"I knew the Olympics were about to start, but I didn't realise they were starting tomorrow in Marseille," says a surprised resident of the southern French port city. Elsewhere, at the Old Port, the market, and in the restaurants, Olympic cheer is lacking. "We're waiting to see if these supposed 12,000 people actually show up everyday," says Fatia Hamadouche, in front of her restaurant. "To make up for all the upheaval we've been subjected to for the past few years." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES