In order to ease the demand for hotel rooms at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, Greece is to pass a law, which will identify about 25,000 private homes as being tax-free and provide them with fee insurance coverage.
The law will also provide financing and lay down the rules to make many public and private Athens’ buildings accessible to handicapped people. Following the Olympic Games these facilities will host the Paralympics.
Meanwhile, about 150 disabled Athenians protested their inability to use wheelchairs in the capital and demanded the widening of narrow streets and sidewalks.
They said another top priority is access to public transport, including special ramps on buses, and work areas fitted for their needs.
The protest took place on the second day of meetings between the International Paralympic Committee inspection team and 2004 organizers.
