WASHINGTON POST
11-8-04
ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΓΡΑΦΟΣ: Amy Shiplen
REPORTER:
So I guess Athens is really finally ready, is everything in place, is everything in order? Can you talk a bit about the finish line?
- KARAMANLHS:
I could talk to you about that for hours.
The main thing and the good thing is that finally Athens and not only Athens because we have and the other Olympic cities as well, I would say in general Greece is fully prepared for successful and secured games.
Of course there was a tremendous effort, which took place the last years and of course there was the need for a final strong push in the last months. So I am going to give this message at this point, we are fully prepared.
REPORTER:
This proved to be a very challenging and ever for Athens and Greece to get these games ready. Was the effort and the money all worthy? Is it worthy to have Olympic Games?
- KARAMANLHS:
Well there are various levels for an answer to that question. First of all one cannot rewrite history, as long as you can change something there is not so much role to..
On a second level I would say that this would be eventually evaluated after the games. But now in a more sophisticated level of analysis, yes the cost is and was considerable, yes the investment not only in funds but also in energy and dime effort was very big. But on the other hand and I am confident and optimistic that the medium and long-term benefits are fully worth it.
Fully worth in all levels in the sense of not only tangible and practical outcomes such as for example of perspectives for the development of tourism or other things, but mainly because it is a golden opportunity for Greece to get herself acquainted to the rest of the world in its today’s form.
Or if you want to put it in another way it is the opportunity for the rest of the world to make the acquaintance of Greece as it is today and as we are going to be in the years to come.
REPORTER:
So this Greece today’s Greece has it proven something to the world? I mean is this Olympic Games allow Greece to show the world that is more impressive city, a better city, a stronger city and country than people have believed?
- KARAMANLHS:
On the one hand it is clearly a message that even a small or medium sized country can undertake major tasks major challenges and to be successful which is I think very important for the Olympic Games and the truth spirit of the games is not commensally to the notion that only big and very rich countries can organize such events.
But there is also another thing, which for us is very important. Greece is not only a very rich and historical charged heritage, its not only Sofoklis and Thoukididis. It is a modern country at the heart of Europe which can deliver when undertake major responsibilities, a country with ambitions to contribute to the modern world in terms of instability culture and of course development..
REPORTER:
I know that there is no final cost assessment done, but can you give me some idea of what the total cost of these games will be. I’ve seen estimates 7 billion, 10 billion, do you have any idea of what the total cost is?
- KARAMANLHS:
Well I have some idea but I won’t give you numbers because this is… What I can say is that there was an overshot as far as the cost will be concerned which makes the … of the games and the effort to take advantage of this opportunity even more serious a person.
REPORTER:
That overshoot how difficult is that going to be for Greece, what do you do having gone over budget? I mean how would that affect Greece in the coming years?
- KARAMANLHS:
Well it is one parameter to be considered. Now these status upon the brought subject, which has to do with the necessity to take care of, our fiscal policy, but this is not mainly due to the Olympic Games.
REPORTER:
That’s right.
- KARAMANLHS:
I mean let us not confuse different subjects or if you want relate the subjects but which are not totally over..
Greece has a program, has to make an effort to become economically competitive country with good control of its fiscal policies. And these two in extend has been aggravated, has been burdened by the cost of the Olympic Games, but this is neither the main problem of our imbalances nor a permanent one. We won’t have Olympic Games next year or the year after, so it’s once for all.
In other terms let me put it concisely. Yes it is a subject to be considered and to be taken care of, it is not the main economic problem of Greece.
REPORTER:
Should Greece and Athens have received more financial help from the International Olympic Committee or from sponsors especially when you consider the security? The security has been so expensive, does the city a putting on the games need more, and is too much for one city?
- KARAMANLHS:
Yes, I think that in the after of all this effort particularly the question of security provisions in terms of funds is a question to be reconsidered in terms of a more shared contribution.
You see as we all know no country in the world may face the security challenges of Europe by itself. So security has become international razed priority. I am not speaking getting more money, I am speaking about cooperation, sharing information and taking action or initiates together. So there is also the question of the cost.
However I have got to say that as far as security is concerned we have asked and we have happily received the assistance, the good advise, the contribution of all other parties. So my answer to the initial part of the question has to do more with a broader perspective how things should be done.
The second part of the answer has to do with our evaluation of the level of preparation ahead for the Olympic Games.
REPORTER:
The cooperation you have received and you’ve received cooperation, nations want really to help and they committed recourses, but in terms of the money that goes to the security that’s all come from Greece, correct? None has said here is a check, right? I mean they’ve said here is a plane but they haven’t contributed to the money, right?
- KARAMANLHS:
Yes. In clear terms you are right.
REPORTER:
Right. I guess is that something that needs to change within the international Olympic movement? I mean does that need to be…
- KARAMANLHS:
Listen what I told you and I am saying again.
REPORTER:
Yes ok.
- KARAMANLHS:
I think that major international defense which automatically now modern world have very serious security aspect it is rightful and just to be approached in a more … and mutual contribution sense.
REPORTER:
In the case of the Olympics is that something that should be handled through the International Olympic Committee or is it something that has to be handled through NATO and the governments? I mean..
- KARAMANLHS:
Well there is this direction but nevertheless the clear fact is that it is the governments in their forms of cooperation through international bodies who reach the actual resolution.
REPORTER:
Do you have a sense of what the resolution would be, I mean what if have been a better way to handle the security of these games? How do you resolve the problems to Greece is putting such a large…
- KARAMANLHS:
It is clear that the circumstances have changed dramatically international speaking in the last three or so years, so I think that the conditions are maturing in order to favor a broader approach as I described. I don’t have a very clear plan of how this will take place, but I think it would be based on the collective understanding that as long as we organize collectively … international events, as long as security is a common threat to all of us, we have got to find a balance approach to share or at least to be part of the change.
REPORTER:
As Greece put the plan together for security there was cooperation but there were also specific requests from different governments. United States wanted certain things, Israel, Great Britain, is that what you expected from nations or did you get the sense of point that there is not enough faith in Greece’s ability to put together a good plan? Did countries meddled too much to some extend?
- KARAMANLHS:
No. I think that there is an acknowledgement by all that there were concerns about security. As you know we were very close together with our .. actually seven of them have been very close to be in an institutionalize way of cooperation.
The countries you mentioned U.S. and others Germany France etc are among them and of course as soon as we took over last March we made an official request to NATO to be part of the planning and the whole framework of security.
Now I think that in the security of good faith, of trust among partners we deal address and so the questions which rows. And of course all that we full respect to the Greek constitution and the Greek laws.
And of course the games are still in front of us but I am satisfied to see that everybody involved expresses their satisfaction to the preparation on the security level as well. In other terms let me put it in a very-very brief statement.
REPORTER:
Ok.
- KARAMANLHS:
Nobody can guarantee absolute security, but whatever could be done everything there was humanly possibly to be done has be done and this recognized by everybody. And I just say that Greece has spent … of what was spending Sidney only four years ago for security.
REPORTER:
For next two weeks will this be a chance for Greece to show itself to the world in a very special way when you consider the history, can these games be an exceptional games because of the history Greece has to offer? What kind of games can these are, can these be the best-best summer games we’ve ever seen?
- KARAMANLHS:
Well to begin, it’s an opportunity for the outside world to re-invent Greek culture and its legacy but also to introduce itself to modern Greece.
I think that there is a special or not because I would by any means diminish the games other countries have organized or will organize in the future, but because whether we like it or not it does have a particularity when you run for example the original Marathon or when you compete below the Acropolis or in the actual stadium of ancient Olympia.
And I think that the Olympic Games coming back to their place of origin can be if I may use the word re-baptize in the true Olympic spirit, which consists of principles such as the Olympic truce piece and stability, cooperation, fair competition, a sense of measure and moderation. So it’s not just a sport event.
REPORTER:
Is there a plan or after the games there’ve been many venues build for these games, will there be a use for them after the games? And is that a concern that you have?
- KARAMANLHS:
Yes, is one of the priorities of our government and we are working right down a plan to finalize a plan to exploit the venues of our Olympic Games legacy. There has been as we already mentioned a very serious investment made by the Greek people and has to be one of the priorities how to take advantage of it for the future.
REPORTER:
We have touched upon this earlier, you mentioned the concept of the smaller city hosting the games. Is it given what you’ve spend and what you’ve gone through. And look at Beijing. Beijing is planning to spend 33 billion dollars on the games. Is it or these games as they grow and they seem to get bigger ultimate is it realistic for the smaller cities to hold and not go bankrobed?
- KARAMANLHS:
Well I will be very happy if I could … a principle according which all countries in the world are entitled to host the Olympic Games. You and I and everybody understand that this is not realistic. But on the other hand I would be very sad to acknowledge that only five or six countries in the world have the privilege or are allowed to be privileged because of financial strains to organize it. I think this would be a serious brow to the Olympic spirit.
So the reality is that for the future we’ve got to move somewhere in the middle between the utopian dream of full equality and the accessibly cynical approach of the few strong and rich.
REPORTER:
Do the games have to change to allow cities to be able to… if the IOC ever wants to take the games to Africa, which they do if you want to give a chance to the games itself has to change so dramatically in size for example?
- KARAMANLHS:
Well let me tell you something of course the games need certain standard, which guarantees their good organization, good implementation, good performance, but I don’t suggest that there is only a matter of money.
I in simulated to you before that one of the principles of the Olympic spirit is the sense of measure and measure has to do with money as well. So I think that in good faith there is a possibility even for less privilege countries to undertake such a responsibility and an honor at the same time, one could see that even in a spirit where perhaps its more than one country which organizes together.
REPORTER:
More than one country?
- KARAMANLHS:
For example two years ago the world cup on football was organized by Korea and Japan together. So one could see such approaches.
Now I have got to say that there has been an idea for a permanent organization of the games in the place of origin. But I understand an respect it is not yet matured to bee seen in the near future..
But as a very long term perspective I think this is a parameter to take into consideration.
REPORTER:
And that you mean to have the games here all the time?
- KARAMANLHS:
We would..
REPORTER:
Have you?
- KARAMANLHS:
We are not as you show, I made a very very district approach, we are not imposing on anybody, we understand that other countries would like to host games we are very willing to see it happen and participate. On the other hand I am saying an idea, which voiced several decades ago in a long-term basis might have its value.
REPORTER:
It was voiced several decades ago and I don’t remember what…
- KARAMANLHS:
It was an idea by ex President Kostantine Karamanlis..
REPORTER:
Is that something you personally have or would discuss with the International Olympic Committee?
- KARAMANLHS:
No we haven’t discussed this like that and couldn’t as a very long term idea … to your question about future candidates to organize the games. I am not looking it as a immediate prospect.
REPORTER:
Is it something, its some point thaw, someone would have to discuss it with the International Committee. How far up in the future do you think it would be or is it something you need to bring up at some point now?
- KARAMANLHS:
I just re-voiced an old idea.
REPORTER:
I see.
- KARAMANLHS:
There is no schedule, there is no program to get into some kind of negotiations for that.
REPORTER:
I got you. That would certainly solve the problem if considered a problem of using the venues. I mean if you have created all of these venues and you can bring the Olympics back every four years it would certainly make it worthwhile.
- KARAMANLHS:
It has many advantages. But you see I am answering to your previous question as well. This is nothing, this is not something, and any country can impose to the international community. Its only if and when the international community itself realizes that the benefits, the advantages of such an approach do so proceed the possible disadvantages.
REPORTER:
I guess you perhaps answered this question in that statement but let me ask you this. If it were 1997 again if you had to go back would Athens go for the games again?
- KARAMANLHS:
I believe that yes. Because even in the most difficult days there was a tremendous support of the people over and above any political or other differences for the games.
REPORTER:
And you believe that the people are happy that the games are here and they are satisfied that its been a good..
- KARAMANLHS:
I think they are happy for it, I think we went all of us through periods of questioning and agonizing or even skepticism possibly but they never and I am now reflecting even the results of all the pose throughout the last several views they never … as far of their support to the games as they concerned.
And as you can see these latest weeks as the games are getting closer and closer this recognition this positive approach is transforming itself into out right enthusiasm. And I am sure that you will witness that in the next days and weeks.
REPORTER:
When you took over in March you personally got very involved. Can you just talk about how deep that involvement was? When you took up to go and visit all of the venues for example what steps did you personally take to ensure that projects would be finished?
- KARAMANLHS:
Its simple, I assumed the responsibility of the Minister of Culture as well because I thought that both on practical terms and also on symbolic terms the message should be clear that we will do everything possible to reach the point of preparation we are now on all levels instruction venues organization and security.
And to be very clear I think this was the only honest thing I could do. I didn’t do it only because of the games because I strongly feel that culture and civilization are very-very strong means for Greece to promote in developing and economically.
But nevertheless for the outside world people needed a very clear message that the government at its top level is fully resolved to fulfill its obligations. Of course the preparation and the effort is a task with the duration of all these years.
So I’ve got to very clearly stress this up and in all the political forces and all the previous governments, which contributed to this.
REPORTER:
I remember this because I was here in March and I remember thinking its never going to get ready, this is never going to be finished. I remember coming from the airport and looking at the big hole on the ground with the train rails. Did you have moments like that were you were very doubtful or worried that this would be an embarrassing situation where you were that concerned?
- KARAMANLHS:
Well even if I had the question is that there are existing the political will and resolved.
REPORTER:
How great was the challenge when you took over?
- KARAMANLHS:
Let me tell you something, according to … one can over dramatize or not. I am feeling…
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