U.S. athletes urged to keep it low-key at Olympics 'Play hard, lie low,' Americans told in time of terror fears

Even before she arrives in Athens, Olympian Lauren McFall has madesome curious amendments to her to-do list. Don't speak too loudly,for one. Don't go out with large groups of friends, for another. And,despite all her patriotic tendencies, avoid wearing anything thatsays "USA."

The synchronized swimmer has already gotten a taste of what it islike to be so obviously American, so far from home. Like the timesomeone spray-painted epithets on the team's flag, or the time theywere booed.

By the opening ceremonies next Friday, each American athlete willprobably have heard the same thing in memos and seminars: Play hard,lie low.

It is, on one hand, a common-sense tip …