THE SIDELINES : Athens Floated for Marathon

MILAN, Italy — The International Olympic Committee will consider allowing Athens to host the 1996 Olympic marathon, Chairman Juan Antonio Samaranch said.

“It is still only an idea,” Samaranch told reporters. “This should be discussed with our Greek and American friends. Then it could be taken up by the IOC’s executive committee.”

Athens recently lost out to Atlanta for the right to host the 1996 Games. But Samaranch said Athens “deserves an important event” to mark the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympics.