Olympic showtime
The illegal excavation of the mountainsides and the organized networks that control the dumping of excavated material are just part of the scandal. The other problem is the picture presented by these activities, whether legal, semi-legal or illegal. What will visitors see when coming to Greece for the Olympics? The view along the route between Markopoulo and the equestrian center is of the Merenda quarry. From the Markopoulo-Koropi outskirts to the Olympic shooting range, there is an uninterrupted view of both Merenda and the Kyriakou and Zoitsa quarries at Koropi. Moreover, what is to happen during the Games themselves? Will blasting at the quarry continue? After the Games, how will the horses survive at the nearby racetrack, directly next door to the Merenda quarry? What about the view of Attica from above? Gouged-out mountainsides and waste dumps? The restoration of inactive quarries has inflicted greater wounds than those it was supposed to heal.
