Cheap bed proves costly

Two Russians looking for a cheap place to sleep were sentenced to two months in jail on Saturday after attempting to break into the athletes' Olympic village.

But they were released on appeal the same day. Military officials said that the men, one of whom had a brother on the Russian Olympic team who gave him his Games accreditation before leaving Athens, managed to pass two police checkpoints.

But they failed to reach the 2,292-apartment athletes' village after soldiers at a third checkpoint spotted the difference.

"They got two months in jail but filed an appeal and were released," an army source said. "They were looking for an inexpensive place to sleep."

The athletes' village is one of the most secure Olympic venues with access roads blocked to non-permit holders and hundreds of security personnel patrolling the compound.