On the political side, Greece has formed a high-level committee of politicians and celebrities apparently designed to deal with foreign countries at the highest level. It includes not only every political party leader but also the President of the Republic. On the public relations side, it has mobilized ancient history, sentiment and, most recently, its most internationally renowned artists for a series of appearances designed to appeal to global audience.
So far, Greece has relied heavily on the claim that it is “the world’s only rightful heir” to the 1996 Olympiad since not only did the Games originate here in ancient times, but 1996 will mark as well the centennial of the revival of the Olympics in Athens in 1896. To these ideological arguments a series of large-scale public works projects related to the Games have been added. Some last-minute public relations moves could almost present the IOC with an irresistible package.
The country’s biggest problem remains the poor infrastructure of Athens.
“We relaize that IOC and the international community are concerned that we might not have the means to stage the Games properly,” said Paul Niilend, a spokesman for the Athens Olympics Bidding Committee, “However, based on the projects undertaken and the evidence now available to the contrary, we are very optimistic that the IOC will decide in our favor.”
The other cities vying for the 1996 Olympics are Melbourne, Toronto, Atlanta and Manchester. A decision on the candidacies will be taken by the IOC in Tokyo on 18 September. Mr Niilend concedes that Greece considers Melbourne, which ironically has the second largest Greek population in the world after Athens, as the biggest threat.
Despite optimism, no one is sitting idle. As a final boost to its bid, Athens is putting on a number of stage and television spectaculars. At the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were staged in 1896, internationally-renowned musician Vangelis Papathanassiou, composer of Chariots of Fire, is organizing a number of festivities leading up to the Tokyo decision. “Our goal,” he said, “is simple. We want to get the Games.”
On the other side of the world, in Tokyo itself, the Greek delegation is taking with it the country’s two best-known pop and light music stars: Nana Mouskouri and Demis Roussos. On the eve of the IOC decision, they will be staging a number of concerts in the Japanese capital designed to promote the Greek candidacy.
The combination of shrewd pragmatism with a reliance on history and sentiment is reflected in the arguments of Tzannis Tzannetakis, Deputy Prime Minister and Culture Minister, who currently heads the campaign.
“About a century ago, Athens decided to revive the ancient Olympic Games,” he said. “Now, we are morally and historically entitled to stage them again. There have been arguments that we are not well enough equipped to do so. This is no longer the case. There are no serious obstacles in our way.”
A 2.5 billion dollar investment program has been embarked upon to cover the infrastructural deficiencies of Athens. About half the money is to come from the EC’s five-year Regional Fund, and the other half from Greek resources such as special state lottery to be set up immediately after Tokyo – if Greece,wins the bid.
The immediate projects include completion of the international airport at Spata, new underground railway routes, a series of highways such as one linking Athens with ancient Olympia, the original site of the Ancient Games and more sports stadiums and facilities. One of the strongest Greek assests is the fact that about 80 percent of the required sports facilities are already in place (or shortly will be), due to the holding of the European Games in Athens in 1982, and the Mediterranean Games that will take place in June 1991. Similarly, Athens claims that its giant tourism infrastructure provides hundreds of hotels of all categories, as well as related travel, cultural and entertainment facilities which make it ideal for the flood of visitors expected for the Olympics.
As D day in Tokyo approaches, dreams of sugarplums may be dancing in the heads of many Greeks (mainly in the shape of tourist dollars), but wiser ones may be suffering nightmares of chaos.
It is better to take the long view that the Greek people will always rise to the occasion if the situation is desperate enough, as at the Battle of Salamis and in the war in Albania.
Only a few weeks ago President Karamanlis, on the anniversary of the restoration of democracy, said, “The issue is not whether we have democracy. It is whether we have a well-governed democracy or a miserable, anarchic one… Greeks are being called upon to show by their conduct that they are responsible.”
It is hoped this sense of resolve is getting itself heard in Tokyo beyond the razzmatazz. Certainly the challenge of hosting the 1996 Games would be the best possible thing for Greece as a whole – a great and unifying national effort, worthy, and aspiring, after a decade of divisiveness, fluster and moral squalor.
