While billing Athens as “the most civilized city in the world,” the capital’s mayor promised yesterday to have over 600 municipal police officers on the streets from July to crack down on some of the worst of Athenian habits.

At a press conference to present a 4.8-million-euro project to tidy up central Lycabettus Hill, Dora Bakoyannis took issue with a journalist’s question whether Athens would be “more civilized” during and after the August Olympics. “Athens is the most civilized city in the world,” she said. “A walk in the Ancient Agora will convince you.”

Bakoyannis promised to add another 500 municipal policemen by July to the existing force of 130, to keep motorbikes out of pedestrian streets, parked cars off ramps for the disabled and, generally, to ensure Athens is “a functional city.” She insisted that policing will continue after the Games.