Following days of negative global media attention, former minister asks for focus on real problems
Former culture minister Eleftherios Venizelos, following his meeting on April 1 with Athens 2004 President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, claimed that «in the last few days, we have undermined all by ourselves the country’s international image and reliability and we have sparked off hundreds of negative articles and comments in the international media, which have questioned Greece’s ability to complete Olympic preparations. He went on to say that «we shouldn’t create artificial problems.» The focus of attention should be on real problems such as «society’s morale, the welcome given to visitors and in particular the organization of a large, international media event, the operational aspects of the Games, that is,» Venizelos said. The works observation team also met earlier this month to deal with outstanding issues. These included waste and general cleanliness, municipal plans in this regard, and the competition for insect and pest extermination. Also on the agenda were the problems that have arisen in relation to telecommunications projects (installing networks, radio and television broadcast needs and security), construction of Public Power Corporation substations in the areas of Korydallos, Argyroupolis, Hellenikon and Vrilissia and road access to the Karaiskaki Stadium (which is still under construction).
