According to Greek media reports Athens taxi drivers have threatened to block Olympic officials going to venues during the Athens Games.
Taxi drivers were hoping for a financial boost from the thousands of officials and tourists visiting the Games but plans to rent cars to transport officials would put a dent in their revenues. About 78,000 Olympic family members are expected to use official cars and minivans during the Games.
Efthymios Lyberopoulos, head of Greece’s taxi owner’s union said, “we are thinking very seriously of taking action. We should go out on the streets and get the passengers out of any Athens 2004 vehicle we see”.
ATHOC organizers are allowing about 14,300 taxis to use just one lane on the Olympic roads around the sport venues further hurting their revenues. Lyberopoulos said, “this measure would deter people from taking a taxi, trimming a taxi driver’s miserable day’s work”.
As for Games security, Bulgaria is installing video cameras on the border checkpoint of Kulata to make traffic crossing the border more secure.
The border checkpoint has been newly renovated and a series of measures will guaranty that athletes and tourists heading for Athens would keep would not encounter any problems.
Bulgarian and Greek security services have intensified contacts and exchange of information over possible terror threats during the Games.
