The Associated Press

Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Menk Bateer of the San Antonio Spurs will lead the Chinese basketball team at the Athens Olympics.

The official Xinhua News Agency announced the lineup Monday, citing Chinese Basketball Association officials in Dallas, where the national team played the Dallas Mavericks' summer team.

MINOR MELTDOWN: A small fire slightly damaged a storage area outside the main Olympic stadium Monday, the fire department said.

The fire, which melted some plastic pipes and a few plastic seats, occurred outside the 75,000-seat stadium with a new steel-and-glass roof designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

At least four fire trucks rushed to the fire, which may have been caused by a short circuit.

A small 10-foot section of an outside cement wall appeared blackened.

Construction crews preparing the stadium for the Aug. 13-29 Olympics did not stop working while the small fire was extinguished.

ATHENS MANAGER: A city manager appointed to help solve Athens' logistical problems assumed his position Monday.

Spyros Capralos will help deal with such problems as garbage collection, public transportation and hospital operations.

Capralos will lead a three-member committee that will work with Athens organizers, greater Athens municipalities and the government.

REVIVING INTEREST: Greeks rejoiced in their national soccer team's stunning win at the European Championships, a victory that many hope will revive flagging public interest in next month's Olympics.

The victory celebration planned Monday for the returning team coincided with the first day that Greeks could pick up tickets for the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.

With fewer than half the 5.3 million tickets for the Olympics sold, organizers hope the European title will help lure Greeks to stadiums - even if it is only to watch their own athletes and teams.

Greeks have in recent months become exhausted with Athens' often delayed preparations for the games, which have for months led to endless traffic jams in the capital.