JEDDAH, 18 June 2004 — Groups of Saudis are sailing in yachts to watch the Athens Olympic Games. Many others are going by air.
“This shows the tremendous interest the people in this part of the world have to see the 28th Olympics,” Greek Consul General George A. Dogoritis told Arab News yesterday.
The number of visas issued at the consulate has doubled to 800 a month, said Dogoritis who is leaving the Kingdom at the end of his two-year “productive and rewarding” term. Some 300 more visas are issued every month at the Greek Embassy in Riyadh.
Greece says it is is fully geared to receive sportsmen, sports enthusiasts and visitors to the upcoming Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The Greek consul general and his wife Anastasia Dogoritis gave this message at a reception held at their residence on Wednesday night to celebrate the Olympic Games scheduled in Athens from Aug. 13 to 29. While special arrangements are being made to certain categories of visitors, including sportsmen and media representatives, to issue visas quickly, Saudi citizens and expats in general heading for the Athens Olympics will have to apply for a Schengen visa at the Greek mission. “It takes 10 days to issue a Schengen visa,” the consul general said.
In the upcoming games, 10,500 athletes from 201 countries will unite in Greece to participate in the greatest celebration of humanity. For the first time in history, athletes from East Timor and Afghanistan will also take part, making this the highest number of countries represented in Olympic history. They will compete in 28 sports.
The Olympic Flame is already touring the world in the form of a torch relay and has, for the first time, united the five continents. Events are held wherever the torch travels, giving the whole world, and Greece, an opportunity to participate and celebrate the Olympic spirit. The torch is on a 35-day world tour, visiting 32 cities before returning to Greece for the final segment of its route.
On Aug. 13, the torch’s journey will culminate in the lighting of the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium in Athens, marking the commencement of the 28th games.
