This evening the Athens Olympics will be formally closed in a ceremony which promises to be every bit as spectacular as the opening one 16 days ago. Barring a last minute disaster, the 28th modern Olympiad will have seen 10,500 athletes competing in 37 sports in a massive event which, despite widespread predictions to the contrary, has been a triumph for the Greek organizers. Even in the days before the opening ceremony as the Olympic torch was being carried through Greece, it seemed as if the Games were on the brink of disaster. Hotel workers went on strike for better pay. In the last few weeks before the opening, it appeared highly unlikely that key elements of the infrastructure, including the all-important tramline and road into the city, would be finished on time. Yet against all odds, the Greeks accomplished everything. Few of the crowds who flocked to the ancient capital have had a bad word to say against either the organization or the facilities.
After tonight’s closing ceremony, the work will not be over since the 12 days of the Paralympic Games begin on Sept. 17. Only after Sept. 28 will the Athenians be able to relax and take in their achievement and what it has cost them. The final bill, which has included massive security, could possibly approach $6 billion. This is an immense amount of money. Even allowing for the substantial revenues generated by world television coverage and the money that spectators will have spent during their stay, the Greek taxpayer is likely to have to foot a large bill.
There is also the cost in human terms of the construction. The official death toll among builders working on the various sites is 14, compared to just one death in constructing what was needed for the 2000 Sydney Games. Part of the problem arose because the organizers began building work so late and had to drive construction companies to complete the work on time. This led to frequent corner cutting, especially on safety.
When the final accounting is done, there is also likely to be anger at the extra payments demanded by contractors as incentives to complete projects. Some of these demands were justified because the organizers chopped and changed plans. However, other extra charges may well be viewed as plain extortion at a moment when the Greek Olympic authorities had no other option except to pay up if the Games were to begin on time.
On balance though the Greek have defied their critics. In the original home of the Olympics, they have produced Games which, despite the initial doping scandals involving two of their own top athletes, have been notable for their friendliness and their organization. The host cities of future Olympics will have much that is positive to learn from the Athens experience. They will also have one cautionary lesson which is that if they want to keep the costs from spiraling out of control, facilities must be completed long before the Olympic torch arrives. Nevertheless when the Olympic flame is extinguished tonight, the world should say with one voice: “Well done Athens!”
