An IOC inspection team in Athens headed by Jacques Rogge, was entertained by Greek environmentalists protesting the 2004 Summer Olympic Games by performing mock Olympic events such as hula hoop dancing.
Jason Melissinos of the Citizens for the Environment group said, “for a two-week fiesta, they want to destroy the country”. It was the first street protest against the Games, which has wide public support in Greece.
Left Coalition party youth member Matina Vassiliou said “we are here to show that social consensus is not as unanimous as the government likes to say”.
Claiming the Games will cause environmental damage and cost far too much, the protesters entertained passers-by in central Athens with live music, kicked around colored balls and danced with hula hoops, mocking the Olympic circles.
Panos Dotsikas, from the Citizens’ Initiative Against the Olympics said “while everyone is holding their breath over whether Rogge will give his approval, we would like to tell him that the country cannot handle this.
