News In Brief

Olympic villages opened as athletes arrive in L.A.

Three widely scattered Olympic villages opened their gates Saturday as athletes began arriving from around the world for the 1984 Summer Games, greeted by colorful ceremonies, choking smog, sweltering heat, and tight security.

Using scissors several feet long, Mayor Tom Bradley and other dignitaries cut a bright yellow-orange ribbon at the University of California at Los Angeles, and Zou Zhenxian, a triple-jumper from China, waved to the crowd as he became the first athlete to enter.

Olympic villages were also opened at the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Southern California.