Bronze-medal game delayed by uniform mix-up

ATHENS (Reuters) -- The men's Olympic bronze-medal basketball game on Saturday between the United States and Lithuania was delayed after both teams showed up at the Olympic Indoor Hall wearing their home white uniforms, officials said.

USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller said the delay could last 30 minutes or even longer, as American officials attempted to get a set of their blue uniforms from the team headquarters on the Queen Mary cruise ship, which is in the port of Piraeus.

"There was a miscommunication, and both teams showed up with their white uniforms on. We are trying to get the dark uniforms sent from the ship as quickly as possible," he said.

It was not immediately clear who was at fault, but the incident is yet another embarrassing moment for the American basketball team, which has already lost three games in Athens after arriving with a 109-2 Olympic record.

Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.