Youth Olympic Games Bid Profile: Athens

The Athens 2010 Youth Olympic Games bid rates about the middle of the field, according to the report from an IOC panel of experts. Infrastructure, accommodation and venues score well, but the education and culture program – a key part of the YOG vision – ranks a bit low.

Greek Olympic Tradition

The proposed Athens education and cultural program capitalizes on Ancient Olympia. (Getty Images)Athens is banking on Olympic history, reaching back to 2004, 1896 and of course, ancient Olympia. “Symbolism” and “tradition” are words that come up early in Athens bid documents.

However, the IOC panel of experts report released in November gives Athens low marks in the culture and education category. Athens' education proposals rely very heavily on Olympic themes, but they lack innovation, according to the IOC report. The education program rates between four and six on a 10-point scale; culture, between three and five.

Ambitious Financial Plans

Athens calculates an operating budget of some $318 million. Domestic sponsorships, suppliers and a national government subsidy will each pay about a quarter of the Games costs. Operations, ceremonies, workforce and security are the biggest costs, accounting for about half the budget altogether.

The IOC experts express doubt that Athens can find sponsors worth $161 million, and give the committee only a score of three to five on revenues. They also write that the ceremony budget is “overscoped” at $49 million.

In the non-OCOG budget, permanent improvements to venues – like telecoms upgrades and a bigger Koropi Stadium – come to $5.78 million. Security services provided in the normal operations of law enforcement will have a value of some $26.6 million, according to the committee estimate.

The budget is calculated at a rate of $1.40 per Euro – a safe long-term estimate according to the candidature file. Athens proposes the Olympic Stadium for the YOG opening ceremony. (Getty Images)

Venues Modern and Ancient

Athens scores best in the IOC report in accommodation and its 2004 legacy in general infrastructure. The number of guaranteed rooms covers YOG accommodation needs; Athens gets a score between eight and 10. The IOC report expresses satisfaction with the city’s road, transport, airport and telecom networks.

The YOG Athletes Village is planned for Aghios Andreas resort – the seaside media village for the 2004 Games.

Twenty-six sports are on the calendar – baseball and softball are the only sports cut from the 2008 Olympic list. Athens is also adding the beach format Most venues are within 20 – 30 km of the proposed Athletes Village at Aghios Andreas. (Athens 2010)to the wrestling events and scheduling some matches at ancient Olympia. Shotput is the only other sport scheduled for the historic area.

The massive Athens Olympic Stadium renovated for the 2004 Games will host the opening ceremony. Panathinaiko Stadium – built for the 1896 Olympics – will do closing duties.

Written by Maggie Lee

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