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Athens mired in venues
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-08-14 09:26
The conservative government, coming to power only five months before the Games after an 11-year socialist rule, has said it was forced to lease out the venues as its predecessors had failed to plan for after the Games.
"As of today I am very satisfied," Hadjiemmanouil, chairman of Olympic Properties, told Reuters.
He said two venues had been leased out to private investors and another four would follow soon.
"In many cases the construction infrastructure creates limitations," he said. "We cannot maintain them as sports venues and many of them must now have a different use."
Socialist opposition politicians admit that they were late in getting ready but accuse the ruling conservatives of not coming up with a post-Olympic plan.
"Today the venues remain tightly shut because they (the government) are afraid young people who may use them will 'pollute' them," said Kostas Kartalis, a former general-secretary in charge of Olympic preparations under the socialists.
"Opportunities are being lost and time is running against Athens as the capital's Olympic aura slowly fades," he added.
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