Despite reports, tickets sales here in Athens aren't going well. In fact embarrassed officials are now contemplating giving tickets away to some of the less popular events.

Ironically Olympic chiefs have also warned ticket touts to stay away from the Olympic Complex in Athens. I don't think that they contemplated coming in the first place.

But no such problem for one sport which has attracted thousands of spectators each day.

The open-air event is largely attracting males and sales of the Olympic official beer are going down a storm. So too are the disposable cameras that can also be bought at official Olympic merchandisers.

What's the event I hear you ask...some of you may have guessed already - beach volley ball!

Elsewhere, we were warned to expect some very hostile weather during the next fortnight, but yesterday's freak weather caught us all by surprise.

While most have been guarding against sweltering conditions by drinking plenty of water and beating off the blazing sun by slapping on the fact 15, nothing prepared us for yesterday.

The games took on a tousled look after high winds whipped up a storm forcing 10 Olympic sailboats to capsize during competition.

"We expect this every year," said meteorologist Theodoros Kolidas.

Thanks for the advanced warning Theo.

It wasn't all bad though as two American crews took advantage of a 32-kph tailwind to set rowing world records in choppy but navigable waters.

Meanwhile, security has been stepped after one British national newspaper apparently breached security during Friday's opening ceremony.

So much so that security officials have become paranoid about any 'unattended items' at Olympic venues. A "suspect suitcase" which arrived at the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) in Maroussi on Saturday night caused a stir until security officials found that it contained only a packet of biscuits.

The suitcase had been sent to the IBC by coach as an unaccompanied package. Scanning equipment revealed a box that resembled an explosive device, according to officials.

Also at the weekend, access to one Olympic media Village, north of Athens, was temporarily blocked after an item in journalist's bag aroused the suspicions of security officials. That item turned out to be aftershave!

And finally...Chief Olympic organiser Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki threw a party at her hillside mansion on Sunday night to celebrate Athens' lavish opening ceremony which went off without a hitch.

The party, however, was a disaster. Fireworks set off at the mansion caused a fire in the nearby wooded area, burning out of control for nearly an hour, said Police.

Sixty firefighters were called to the scene in northern Athens and the blaze was eventually put out.