international trade embargoes have eroded support for the status quo. "In every village I go to, people tell me they are worried about their future," he told the meeting. The EU says the 30-year partition has to end if Turkey is to succeed in its attempt to join.

A contracting economy, rising unemployment and prospects for an end to the island's partition have dominated the campaign.

The horizons of Turkish Cypriot voters have expanded considerably since the last elections. An easing of travel restrictions between the two halves of the island has given them a glimpse of the prosperity they might expect if their unrecognised republic votes for a party that will take them into the EU, along with the south, next May.

If, however, northern Cyprus opts to extend the governing party's mandate yet again, the steady haemorrhage of Turkish Cypriots leaving the island - most of them heading to Britain, where they have relatives - will continue.

The frustration felt by Mr Erkal and others prompted protests in northern Cyprus earlier this year. Tens of thousands demonstrated in support of EU membership and demanded an end to the island's division.

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The men's and women's events will be held on one day to minimise disruption to the stadium. There will be no lighting, seating (spectators will have to sit on the grassy embankment), or electronic billboards. Entry will be free.

Athletes will make their way to the stadium past the 600BC Temple of Hera and the altar of Zeus where the Olympic torch is lit. The stadium itself is not much more than a dirt semi-circular track, with the remains of the stone judges' stand on one side and the altar of the goddess Demeter opposite (she and her priestess were the only women allowed to watch).

Broadcasters loved the idea, as did local businesses and the 2000 town residents, who had been outraged that they had been left out of the historic games.

Haris Spiliopoulos, who runs the Olympion Asty Hotel with his brother, said: "It would have been a crime for Olympia to miss out on the Games. It's not enough just to come here to light the flame. "We are very happy because after so many years, the Olympics will live again in the place where they were born. We will be able to experience something like our forefathers did."

There will be no charge to watch the event.
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