Inevitably, there are a few differences, not least that fact that the big men of the sport will go into the circle hiding their modesty.

"I'm thankful I live in an era when I have got to compete with clothes," joked American thrower John Godina, the bronze medalist four years ago and silver medalist in 1996.

Godina was speaking by telephone from Olympia and reflecting on the fact that, at many of the ancient Olympic celebrations, the participants were naked.

Godina is better acquainted than many of his rivals in the old rituals as he took a class on the ancient Olympics while he was a student a decade ago at UCLA.

Godina was not the only one to be grateful that the display of talent will be restricted to their competitive efforts.

Anlezark admits that he is happy to have the spotlight on his event, with the shot being staged two days before the start of the main athletics programme, but is well aware he is no super-model waif.

The shot put, which was not usually contested at the ancient Olympics, was chosen after Olympic organisers disregarded the historically more prominent event of the discus.

Athens organisers originally announced that the discus was to be held in Olympia, as a curtain-raiser to the rest of the athletics programme, but then had to admit red-faced that they were worried about damage to the monuments.

So, it is the shot putters, naked or not, who will get the exposure.

Hoffa was once the self-styled Unknown Shot Putter, competing in a WWF wrestling mask in order to bring attention to the low-level status of his event.

But in Olympia he will not be pulling off any publicty stunts.