Greece has deployed another 35,000 troops to add to the 70,000 soldiers and police deployed to protect the Athens Games. The troops will mostly patrol Greece’s less populated areas away from Athens.
A source close to the August 29 Closing Ceremony told The Associated Press that the ceremony will include traditional Greek dances and a wedding, along with light-carrying performers dressed in black to symbolize the galaxy. Participants will begin the ceremony at the main Olympic stadium with clapping and then perform traditional Greek dances before holding at least one symbolic wedding, when they will lay tablecloths and bring out wine, said the source. At various points throughout the ceremony performers will walk into the stadium dressed in black, carrying lights to reflect the galaxy. Meanwhile the Opening Ceremony will recreate ancient Greece’s connection to the sea, reportedly using a replica of a ship and mythological figures. Also, the parade of nations will be in alphabetical order of Greek spelling after Greece leads athletes into the stadium. The final dress rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony will be August 10, when officials will test all organizational aspects of the event, from security to transportation.
Crews swept through the main Olympic stadium Thursday, looking for explosives and other potential security problems. The 75,000-seat stadium will be off limits to the public until the Opening Ceremony.
Meteorologists predict good weather for the Games, but new weather patterns in the Mediterranean may bring showers and thunderstorms that may last throughout the Games. Temperatures are predicted to be in the 90’s, normal for August.
Ambulance drivers and paramedics called off an indefinite strike Friday after the government said they would get a monthly raise and be paid for overtime during the Games. The union accepted the raise after receiving a promise that ambulance drivers and paramedics would also receive overtime pay for extra hours worked during the Games.
All of the buses on the 21 Olympic routes are accessible for the disabled and will run every 30 minutes from terminals to Olympic venues. Also, all metro suburban rail and tram stations are also accessible for the disabled, and the transport ministry has integrated 10 specially designed vans travelling on the routes which are not serviced by public transport. These buses will go between central points of Athens city and competition venues daily. Maps in Greek and English have been printed with details on routes of all means of transportation accessible for the disabled, available at all venues.
North and South Korea will still march together at the opening ceremony of the Games, despite the lingering standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program and chilled inter-Korean relations. Seoul officials hope that the joint march will help ease the soured relations and give an impetus to their efforts to further reconciliation.
And finally, the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre is the first venue in the history of the modern Games to offer competing athletes bedrooms to rest near the designated relaxation areas of the venue, which is positioned next to the training areas. Each room has four bedrooms and a bathroom. Accommodation will be provided throughout the Games, starting Saturday. The rooms will only be available for a few hours and the athletes will not be able to stay overnight.
