Oops, it seems that Athens was not the first choice of everyone for hosting the Olympics 2004.
It is reported that Dick Pound, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), voted to award the 2004 Olympics to Rome. It seems that he felt that the level of pollution in Athens would harm the health of the competitors.
By all accounts hundreds of people die in Athens each summer, from the pollution.
The IOC are reported to be relying on good winds this summer, to blow the pollution out to sea.
Sounds like a plan to me!
Saturday, July 03, 2004
Friday, July 02, 2004
Protect and Survive
The security clampdown in Athens, in preparation for the Olympics 2004, has begun.
Troops and police are now reported to be being deployed around Athens. The Minister of Public Order, George Voulgarakis, is reported to have said that the initial deployment will consist of around 11000 troops and police.
The opening deployment will protect transport links and hubs. I understand that, owing to the fact that construction work is behind schedule, the Olympic venues themselves will not be sealed until August.
Doesn't that rather negate the effectiveness of the security?
The full security deployment is estimated to be around 70000 troops, police and coast guards.
To view a slide show of the security preparations please visit the Security Slide Show.
Please note this, together with other photos and resources, can also be accessed via the menu to the right.
Troops and police are now reported to be being deployed around Athens. The Minister of Public Order, George Voulgarakis, is reported to have said that the initial deployment will consist of around 11000 troops and police.
The opening deployment will protect transport links and hubs. I understand that, owing to the fact that construction work is behind schedule, the Olympic venues themselves will not be sealed until August.
Doesn't that rather negate the effectiveness of the security?
The full security deployment is estimated to be around 70000 troops, police and coast guards.
To view a slide show of the security preparations please visit the Security Slide Show.
Please note this, together with other photos and resources, can also be accessed via the menu to the right.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
The Turtle and The Hare
It seems that the Olympics 2004, which are being held in Athens this August, have caused problems for one of the earth's less annoying creatures; the humble turtle.
The humungous costs of the Olympics have caused the Greek authorities to cut back on other, "non essential work". One victim of the cutbacks has been the turtle nesting beaches.
It is reported that the staff at the National Marine Park, on the island of Zakynthos, fed up with not being paid for 9 months stopped work in May.
In addition to hosting the Olympics, Greece's other claim to fame is the fact that it also hosts the largest nesting population of Mediterranean loggerhead turtles. However, the poor creature is somewhat less speedy and sexy than those competing at the Olympics; hence the Greek authorities assumed that people would not care about the cuts.
Unfortunately for the turtle, its hatching cycle coincides with the tourist season and this year's Olympic Games.
Needless to say, once the Greek government indicated that it couldn't "give a toss" about the turtle; the local population started ensuring that they could make as much money as possible from the tourist. They have, for example, erecting unauthorised buildings and are holding speed boat races; not very nice for the poor old turtle!
In my view the Olympics are only around for a few weeks for people to "enjoy", the turtles should be (if the Greek government did it's job) around for ever for people to enjoy.
Get your priorities right!
The humungous costs of the Olympics have caused the Greek authorities to cut back on other, "non essential work". One victim of the cutbacks has been the turtle nesting beaches.
It is reported that the staff at the National Marine Park, on the island of Zakynthos, fed up with not being paid for 9 months stopped work in May.
In addition to hosting the Olympics, Greece's other claim to fame is the fact that it also hosts the largest nesting population of Mediterranean loggerhead turtles. However, the poor creature is somewhat less speedy and sexy than those competing at the Olympics; hence the Greek authorities assumed that people would not care about the cuts.
Unfortunately for the turtle, its hatching cycle coincides with the tourist season and this year's Olympic Games.
Needless to say, once the Greek government indicated that it couldn't "give a toss" about the turtle; the local population started ensuring that they could make as much money as possible from the tourist. They have, for example, erecting unauthorised buildings and are holding speed boat races; not very nice for the poor old turtle!
In my view the Olympics are only around for a few weeks for people to "enjoy", the turtles should be (if the Greek government did it's job) around for ever for people to enjoy.
Get your priorities right!
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Shades of Big Brother
It seems that there are concerns in Athens that the elaborate security precautions, being taken by the authorities for the hosting of the Olympics 2004, may still be there long after the last gold medal has been awarded and the Olympic flame extinguished.
The forthcoming Games have given the Greek authorities an excuse to do what very government in the world wants to do, namely to spy on its citizens. The Greek government passed an anti terrorist bill; and as a result of that, the streets of Athens are literally festooned with cameras and surveillance/listening devices.
There is, I suspect, the lingering doubt in the minds of the citizens of Athens that these "security measures" may well be left "in situ" when the Games are over at the end of August.
It seems that, if reports are to be believed, certain high ranking officials in the Greek authorities have already floated the idea that "it would be a shame to waste the hard work, and money expended in making Athens a national security capital".
Oh dear, monitoring people for their own protection does seem to have an uncomfortable Orwellian echo.
The forthcoming Games have given the Greek authorities an excuse to do what very government in the world wants to do, namely to spy on its citizens. The Greek government passed an anti terrorist bill; and as a result of that, the streets of Athens are literally festooned with cameras and surveillance/listening devices.
There is, I suspect, the lingering doubt in the minds of the citizens of Athens that these "security measures" may well be left "in situ" when the Games are over at the end of August.
It seems that, if reports are to be believed, certain high ranking officials in the Greek authorities have already floated the idea that "it would be a shame to waste the hard work, and money expended in making Athens a national security capital".
Oh dear, monitoring people for their own protection does seem to have an uncomfortable Orwellian echo.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Cars Come First
In a far cry from the simpler times of the first Olympics held in Athens, the Olympics 2004 need to take into account the needs of the automobile.
To this end, over 56000 parking and access control permits have been handed out to the various municipalities in the Athens area. During the period from the 2nd of August to the 31st of August special parking and access restrictions will be in place; in order to ensure that Athens, noted for its free flowing easy to navigate streets and highways, remains free of congestion.
The allocation of these valuable documents, doubtless there will be a black market in them, has been based on on the number of applications filled in at the Municipalities.
From a cursory glance at the different codings on the permits, and the restrictions applicable to each type of permit, it seems that the citizens of Athens will need to apply some considerable intellectual effort if they wish to understand the rules and regulations.
I cite this, as a random example, of the rules from the official press release:
"All vehicles may enter the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), but only those with a Venue Access and Parking Permit for the specific CPZ may park and, of course, those with Permit for the respective CACZ. A CPZ permit holder is not permitted to park within the CACZ...."
To add to the confusion, that this system will doubtless cause, the access and parking permits will have 3 variables:
1 Colour
2 Venue
3 Vehicle number
Got that?
My advice to the good citizens of Athens is simple, whilst the Games are on, go away on holiday to another city or country.
To this end, over 56000 parking and access control permits have been handed out to the various municipalities in the Athens area. During the period from the 2nd of August to the 31st of August special parking and access restrictions will be in place; in order to ensure that Athens, noted for its free flowing easy to navigate streets and highways, remains free of congestion.
The allocation of these valuable documents, doubtless there will be a black market in them, has been based on on the number of applications filled in at the Municipalities.
From a cursory glance at the different codings on the permits, and the restrictions applicable to each type of permit, it seems that the citizens of Athens will need to apply some considerable intellectual effort if they wish to understand the rules and regulations.
I cite this, as a random example, of the rules from the official press release:
"All vehicles may enter the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), but only those with a Venue Access and Parking Permit for the specific CPZ may park and, of course, those with Permit for the respective CACZ. A CPZ permit holder is not permitted to park within the CACZ...."
To add to the confusion, that this system will doubtless cause, the access and parking permits will have 3 variables:
1 Colour
2 Venue
3 Vehicle number
Got that?
My advice to the good citizens of Athens is simple, whilst the Games are on, go away on holiday to another city or country.
Monday, June 28, 2004
The Games Will Run Like Clockwork
Preparations for the forthcoming Olympic Games, being held in Athens in August, have been overseen by Swiss lawyer; this, it is hoped, will ensure that they will run smoothly.
Denis Oswald is the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) top inspector, and as such was charged with overseeing the preparations for the Games.
Given the infrastructure issues at Athens, he has been quite busy as of late. He has been monitoring the progress for the last 3 years, since being asked to do so by the IOC President Jacques Rogge.
He will now be very familiar with the city of Athens, as it is reported that he has been there 25 times in the last 3 years.
His nickname, to some Greeks, is "Denis the Menace". Let's hope things turn out a little better for him in the end, than his cartoon namesake.
Denis Oswald is the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) top inspector, and as such was charged with overseeing the preparations for the Games.
Given the infrastructure issues at Athens, he has been quite busy as of late. He has been monitoring the progress for the last 3 years, since being asked to do so by the IOC President Jacques Rogge.
He will now be very familiar with the city of Athens, as it is reported that he has been there 25 times in the last 3 years.
His nickname, to some Greeks, is "Denis the Menace". Let's hope things turn out a little better for him in the end, than his cartoon namesake.
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