Amendment will allow Karaiskaki refurbishment
The government submitted an amendment to Parliament yesterday allowing a complex deal to repair a decaying stadium needed for the 2004 Olympics. Under the amendment, the Karaiskaki Stadium in Neo Faliron would be turned over by the present owners, the Greek Olympic Committee, to the State. It would then be handed over to the owner of the soccer club Olympiakos Piraeus – telecommunications mogul Socrates Kokkalis – to repair the stadium and add a parking garage. The team would be allowed to continue using it as its home field for at least 49 more years. The amendment must be passed by lawmakers before construction can start. Work had been scheduled to begin in January. No date was set for voting, but could come as soon as the end of this week. (AP)
