Athens 2004 has scheduled seven of a total of 40 test events in and around Athens between August 6 and 28. They include rowing, canoeing and kayak, archery, two cycling events, equestrian events, a beach volleyball tournament and a regatta. The events will test venues, personnel, and the coordination of state agencies, and coordination between the government and the Athens 2004 Games organizing committee. The cycling event in central Athens is expected to be the greatest challenge for organizers. Traffic will be disrupted and parking restrictions will be in force on streets along the race’s route. Also, full-scale security measures planned for the Games will be tested at Schinias and Faliron. A security team of about 2,400 members from the Greek police, port police, fire brigade and military, will be on duty. The test events will also involve 1,065 Athens 2004 staff members, 2.138 volunteers, and about 1,600 athletes. Four hospitals and two medical centres will be on standby to cope with any incidents that may arise.
During the test events Athens 2004 will give priority to public transport in order to facilitate transportation to and from the competition venues. In an agreement with Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA), all volunteers at the seven August test events will get free transportation by urban buses on the routes that service the competition venue areas.
Greece’s Prime Minister Costas Simits received an update on the fire service’s coordinating operations centre in Halandri and its upgrading ahead of the 2004 Games. The fire service has 735 fire engines, 341 water-carrying vehicles, 258 personnel-carrying vehicles and 56 rescue vehicles. The fire service will be boosted to include seven fire-fighting vessels and four mobile operation centres.
Finally, celebrations will be held in Salonika and at Heraklion Crete on August 13, a year to the day before the start of the Games proper.
