Olympic Dream Turns To Nightmare For Athens

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 3-3-2004 | Helena Smith

[blam]

Olympic dream turns to nightmare for Athens

Helena Smith in Athens
Wednesday March 3, 2004
The Guardian (UK)

Just 163 days before the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Athens at least half of the city's projects for the games are still unfinished, according to Greek MPs and media. The majority of the unfinished sites are reportedly not even halfway to completion. For a country proud of its classical legacy, the situation is deeply embarrassing. Among the sites facing problems are the marathon course, which traces part of the original route run by the messenger Phidippides in 490BC, and the showpiece glass-and-steel dome over the main Olympic stadium. They are so far behind schedule that few believe they will be completed on time.

"All the historical capital that the Greeks had as the nation that both invented the games and revived them has been needlessly lost by these disastrous preparations," Liana Kanelli, a Communist MP, told the Guardian. "What we are looking at is an absolute mess, and a very costly one at that."

Panicked officials have postponed "delivery deadlines" to within weeks of the start of the games on August 13. They have also promised hefty completion bonuses to contractors, the paper said.

Most critics blame the delays on the needless exhibitionism of many of the projects. The £80m landmark dome at the main Olympic stadium, designed by the internationally renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, has been singled out as being especially vainglorious.

"Everybody knows that the Olympic stadium stands in an earthquake-prone zone," said Ms Kanelli. "Here we are talking about building a glass roof in that zone to protect people from the sun. Any tourist knows that with the summer temperatures in Athens that's an absolutely ridiculous idea."

Failure to complete the dome would be a big embarrassment for the organisers.

Dress rehearsals for the opening ceremony might also be threatened.

The race to complete projects has also raised fears for the safety of construction workers. Last week protesters took to the streets in response to the rising death toll among builders on Olympic sites.

The governing Socialists, who face the public at the general election this weekend, have dismissed the criticism as premature.

The culture minister, Evangelos Venizelos, said what was important was that the projects were ready in time for the start of the games. "An artificial climate of concern is being created," he said.

But international Olympic inspectors have also sounded the alarm over setbacks in the construction of a roof for the outdoor aquatic centre. A contract for the project was finally signed yesterday after angry letters from the International Water Sports Federation.

In a sign of the growing anxiety the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, took the unusual step last weekend of suggesting that the Greeks now concentrate on the "core business".

If that meant sacrificing Calatrava's showpiece dome so be it, he said.

"I am interested in the core delivery of the games," Mr Rogge said. "If we have the stadium without the roof, but still functioning well, I am perfectly happy. Much remains to be done."

[July 4th]

Yup, archaeological finds are slowing progress down big-time. They've found a lot of stuff and continue to find more. With regards to the Calatrava dome, there's no reason that it has to be built exactly on time for the Olympics...other than to show off. If I remember correctly, several Olympic sites weren't fully completed until after the games had come and gone.

[NittanyLion]

I can hardly wait for the Olympics. We're going to see the two (arguably) greatest swimmers in history compete in the same pool. Michael Phelps may be better than Mark Spitz ever was. Ian Thorpe isn't too shabby either.

[texasflower]

That's exactly what I'm worried about. Can you just imagine all of the people that will still be around doing last minute work.

Way too much opportunity for those who wish to do harm.

[Verginius Rufus]

I think the sign is probably for Spata, a town in Attica, not Sparta (which is Sparti in modern Greek).

[AntiGuv]

Oh, yeah! I'm definitely excited, but then that's every Olympics for me.. ;^) I might even have a chance to be in Athens again during part of the Games, but I'm not entirely sure that'll work out yet.

[FreedomCalls]

I imagine that digging in Greece is turning up interesting artifacts. I wonder if that's another reason it's taking so long.

Word is that digging has indeed turned up some spectacular stuff. But due to the intense pressure of the summer deadline, rumors are that they are pouring concrete over it and pocketing the big bonuses for finishing on time instead of doing the archeological work. This is apparantly especially true of the subway construction.

[NittanyLion]

I know a lot of people bash the Olympics because of the politics associated with the games. But when you know some of the athletes who've competed and won medals, you realize it's a nonpolitical event for them. Instead, this is simply a chance to compete against the greatest athletes in the world - when everyone's in their prime conditioning - and see how they stack up.

When you look past the IOC to the athletes (and remember there are 50 honest athletes for every Johann Muehlegg), you realize how meaningful it is.

[cyborg]

If it was my call, I would have withdrawn Greece as a venue for the Olympics. No way I'd be pouring concrete over that stuff.

[Spruce]

I was thinking more about what a pain-in-the-butt hosting the games would be. Don't get me wrong, I love the games.

A huge component of sports is tradition. Playing the games in the same place is a brilliant idea.

[cmsgop]

I saw a segment about how badly they were behind about 18 months ago.....

[cmsgop]

Hurry!!!!!! faster, faster!!!! Or No More Dolmas!!!!!

[yooper]

"I imagine that digging in Greece is turning up interesting artifacts. I wonder if that's another reason it's taking so long."

No, it's taking so long because socialists are inherently lazy.

[Bob J]

The Atlanta Olympics were the first to return a pure profit...

I thought that was the LA Olympics?

[Servant of the 9]

In ancient times there were games every year. The olympic games, pythian games and the others were each held every 4 years.

We should inaugurate the Hegemonic Games two years out of sync with the Olympics at a permanent site. It would have to be at the edge of the Rockies to provide for winter sports, kayacking and so forth. There should be a permanent participants village and training facilities.

So9

[Paleo Conservative]

"Everybody knows that the Olympic stadium stands in an earthquake-prone zone," said Ms Kanelli. "Here we are talking about building a glass roof in that zone to protect people from the sun. Any tourist knows that with the summer temperatures in Athens that's an absolutely ridiculous idea."

Excellent terrorist magnet too.

[freedumb2003]

Personally, I think the U.S. should have its own Olympic games among the 50 states and U.S. territories.

We have them -- they are called the NBA, MLB, NHL and the NFL (for runners).

[AntiGuv]

Oh, wait! I'm sorry, but you are right. It was the Los Angeles Olympics and they turned a rather good profit, which is why Atlanta went so all out to score the Games. I must've had a wire crossed in my brain, or sumpin. The Atlanta Games did also turn a slim profit, however.

[freedumb2003]

We should inaugurate the Hegemonic Games two years out of sync with the Olympics at a permanent site

Wasn't that the Goodwill Games, substituting Atlanta for the Rockies?

[AntiGuv]

I dunno. I'm rather fond of the changes in venue and how they put a unique stamp on each of the Games. I would still love the Olympics, however, even if they were permanently stationed. They would lose a bit of their cachet for me though.

[Rodney King]

Good. I think the Olympics are stupid anyway. Who cares? I sure don't.