Athens: The whereabouts of Greece’s top athlete Costas Kenteris is still a mystery, with the opening ceremony at the Games due to start shortly.

The Olympic 200m champion, whose shock win in Sydney four years ago prompted the headline, “Who the Hellas is Costas Kenteris?” is now raising the question across Greece, “Where the Hellas is Costas Kenteris?”

Greece’s Olympic team manager Yiannis Papadoyiannakis said on Monday the athlete was training in Chicago and would not return for Friday's opening ceremony.

Team officials later said they had their dates mixed up.

“The dates referred to (Kenteris’) entrance into the Olympic village, not his return to Greece,” said a Greek team spokesman.

The sprinter’s personal coach Christos Tzekos was unavailable for comment.