Transport, rooms still haunt 2004 Games
A cartoon published two years ago in Kathimerini showed images of lanky Olympic runners on an ancient urn. Trailing behind – sweating and struggling to keep up – was the short figure of Greek Premier Costas Simitis. Two years before the Olympics return to their birthplace, organizers of the Athens Games have no time to waste. «We have to be demanding,» said Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, head of the 2004 organizing committee. Earlier, the biggest worry was whether Athens could build the venues in time for the Games. While concerns on that front have eased, new questions are swirling around a single theme: Is Athens too overcrowded and too overwhelmed to host the Games smoothly? Transport plans still remain sketchy. The IOC and the rest of the huge Olympic entourage have booked up virtually all of Athens’s best hotel space. Spectators could be left far from Athens or in rented apartments around a city with notorious traffic and sporadic mass transit. A recent poll suggested nearly a quarter of Athenians were inclined to rent their homes for the Olympics. But 67.6 percent said they expected to stay in the capital during the Games from August 13-29 rather than flee the city during the traditional August holiday period and ease traffic. Placing spectators on Greek islands – as suggested by organizers – poses complications that cannot be remedied. August brings high winds to the Aegean Sea, and ferries are often canceled. IOC inspectors realize the potential pitfalls and have asked for revised plans from organizers. «It will be a race against the clock until the end,» said the IOC’s Denis Oswald. «I don’t think we will be able to relax at any time and just be confident that it will happen and go well. It will be a struggle.» The first Olympic test event – a sailing regatta – is due to begin on Friday; it will last to August 22. The IOC is pressing hard to make sure Athens does not fall behind with the other test events, which are vital to allow sports federations time to make any needed changes before the Olympics. In Sydney, Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) executive Bob Elphinston said Athens is making good progress on construction and infrastructure for the Games. AOC Secretary-General Elphinston, who was the 2000 Sydney Games organizing committee’s general manager of sport, took part in a three-day tour of the facilities with other Australian Olympic officials. «A year ago the Olympic Village site was a dust bowl. Today the construction of all of the buildings is essentially complete; just the fit-out remains to be done.» The Australian Olympic group inspected Village accommodation, transport, security, medical facilities, accreditation, catering and freight and warehouse space. Elphinston was impressed with improved transportation plans. «There have been significant infrastructure improvements throughout Athens,» he said. «Rail links have been extended and there is roadwork going on all around the city.» (AP)
