stadia.gr/forum

[Nikos C.]

To άρθρο είναι προστατευμένο οπότε το βάζω όλο.

Organizers feel pre-game pride

ATHENS, Greece – After months, actually years, of savage global criticism, Athens is now enjoying its honeymoon period.

You can't really blame the organizers, after all they've been through.

Thursday marked the official opening of the revamped main Athens square, Syntagma – meaning "Constitution" in Greek – at a cost of more than $7 million. It looks very nice, no doubt about it, but then again it always did.

The remaining challenge for organizers these days is to avoid boasting. The capital had previously succeeded – unintentionally – in lowering people's expectations so much that just to hold the 2004 Olympic Games was seen as an incredible achievement.

It would be stupid to raise expectations now. Nobody wants the wedding of a happy world with a blushing Athina to go wrong, or to have the seven-year itch to arrive during the first seven days.

One official boast today was that the Opening Ceremony Aug. 13 will leave people watching at home "speechless." What if they're left powerless instead? There was a brief power cut Thursday – maximum 25 minutes for the worst hit – in parts of southern Athens and Piraeus. Sure, this might affect races like the 10,000 meters (world record just more than 26 minutes) but overall there was a very calm reaction to what was probably a very minor incident.


So what's made organizers so happy? Well, for one thing, the threat of mass strikes during the Olympics from almost every worker and professional in town could be dying out.

Greeks, like everyone else, want more money but very few would actually embarrass their country on the world stage. Disclosure time: Journalists have already settled for a 6-percent raise.

The ambulance drivers have announced they will not strike during the Games, in what looks like a compromise settlement: No $3,000 Olympic bonus, but overtime pay to be judged generously.

The hotel workers, who held a demonstration in Athens Aug. 4, look angrier.

Nikos Papageorgiou, who spoke at the rally on behalf of the Greek Federation of Catering and Tourism Employees, said the group wanted its minimum salary to be doubled.

"We're asking for (a starting salary of) 1,100 euros ($1,300) because Athens is one of the six most expensive cities in Europe," he told Athens Insider.

Insisting that their demands had been known for 18 months, and that the government and hotel owners were only now getting worried, Papageorgiou said: "For us, the Games are not a different period … If the workers decide to strike during the Olympics, we have to listen to them … Most of us are working with contracts of one day, just one day, one single day, so there are people who don't know during the week how many days they will work. They can't plan their lives."

That said, I doubt they will strike during the Games. Maybe put something in your cereal instead.

On the same day, and at the opposite end of luxury, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was speaking to IOC chief Jacques Rogge at the Megaron Maximou, the official prime ministerial residence in central Athens.

"Now you're going to stay in Athens for a whole month," Karamanlis said to Rogge in English. And Rogge, bless his little heart, took it as a question. Actually, whatever happens, the IOC and Athens are in it together. It sounded like a question, Jacques, but it wasn't. You're staying, my son.

I'm going to end by telling you a story. It's nothing to do with the Athens Games, but the moral applies.

Decades ago, a friend's father's friend – try saying that 10 times in a row – flew with the Red Devils, the daring aerial stunt team in Great Britain, able to twist and turn at impossible speeds and angles.

I think you can guess the color of their planes.

(Before going on, for legal reasons, I'm going to make up a name and rank for this pilot. Chosen at random, entirely fictitious).

So one fine day – OK, it's England, one rainy day – the Red Devils are up in the air, flying in formation, the shape of the tip of an arrow. Suddenly, to his horror, Wing Commander Chad Ford sees an engine on fire on one of the planes.

The fire is out of control and our leader gives the order: "Pilot No. 4, eject immediately."

The No. 4 pilot ejects immediately, not an easy or painless process back then, involving a hospital stay with spinal injuries, and of course the loss of a plane.

As the pilot and plane go descending toward earth, Chad Ford looks around again at the other aircraft. Calm and collected – this is apparently a true story – he speaks over the radio once more:

"Sorry. Pilot Number FIVE, eject immediately."

What's the moral? Avoid wasting $30 million worth of planes in one minute? Sure. But the biggest lesson by far is never underestimate the power of human error, such as a few coastal heavies attacking Mexican journalists in the nearby port of Piraeus, which allegedly happened this week.

Humans, not technology, will decide whether these Games are successful or not. And by humans I mean spectators, organizers, guards, athletes and, yes, terrorists.

Let's celebrate afterward, not now.


Brian Church is a columnist with the Athens News in Athens, Greece. He will be contributing to ESPN Insider throughout the Olympics.

[Nikos C.]

Where it al begun.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/08/sports/olympics/08vecsey.html

Δίκαιο και γενικά θετικό.

Greeks are great hosts. A visitor cannot help but be touched by people's willingness to speak English, by the sheer perfection of chicken souvlaki and baked sardines in a taverna, by the smiles and jokes from strangers.

Για το Ολυμπιακό χωριό.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/08/sports/olympics/08village.html

Ρεσιτάλ ανθελληνισμού από την Καζακστανέζα!!!

Viktoriya Beloslydtseva, a 32-year-old archer from Kazakhstan, said she was not impressed with the spartan, dormlike arrangements at the village and wished she did not have to share a bathroom.

Αλλή Αυστριακή είναι φιλέλλην!

But Violetta Oblinger-Peters, an Austrian kayaker, had a better opinion of the conditions, noting the efficient air-conditioning.

"Sydney set a pretty high standard," she said. "This is very close."

"It's better than everyone expected, I think," Oblinger-Peters said. "In the newspapers there were articles that nothing was ready. But now we're here, and everything works fine."

[nikitas]

Δεν είναι ακριβώς ρεπορτάζ ξένων ΜΜΕ αλλά απόψεις δημοσιογράφων μεγάλων διεθνών ΜΜΕ που προφανώς θα τις παρουσιάσουν στις ανταποκρίσεις τους. Από την Καθημερινή:

http://www.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_ell_3513826_08/08/2004_112031

[projected]

Edw o reporter sas apo Italia.

Ta kanalia tou Berlusconi ( ta antistoixa Mega,Antenna,ktl) afierwsan gia PRWTH FORA 1 leptou reportage stous Olumpiakous ( sto kentriko deltio eidhsewn) deixnontas

1)euxes tou papa gia eirhnh
2)eikones apo gefura Riou ( anaferwntas kai polla apo ta xarakthristika tou apo kataskeuastikhs apopshs )




p,s: Shmeiwnw oti olous autous tous mhnes den eixan kan asxolh8ei me to 8ema olumpiakous , mias kai thn metadosh thn exei o "antipalos" tous , h kratikh RAI

[sq350]

1. Megalo - diarkeias 1 wras - afierwma stin Athina xthes sti Rai-2. Me synenteykseis Karamanli, Giannas, Ntoras kai ekproswpou ELAS, kai paaara poly kales eikones apo ta stadia, ta megala erga kai tin poli tis athinas.

2. "Ο μόνος κίνδυνος για την Αθήνα του 2004 είναι η...υπερκόπωση... Oi έλληνες που δούλεψαν 24 ώρα για τα μικρά και μεγάλα θαύματα " Sunday Times.

3. "Σαν στο σπίτι τους οι νεοαφιχθέντες αθλητές" N.Y. Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/08/sports/olympics/08village.html

4. "Μια Ελλαδα στην πρωτη γραμμη της Ευρωπης" Le Monde
(Synenteyksi Karamanli)
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3210,36-374816,0.html

5. "Πως η Ολυμπιακη Φλογα πυροδοτησε τη νέα χρυσή εποχή για την ελλάδα" Guardian http://observer.guardian.co.uk/travel/story/0,,1277989,00.html

6. "H Αθήνα,έγινε το κέντρο του κόσμου... η Αθήνα είναι ομορφότερη από ποτέ αν και 108 ετών ως σύγχρονη πρωτεόυσα της Ελλαδας." El Pais

[projected]

Re gam*** thn Repubblica mou.....Den exei bgalei milia gia tous doparismenous amerikanous , den eipe TIPOTA shmera gia thn gefura kai mono twra grafei :

http://www.repubblica.it/news/ired/ultimora/rep_nazionale_n_783198.html


"Oi prwtoi ntoparismenoi twn olumpiakwn agwnwn isws 2 Ellhnes a8lhtes ths omadas baseball"

[KEFALONITIS]

AKOUSON,AKOUSON...!!
...H ANTHEE KARASSAVA EIXE SYMMETOXH SE 8ETIKO AP8PO GIA THN ELLADA:

(AN KAI FAINETAI APO TO UFOS OTI DUSKOLEUTHKE NA PARADEKEI TO DEDOMENO: H ELLADA EINAI ETOIMH!!!!)
MALLON H AR8ROGRAFOS H8ELE NA GRAPSEI PIO 8ETIKO AR8RO KAI H ANTHOULA MAS THN APOPEIRE


Apospama

[KEFALONITIS]

1) H TEXNH KAI OA:

Apo NY TIMES

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/08/arts/design/08UNGE.html?pagewanted=print&position=


B) TO AUXSHMENO KOSTOS GIA ASFALEIA FAINETAI NA APOTELEI MEGA PROBLHMA KAI ISWS DRASEI APAGOREUTIKA GIA MIKRES XWRES POU APOSKOPOUSAN NA ANLABOUN OA.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/09/sports/olympics/09vecsey.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[Nikos C.]

Λοιπόν έχουμε και λέμε.

Video από το ΒΒC: Ο ενθουσιασμός μεγαλώνει στην Ελλάδα, η Αθήνα έτοιμη.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39932000/rm/_39932310_torch1935_galpin_vi.ram

Από ΑP και Reuters

O Rogge μας δίνει thumps up.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/sports/sports-olympics.html

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-OLY-IOC-Meetings.html

Η αθήνα σπριντάρει προς την γραμμή τερματισμού

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-OLY-IOC-Meetings.html

Ένας νοτιαφρικανός ανταποκριτής μας την λέει, αλλά αποκαλύπτει ότι στο Ολυμπιακό χωριό θα μπει γρασίδι την άλλη βδομάδα (?!)


http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?sf=190&click_id=190&art_id=vn20040808105618147C765920&set_id=6

ΥΓ. Νομίσω ότι το δίδυμο Karassava-Sachs (pun intended) έγραψε και το αφιέρωμα του ΤΙΜΕ.

[losada7]

ο κ. Ρογκ μετέφερε το κλίμα που επικρατεί στην Ελλάδα, λέγοντας χαρακτηριστικά: "αν είδατε τον ενθουσιασμό τους για το ποδόσφαιρο, πήρατε μια ιδέα για τον ενθουσιασμό που θα φέρουν στους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες"

Αναλυτικά στο
http://news.pathfinder.gr/athens2004/85811.html

[Mozart]

Και η εκπληκτική του δήλωση που έκανε χθες κατά τη κοινή συνεδρίαση της ΔΟΕ με τον Αθήνα 2004, ήταν:

"Λέγαμε ότι η προετοιμασία κινείται σε ρυθμούς συρτακιού, και πάει αργά στην αρχή και γρήγορα στο τέλος, αλλά τώρα δε μπορούμε να σας παρακολουθήσουμε!!!"

Άσχετο. Λέμε συρτάκι και συρτάκι συνέχεια. Το χασαποσέρβικο δεν είναι αυτό που επιταχύνει κατά τη διάρκεια, ή κάνω λάθος. Το συρτάκι από ό,τι ξέρω το ίδιο είναι συνέχεια.

[Pi7]

Geia sas apo Gallia,
Simera i "L'Equipe" ehei protoselido gia tin Athina kai tous agones. www.lequipe.fr Stin defteri selida iparhei arthro tou Alexi Stamati(siggrafea) me titlo Ath?nes l'Europ?enne kai stin 3h selida arthro shetika me ta erga kai ta eisitiria. Ta sholia einai para poli kala. Mono to patimeno homa sto OAKA den tous arese

Eno htes vgike apefthias mia ekpompi ton France 2 kai France 3 apo to krouazieroplio Ocean Countess sto Peiraia opou itan kalesmenos o k. Kapralos. Ta sholia poli orea, oi entiposeis twn athliton aristes, ektos tou oti ihan kryosei apo to air conditioned mesa sta domatia. Enas ipe oti to vrike stis 14°C
Htes ihe synentefksi tou Karamanli stin Le Monde kai editorial tis Monde gia tin Ellada me titlo Une Gr?ce olympique. www.lemonde.fr
Genika, ta sholia edo den ehoun kamia shesei mehri stigmis me ta arthra twn agglosaxonwn.

[donganos]

Mozart:
Είναι συρτάκι (αργό) που γίνεται χασαποσέρβικο (γρήγορο).

[woofy]

Οι Θεοι χαμογελουν για τους "Αγωνες της τελευταιας στιγμης"

Πολυ καλο απο το Reuters:

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5910305

Gods smile on "last-minute" Games

Και το πολυ καλο...

Return visitors said Athens seemed transformed by the expressways and metro train lines built for the Games

[sq350]

H Gianna olo to proi simera edine prive synenteykseis se ksena kanalia. Oi antrhwpoi tou Gallikou Kanaliou FR2 ksetrelathikan me to Podilatodromio. Piran kai synenteyksi apo ton ypeythyno tis egkatastasis.

Pi7 afou eisai sti Gallia mporeis na exeis to nou tou ki ama deis kati na mas metafereis ti lene oi Galloi sto reportaz?

[Pi7]

sq350 OK, an to petihw 8a sas metaferw tis entyposeis. Alla ta mona "arnitika" sxolia twn gallwn ehoun na kanoun me tin asfalto tis leoforou Marathonos pou einai prohiri opos elegan hthes stis eidhseis.

[obsedian]

??? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???....
________
Ford Cologne V6 Engine History

[pekkek]

Οι ζωόφιλοι μας τη λένε, πολύ χοντρά μεν πολύ δίκαια δε.

Κατεβάστε αν έχετε γρήγορη σύνδεση. Αξίζει τον κόπο.

http://www.ua4a.org/Greece.mov

-ΠΕ

[woofy]

E P I T E L O U S!!!!

Knocks forgotten as Athens swells with pride
By Ossian Shine

ATHENS, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Bruised by body blows and pelted by insults, Athens is now swelling with pride. With just four days to go before the opening of the Olympics, the birthplace of the modern Games is ready -- a triumph of Greek pride over Mediterranean procrastination.

http://olympics.reuters.co.uk/home/news/usnL09478840.html

Einai mia perilipsi tou epous ton proetoimasiwn kai pws telika ta kataferame

[Nikos C.]

ΛΟΙΠΟΝ! ΑΦΟΥ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤΟ ΣΕ ΑΝΤΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΗ ΤΟΥ ASSOCIATED PRESS, ΕΓΩ ΜΠΟΡΩ ΝΑ ΠΕΘΑΝΩ!!!!!!!!!!!!

Το AP επιστράτευσε τα μέσα και τα έξω για να μάθει τις λεπτομέρειες της τελετής. Με άλλα λόγια ένας ταξιτζής τα ξέρασε όλα!

[obsedian]

?? ?? AP ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ???????????? ??? ???????, ???? ?? ???? ????????? ?? ?????????? ??????? ?????????? ?? ??????? ??? ??????? ???????? ??? ????????? ??? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ???????????.
________
Jailbroken

[Atlanta Greek]

Καλο αρθρο στην USA Today. Γρασιδι στο χωριο, χωμα στο ΟΑΚΑ, ο βωμος που κολλησε (η οχι κλπ.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/athens/news/2004-08-08-final-preparations_x.htm

[woofy]

Apo Guardian

H xira tou dolofonimenou apo tin 17N Bretanou diplwmati Saunders dinei tis euxes tis gia tous olympikous Agones kai leei pos agapai poly tin Ellada:

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,14604,-4402057,00.html

[dimetro]

Απο Γερμανια:
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/weitere/special/649/33616/index.html/sport/ticker/olympia/news/lines/iptc-bdt-20040809-340-dpa_6812412/article.html
Σχετικα πολυ καλα λογια.Μιλανε για το θαυμα των ελληνων και της ελλαδας που καταφερε σε 3 χρονια να ολοκληρωσει τα εργα κτλ.Επισης,οπως αναφερουν απο Τα Νεα,το μεγαλυτερο θυμα ειναι το περιβαλλον και μιλανε για εργα που εμειναν στα χαρτια.Λενε οτι ηταν να γινει ενα τεχνιτο νησι.Υπηρχε τετοιο σχεδιο?Για που?

[savroulis]

υπίρχε στα αρχικά!!!όπως επίσης και το σκέπαστρο για το κολυμβητήριο, και η δεύτερη αγορά, και το αδράχτι το καλό των 100+ μέτρων και οι 5 τοοειδής εισόδοι, και .....δεν θυμάμε τι άλλο, αλλά όλα αυτά ήταν φρουφρού και έτσι κοπήκανε όταν ξεκινήσανε τα έργα 3 χρόνια πρίν και όχι 7 όπως θα έπρεπε....

το νησί ήταν για τον Αγιο κοσμά νομίζω για τα αθλήματα ιστιοπλοιιας...