YOU HAVE TO DRIVE FOR A BARGAIN

Someone forgot to tell the citizens of the Olympic venue in Birmingham, Ala., the word from Atlanta: Sell! Sell! Sell!

The delighted hosts of the Olympic soccer tournament have offered rampant hospitality, eager fans, minimal traffic . . . and no visible price gouging.

In fact, local merchants are advertising Olympic specials and making it a point of pride not to rip off tourists. Another thing: Water is free.

It all configures with the theory that the farther-flung Olympic venues tend to be less harried and more grateful to be part of the Games.

Said a cheerful supermarket checker here, “Honey, you in Alabama now, this ain’t Atlanta.�

Amen to that.