It’s the year of the Summer Olympics in Athens and the city marked the final stage of preparations for the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games by ushering in the year 2004 with fireworks that streaked over the 2,500-year-old Parthenon on New Year’s eve.
There were thousands of Athenians in front of Greece’s parliament in central square taking part in a street party that featured a light show and performances from both Greek and international artists including acrobats on stilts and roaming brass bands.
Less than eight months from the Opening Ceremonies Athens is undergoing a major facelift by creating walkways and cleaning up downtown buildings and ancient monuments.
A statement from the mayor’s office said, “Athens is ready for the challenge – the city will open its arms to the world again”.
Security at the New Year celebrations could have been a rehearsal for the 2004 Games, with more than 500 uniform and plainclothes officer deployed around the central square.
During the Olympics there will be about 50,000 security personnel, including 16,000 soldiers.
Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos said, “I am optimistic about the New Year in Greece. Our country, birthplace of the Olympics, hopes to return to the true values of sport and remind the world of the original Olympic ideal. The Olympics will be good for Greece and help its future development”.
