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Unless I mis-read the initial post, I assume she was expressing concern over a terrorist operation and not just the notion that Greece is unprepared to handle the chaos surrounding an Olympics competition.
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Yes, it's true: Greece is both a peninsula and islands.
[shoddy explanation] Yes, we all know about the 1000+ islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas... and Adriatic, come to think of it. The Peloponese is also an island, thanks to the Corinth Canal. So really, a significant portion of Greece's land lies on islands. Though their population does reside mostly on the mainland: Athens and Thessaloniki are the two largest cities in Greece and are on the mainland; Patras is third and is on the Peloponese. Olympia, for those who are interested, lies on the Peloponese. As do Sparta (which is NOT a port, contrary to what the writers of Troy seem to believe...) and Pylos and Mycenae.[/shoddy explanation]
I'm just thankful I wasn't there for the blackout. I hadn't heard about it, but I don't doubt the chaos. Athens is a crazy city most of the time anyway; I can only imagine what the streets must have been like. Those poor farmers over there. First the horrid winters with frost and blizzards turning the oranges to crap, now heat waves and mass hysteria and the Olympics.
The Olympics will go on, they are a good idea, and while a couple small bad things may happen, nothing huge and world-altering will (unless you count broken records). Greeks are procrastinators and I truly believe they will astonish the world by completing those damned buildings - and hopefully the Metra (you know, the trains the people had to evacuate and walk along the tunnels during the blackout) - and all will be well. I think I heard that they're cutting off all unnecessary traffic to the downtown areas or something, which is a fantastic idea. Maybe they'll realize that Athens doesn't have the infrastructure to handle the daily traffic, let alone Olympic traffic, and reconsider the city plan.
Terrorism? Yeah, it's a threat. But I never once felt threatened when I was there, neither by anything in the news nor by general public sentiment. Some people are crazy, though... but I think/hope/wish it will be fine. If anyone does, however, destroy anything more than 1000 years old, they will have to answer to me...
Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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I have just felt nervous about this event for a while, and the blackout made it worse. I am not an alarmist, but I am concerned about the terrorist factor.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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Tsc...everybody is so freaked out about security in Greece that even Brazil will send some federal agents together with the athletes (we never did it before). The government says it's only because our delegation is so big this time (ok...maybe not so big by american standards, only 200 and something, but the biggest in brazilian history), but yes...there is a sense of fear, even when some athletes talk about security over there.
Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Greece is one of the largest European shipping nations. I think I've mentioned these figures before, but here they are again ( ): Greece accounts for 2% of the EU's wealth but handles 50% of its shipping. Rather astonishing numbers, which makes it no surprise that most of Greece's economy is based on shipping. There is no way that Greece could handle an international shipping disaster in Greek waters, so I highly doubt they'll let anything get through.
On a lighter note, a friend who was in Athens and her family were taking the ferry to an island and they were part of a navy drill. The guys "chased" down the ferry, clambered aboard, "secured" the ship, "rescued" a wounded soldier, and "dealt with insurgent people." She said it was scary, though her father got a great picture of a fully armed Navy officer in a doorway Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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Yes, but when someone named Carrie tells me there will NOT be a blood-bath, I find it hard to believe.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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There's a special on tonight at 8pm on the CBC (sorry to my neighbours to the south). It's about the ancient Olympics and its connections to the modern ones.
I'm very excited for the shot put competition in August. They're acutally doing it in ancient Olympia. No modern conveniences will be allowed, except for the actual throwing circle. All TV cameras will be outside the perimeter. And I can imagine tickets will be VERY pricey, since there is only a tiny amount of seating space. Funfunfun.
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![[Wink]](wink.gif)
): Greece accounts for 2% of the EU's wealth but handles 50% of its shipping. Rather astonishing numbers, which makes it no surprise that most of Greece's economy is based on shipping. There is no way that Greece could handle an international shipping disaster in Greek waters, so I highly doubt they'll let anything get through.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
