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Glitzy venues getting ready
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Impressive venues promise to make this year's Olympic Games even more memorable. A JOSEPH ANTONY reports
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An aerial view of the Olympic Stadium (left), diving centre (centre), pool (second from right) and the velodrome (right).
WITH THE Athens Olympic Games just a fortnight away, every effort is on to get the Greek capital ready for the world's most widely watched sports spectacle. The glitzy stadia set against the backdrop of ancient monuments promise a blend of the classic with the modern.
Here are thumbnail sketches of some of the venues:
Athens Olympic Sports Complex: Located at Maroussi, the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA) will be the centre of the Olympic Games 2004 and includes the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Aquatic Centre, the Olympic Indoor Hall, where the basketball finals will be held, the Olympic Tennis Centre and the Olympic Velodrome.
Olympic Stadium: On the joint initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Athens 2004, internationally acclaimed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed the 16,000-ton glass-and-steel dome at an estimated cost of 80 million pound sterling. The opening and closing ceremonies will be witnessed by 72,000 spectators as also athletics and the football final.
Aquatic Centre: For the first time in the history of the Games, all the aquatic events — swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming and diving — will be held at one venue. With a permanent structure found not feasible, a plastic-coated tarpaulin was planned as a roof over the main pool.
The main pool can accommodate 10,893 spectators, the indoor one 5,757 and the synchronised venue, 5,000.
Goudi Olympic Complex: Split into the Goudi Olympic Hall and the Modern Pentathlon Centre, these will stage badminton and five events of the modern pentathlon between them. The prefabricated Olympic Hall hosts badminton, shooting and fencing events of the modern pentathlon and can seat 4,000. Outside the hall, the stress has been on upgrading and enlarging the swimming pool, renovating and restructuring the hippodrome that includes support areas such as the warm-up area, stables and locker room.
Panathinaiko Stadium
The famous marble arena hosted the first version of the modern games in 1896. Situated in central Athens, it was originally carved out of a hillside by the ancient Greeks from which they crafted a narrow stadium, open at one end.
The Panathenan Games to honour Athena, goddess of skills, warfare and wisdom and protector of the city of Athens, were staged in the area where this facility, also known as Kallimarmaro, now stands.
Recent renovations included upgrades and modifications on its infrastructure, restoration of the monument, configuration of the track and surrounding areas.
Ancient Olympia Stadium
The only remnant of the ancient games, the Greeks are keen to preserve this precious piece of Olympic heritage. Consequently the lone competition to be staged here will be the shot put.
To safeguard the sanctity of the soil, only movable throwing circles will be placed on the ground. Temporary structures, grandstands, electronic scoreboards and artificial lighting are prohibited.
Helliniko Olympic Complex
Located in a suburb, south of Athens and close to the coast, this complex will host seven events, viz., baseball, basketball, canoeing, fencing, handball, hockey and softball. It stands on the site where the old Athens international airport stood.
Opposition from local residents stalled works for a while, but successful staging of test events prove the venue will be ready well in time.
Indoor arena & fencing hall
Housed in a hangar of yesteryears, these will host the basketball preliminaries, the handball finals and fencing. The fencing hall has been split into two rooms for the preliminaries and finals, one with 3,500 seats and the other with 5,000.
Olympic Hockey Centre
There are two pitches here, the big field able to accommodate 7300 spectators and the small one, 2100. A warm-up pitch is available nearby too.
Canoe/kayak slalom centre
Shifted to its present site from an area believed to be of archaeological importance, it can accommodate 8000 fans. It consists of a competition course, one for training and a lake for warm-up.
Markopoulo shooting centre
Much of India's Olympic hopes will be pinned on the action here. It consists of four main buildings and can seat 4000 spectators. It is equipped with mobile and clay targets. Located nearby is the equestrian centre, which was covered with 100-year old olive groves. The trees were carefully uprooted with excavators and replanted in a nursery two years ago. Seating is 7800 for the jumping event, 13,100 for cross country and 6000 for dressage, while the stables can shelter 300 horses.
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