Greece’s Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the government’s top Olympics official, told a parliamentary committee reviewing the 2004 Summer Olympic Games’ progress, “the timetables for the Olympics projects are well under control”.
He said eight projects under construction were ahead of schedule, including the sailing complex, the weightlifting stadium, the Olympic broadcasting centre and two football venues that will host qualifying rounds.
But other venues including the Ano Liosia judo and wrestling complex, and the Hellenikon site, which will host basketball, canoe/kayak, handball and softball competitions, are delayed.
Regarding accommodation, Venizelos said “the hotel rooms issue is solved…15 hotels are renovated, another 11 are being built. We will have cruise ships in place, which will add another 6,500 rooms.
Several nearby marinas are also undergoing face-lifts and expansions to allow more boats to dock.
Venizelos said, “there will be at least further 650 new spaces for boats in several marinas.
He said the state’s budget for the Games, set at 4.6 billion euros, will not increase. “We have full control of the situation”.
He added, “the contribution of the Olympic preparation towards the country’s 3.8 per cent growth is crucial and the creation of a new brand name for Greece will yield returns in the coming years and decades”.
The Greek government expects the country’s economy to grow this year by 3.8 per cent, more than double the rate forecast for the entire 12-nation euro area with investment in Olympics-related projects seen as one of the engines of growth.
