ATHENS (voa) – The main sports complex in Athens, Greece is set to get a $188 million facelift as the Greek capital prepares to host the 2004 Summer Olympics.
The Athens suburb of Amarousion will host nine different sports including athletics, basketball, gymnastics, swimming and diving. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava will wrap stadiums and buildings in his trademark spiderweb design of glass and steel. The main stadium will be painted the azure and white of the Greek national flag.
Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos hailed the design as a significant intervention that will leave an architectural monument to the Athens games.
Venizelos said the project is being tendered for construction and the renovations are scheduled to be completed by April of 2004.
The International Olympic Committee has in the past expressed concern that the preparations would not be done in time. The IOC says it is satisfied with Athens’ preparations, but warned there can be no further delays in getting the Greek capital ready for the Games.
