The Olympics

The Olympics

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News, information and stories about the Olympic Games.

Sunday 13 June 2004

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The Olympics in Athens are barely 60 days away. However, there are some very public fears about the wisdom of holding them in Athens being expressed by some high profile personalities.



The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, is reported to have said that holding the Olympic Games in Athens will be risky.



He seems to have a preference for Rome. The impression that Mr Rogge has given is that the Games were awarded to Greece, not for their infrastructure or competence, but as a sign of gratitude for them coming up with the idea of the Olympics some 3000 years ago.



I would venture to suggest that this is a little late in the day to be having second thoughts.



Jumping on the bandwagon of doubters, the head of the World Anti Doping Agency (Dick Pound) is reported to be worried that the Olympic Games in Athens will be "tumultuous".



His list of worries include; air pollution, doping violations, security concerns and the incomplete infrastructure in Athens.



Can anyone tell me which one of these issues was not known at the time of the biding?



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