G. Angelopoulou-Daskalaki at the Delphic Forum: "The Olympics did not bankrupt Greece"

Yana Angelopoulou-Daskalaki spoke at the 9th Delphi Economic Forum and discussed the history of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games bid and its impact on modern Greek society and the economy.

“We did what others didn't expect, but we ourselves didn't expect, and we ended up being successful. All these years I meet people and they tell me about 2004, 'I was there too,' with pride, pride and emotion .But we must go beyond emotions.Firstly, Greece participated in the competition for the second time in 10 years, and we had to change the basis of the competition and the image of our country abroad.We claimed them not by right of inheritance, but on the basis of that we will organize the best Games. They did not believe us, it was not easy to convince them, but we convinced them. Secondly, Greece was the smallest country that took on the task of hosting the Olympic Games, and it succeeded. It left behind leadership in organizing skill, efficient functioning, cooperation between public and private structures, which should not remain untapped.And thirdly, the Games were a success because they became a national affair, a gamble for every Greek woman and every Greek man. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have even made it to the opening ceremony.” she said in her first statement.

When asked whether the Olympic Games contributed to the subsequent economic crisis, she replied: “We returned a €130.6 million surplus to the state. What you don't know is that, according to an Oxford University study, it was the second cheapest Games after Los Angeles in 1932.”.

To another question about the total cost of infrastructure and projects implemented by the Greek state, she replied: “IOBE conducted a study in 2015 and found that between 2000 and 2010, 6.5 billion was spent on Olympic projects, and in 2004 only 2.5% of GDP, the state received 2.9 billion euros in revenue from taxes, etc. etc., not counting income from tourism. The Olympics did not bankrupt Greece, the numbers speak for themselves.”.

“Greece returned to the map when it had the Olympic Games,” she noted from the conference podium, adding that if not for the Olympics, major infrastructure projects would not have been completed on time. “Imagine our life without these projects at that time how the Greek economy benefited enormously. But what is more valuable to me is the image of the country that both Greeks and foreigners have. It has not disappeared, no matter what Greece has gone through,” – concluded the organizer of the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Speaking earlier, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, spoke of Greece as an eternal symbol of the Olympic Games. According to him, “For more than 3,000 years, the amazing Greek civilization gave humanity the Olympic Games. We are grateful to the Greeks for this, the Olympic Games are an institution that is adored by millions of people around the world. By reviving the Games in 1896, Pierre de Coubertin ensured that this legacy would continue. Greece will always have a special place in our hearts and in mine.”

He also praised the contribution of Jana Angelopoulou-Daskalaki to the development of this institution: “The 2004 Games will always be associated with Jana Angelopoulou-Daskalaki” which, according to him“turned Athens’ bid into a winning attempt to bid for the Olympic Games, and it was she who was able to superbly mobilize the organization.”

He also mentioned his key interventions when site preparations fell behind schedule. “But she brought unity, she taught the lesson that a Greek will always be a Greek, and that she will strengthen this gift of Greece to humanity.” He also called the 2004 Olympics “unforgettable, like a dream,” adding that they were rightfully considered a return to origins because they brought together ancient heritage with modern reality.

Thomas Bach noted their benefits for Greece, emphasizing that Athens 2004 created a new culture of volunteerism, as 160,000 people applied to participate, contributed to the reconstruction of the historical center of Athens, the improvement of the transport network and the timely opening of the metro network. He also praised their role in promoting Greece as a tourist destination, with 24 million people visiting the country in 2015, up from 12 million in 2003.

At the end of his speech, he also mentioned the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, noting that these will be the first Olympic Games with full gender equality, with an equal number of competitive places for female and male athletes, and the first Games where the Olympic program will reformed from start to finish.

Source link