The 2004 Summer Olympics (Greek: Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, romanized: Therinoí Olympiakoí Agónes 2004),[b] officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad (Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, Agónes tis 28is Olympiádas), and officially branded as Athens 2004 (Αθήνα 2004), were an international multi-sport event held from 13 to 29 August 2004 in Athens, Greece.
The Games saw 10,625 athletes compete,[2][3] some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team officials from 201 countries,[2] with 301 medal events in 28 different sports.[2] The 2004 Games marked the first time since the 1996 Summer Olympics that all countries with a National Olympic Committee were in attendance, and also marked the first time Athens hosted the Games since their first modern incarnation in 1896 as well as the return of the Olympic games to its birthplace. Athens became the fourth city to host the Summer Olympic Games on two occasions (together with Paris, London and Los Angeles). A new medal obverse was introduced at these Games, replacing the design by Giuseppe Cassioli that had been used since 1928. The new design features the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens[4] rectifying the long-running mistake of using a depiction of the Roman Colosseum rather than a Greek venue.[5]
The 2004 Olympic Games were hailed as "unforgettable dream games" by then-IOC PresidentJacques Rogge, and left Athens with a significantly improved infrastructure, including a new airport, ring road and subway system.[6] There has been debate (mostly in popular media) regarding the cost of the Games and their possible contribution to the 2010–18 Greek government-debt crisis, although there is little or no evidence supporting this claim. The 2004 Games were generally deemed to be a success, with the rising standard of competition amongst nations across the world. The final medal tally was led by the United States, followed by China and Russia with host nation Greece in 15th place. Several world and Olympic records were also broken during these Games.
Athens was chosen as the host city during the 106th IOC Session held in Lausanne, Switzerland on 5 September 1997. The Greek capital had lost its bid to organize the 1996 Summer Olympics to the American city of Atlanta nearly seven years before, during the 96th IOC Session in Tokyo, Japan on 18 September 1990. Under the direction of Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Athens pursued another bid, this time for the right to host the Summer Olympics in 2004. The success of Athens in securing the 2004 Games was based largely on the bid's appeal to human values, the history of the Games from ancient age and modern age and the emphasis that Athens is placed at the pivotal role that Greece and Athens could play in promoting the Modern Olympism and the Olympic Movement.[7] Unlike the 1996 bid that was seen arrogant when the city was bidding, the 2004 bid was lauded for its low scale, humility, honest and earnestness, its focused message, and a more real and detailed bid concept.[8]
During the unsuccessful 1996 bid, concerns and criticisms were raised – primarily regarding critical subjects about the city's infrastructural readiness, its air pollution, its budget and politicization of the Games' events and their preparations.[9] The subsequent successful organization of other events such as the 1991 Mediterranean Games, the 1994 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, 1994 World Fencing Championships and the successful 1997 World Championships in Athletics, one month before the Olympic host city election was crucial in allaying lingering fears and concerns among the sporting community and some IOC members about the Greek ability to host international sporting events.[10] Another factor that contributed to the Greek capital's selection was a growing sentiment among some IOC members to restore some original values of the Olympics to the Modern Games, a component which they felt was lost during the 1996 Summer Olympics.[11]
After leading all voting rounds, Athens easily defeated Rome in the fifth and final vote. Cape Town, Stockholm, and Buenos Aires (the latter won the rights to host the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in 2013), the three other cities that made the IOC shortlist, were eliminated in prior rounds of voting. Six other cities submitted applications, but their bids were dropped by the IOC in 1996. These cities were Istanbul, Lille, Rio de Janeiro (the latter won the rights to host the 2016 Summer Olympics in 2009), San Juan, Seville, and Saint Petersburg.[12]
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games cost the Government of Greece near €9 billion to stage.[13]
The Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC), responsible for the preparation and organisation of the Games, concluded its operations as a company in 2005 with a surplus of €130.6 million. The State's contribution to the total ATHOC budget was 8% of its expenditure against an originally anticipated 14%. The overall revenue of ATHOC, including income from tickets, sponsors, broadcasting rights, merchandise sales etc., totalled near €2.1 billion. The largest percentage of that income (38%) came from media rights. According to the cost-benefit evaluation of the impact of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games presented to the Greek Parliament in January 2013 by the Minister of Finance Mr. Giannis Stournaras, the overall net economic benefit for Greece was positive.[14]
The Greek Ministry of Finance reported in 2013 that the expenses of the Greek state for the Athens 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including both infrastructure and organizational costs, reached the amount of €8.5 billion. The same report further explains that €2 billion of this amount was covered by the revenue of the ATHOC (from tickets, sponsors, broadcasting rights, merchandise sales etc.) and that another €2 billion was directly invested in upgrading hospitals and preserving archaeological sites.
Therefore, the net infrastructure costs related to the preparation of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games was €4.5 billion, substantially lower than the reported estimates,[15] and mainly included long-standing fixed asset investments in numerous municipal and transport infrastructures.
On the revenue side, the same report estimates that incremental tax revenues of approximately €3.5 billion arose from the increased activities caused by the Athens 2004 Olympic Games during the period 2000 to 2004. These tax revenues were paid directly to the Greek state specifically in the form of incremental social security contributions, income taxes and VAT tax paid by all the companies, professionals, and service providers that were directly involved with the Olympic Games. Moreover, it is reported that the Athens 2004 Olympic Games have had a great economic growth impact on the Greek economy, in the words of the Greek Minister of Finance, is that "as a result from the cost-benefit analysis, we reach the conclusion that there has been a net economic benefit from the Olympic Games".
Comparison to other Olympic Games
Cost per sporting event for Athens 2004 was US$9.8 million. This compares with US$14.9 million for Rio 2016, US$49.5 million for London 2012, and US$22.5 million for Beijing 2008. Average cost per event for the Summer Games since 1960 is US$19.9 million.
Cost per athlete for Athens 2004 was US$0.3 million. This compares with US$0.4 million for Rio 2016, US$1.4 million for London 2012, and US$0.6 million for Beijing 2008. Average cost per athlete for the Summer Games since 1960 is US$0.6 million.
Cost overrun for Athens 2004 was 49%, measured in real terms from the bid to host the Games. This compares with 51% for Rio 2016 and 76% for London 2012. Average cost overrun for the Summer Games since 1960 is 176%.
Construction
By late March 2004, some Olympic projects were still behind schedule, and Greek authorities announced that a roof it had initially proposed as an optional, non-vital addition to the Aquatics Center would no longer be built. The main Olympic Stadium, the designated facility for the opening and closing ceremonies, was completed only two months before the Games opened. This stadium was completed with a retractable glass roof designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The same architect also designed the Velodrome and other facilities.
Infrastructure, such as the tram line linking venues in southern Athens with the city centre, and numerous venues were considerably behind schedule just two months before the start of the Games. The subsequent pace of preparation, however, made the rush to finish the Athens venues one of the tightest in Olympics history. The Greeks, unperturbed, maintained that they would make it all along. By July/August 2004, all venues were delivered: in August, the Olympic Stadium was officially completed and opened, joined or preceded by the official completion and openings of other venues within the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA), and the sports complexes in Faliro and Helliniko.
Late July and early August witnessed the Athens Tram become operational, and this system provided additional connections to those already existing between Athens city centre and its waterfront communities along the Saronic Gulf. These communities included the port city of Piraeus, Agios Kosmas (site of the sailing venue), Helliniko (the site of the old international airport which now contained the fencing venue, the canoe/kayak slalom course, the 15,000-seat Helliniko Olympic Basketball Arena, and the softball and baseball stadia), and the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex (site of the taekwondo, handball, indoor volleyball, and beach volleyball venues, as well as the newly reconstructed Karaiskaki Stadium for football). The upgrades to the Athens Ring Road were also delivered just in time, as were the expressway upgrades connecting central Athens with peripheral areas such as Markopoulo (site of the shooting and equestrian venues), the newly constructed Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, Schinias (site of the rowing venue), Maroussi (site of the OAKA), Parnitha (site of the Olympic Village), Galatsi (site of the rhythmic gymnastics and table tennis venue), and Vouliagmeni (site of the triathlon venue). The upgrades to the Athens Metro were also completed, and the new lines became operational by mid-summer.
At least 14 people died during the work on the facilities. Most of these people were not from Greece.[17]
Before the Games, Greek hotel staff staged a series of one-day strikes over wage disputes. They had been asking for a significant raise for the period covering the event being staged. Paramedics and ambulance drivers also protested. They claimed to have the right to the same Olympic bonuses promised to their security force counterparts.
Panorama of Athens Olympic Sports Complex.
Torch relay
The ceremony for the lighting of the flame was arranged as a pagan pageant, with dancing priestesses.
The lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame took place on 25 March 2004 in Ancient Olympia. For the first time ever, the flame travelled around the world in a relay to various Summer Olympic host cities (past and future) and other large cities, before returning to Greece.
Mascots have been a tradition at the Olympic Games since the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. The 2004 Olympics had two official mascots: Athena and Phevos (Greek pronunciation: Athina and Fivos). The sister and brother were named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, strategy and Phoebus, the god of light and music, respectively. They were inspired by the ancient daidala, which were toy dolls that also had religious connotations.
Broadcasting
Athens Olympic Broadcasting served as the host broadcaster for the Games, providing over 35,000 hours of coverage to over 300 television channels around the world. Local rights to the Games were held by ERT which devoted their three channels (ET1, NET and ET3) to more than 24 hours of Olympic coverage.[18]
Online coverage
For the first time, major broadcasters were allowed to serve video coverage of the Olympics over the Internet, provided that they restricted this service geographically, to protect broadcasting contracts in other areas.[19] The International Olympic Committee forbade Olympic athletes, as well as coaches, support personnel and other officials, from setting up specialized weblogs or other websites for covering their personal perspective of the Games. They were not allowed to post audio, video, or photos that they had taken. An exception was made if an athlete already has a personal website that was not set up specifically for the Games.[20]NBC launched its own Olympic website, NBCOlympics.com. Focusing on the television coverage of the Games, it did provide video clips, medal standings, live results. Its main purpose, however, was to provide a schedule of what sports were on the many stations of NBC Universal. The Games were shown on television 24 hours a day, on one network or another.
Technology
View of the ATHOC Technology Operations Center during the Games.
As with any enterprise, the Organizing Committee and everyone involved with it relied heavily on technology in order to deliver a successful event. ATHOC maintained two separate data networks, one for the preparation of the Games (known as the Administrative network) and one for the Games themselves (Games Network). The technical infrastructure involved more than 11,000 computers, over 600 servers, 2,000 printers, 23,000 fixed-line telephone devices, 9,000 mobile phones, 12,000 TETRA devices, 16,000 TV and video devices and 17 Video Walls interconnected by more than 6,000 kilometers of cabling (both optical fiber and twisted pair).
This infrastructure was created and maintained to serve directly more than 150,000 ATHOC Staff, Volunteers, Olympic family members (IOC, NOCs, Federations), Partners & Sponsors and Media. It also kept the information flowing for all spectators, TV viewers, Website visitors and news readers around the world, prior and during the Games. The Media Center was located inside the Zappeion which is a Greek national exhibition center.
Between June and August 2004, the technology staff worked in the Technology Operations Center (TOC) from where it could centrally monitor and manage all the devices and flow of information, as well as handle any problems that occurred during the Games. The TOC was organized in teams (e.g. Systems, Telecommunications, Information Security, Data Network, Staffing, etc.) under a TOC Director and corresponding team leaders (Shift Managers). The TOC operated on a 24x7 basis with personnel organized into 12-hour shifts.
The opening ceremony of the games, directed by choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou and produced by Jack Morton Worldwide, led by project director David Zolkwer, was held on 13 August 2004. It began with a twenty-eight (the number of the Olympiads up to then) second countdown paced by the sounds of an amplified heartbeat.[21] As the countdown was completed, fireworks rumbled and illuminated the skies overhead. After a drum corps and bouzouki players joined in an opening march, the video screen showed images of flight, crossing southwest from Athens over the Greek countryside to ancient Olympia. Then, a single drummer in the ancient stadium joined in a drum duet with a single drummer in the main stadium in Athens, joining the original ancient Olympic Games with the modern ones in symbolism.
At the end of the drum duet, a single flaming arrow was launched from the video screen (symbolically from ancient Olympia) and into the reflecting pool, which resulted in fire erupting in the middle of the stadium creating a burning image of the Olympic rings rising from the pool. The Opening Ceremony was a pageant of traditional Greek culture and history hearkening back to its mythological beginnings. The program began as a young Greek boy sailed into the stadium on a 'paper-ship' waving the host nation's flag to aethereal music by Manos Hatzidakis and then a centaur appeared, followed by a gigantic head of a cycladic figurine which eventually broke into many pieces symbolising the Greek islands. Underneath the cycladic head was a Hellenistic representation of the human body, reflecting the concept and belief in perfection reflected in Greek art. A man was seen balancing on a hovering cube symbolising man's eternal 'split' between passion and reason followed by a couple of young lovers playfully chasing each other while the god Eros was hovering above them. There followed a very colourful float parade chronicling Greek history from the ancient Minoan civilization to modern times.
Although NBC in the United States presented the entire opening ceremony from start to finish, a topless Minoan priestess was shown only briefly, the breasts having been pixelated digitally in order to avoid controversy (as the "Nipplegate" incident was still fresh in viewer's minds at the time) and potential fines by the Federal Communications Commission. Also, lower frontal nudity of men dressed as ancient Greek statues was shown in such a way that the area below the waist was cut off by the bottom of the screen. Overall, NBC's coverage of the Olympics has been praised, and the company was awarded with 6 Emmy Awards for its coverage of the Games and technical production.[22][23] Additionally, NBC televised all 28 sports in the 2004 Games, becoming the first broadcaster to do so.[24]
Following the artistic performances, a parade of nations entered the stadium with over 10,500 athletes walking under the banners of 201 nations. The nations were arranged according to Greek alphabet making the Philippines, Finland, Fiji, Chile, and Hong Kong the last five to enter the stadium before the Greek delegation. On this occasion, in observance of the tradition that the delegation of Greece opens the parade and the host nation closes it, the Greek flag bearer opened the parade and all the Greek delegation closed it. Based on audience reaction, the emotional high point of the parade was the entrance of the delegation from Afghanistan which had been absent from the Olympics and had female competitors for the first time. The Iraqi delegation also stirred emotions. Also recognized was the symbolic unified march of athletes from North Korea and South Korea under the KoreanUnification Flag.[c] The country of Kiribati made its debut appearance at these Games and East Timor made a debut under its own flag. After the Parade of Nations, during which the Dutch DJ Tiësto provided the music, the Icelandic singer Björk performed the song "Oceania", written specially for the event by her and the poet Sjón.
The opening ceremony culminated in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron by 1996 gold medalist windsurfer Nikolaos Kaklamanakis. Many key moments in the ceremony, including the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, featured music composed and arranged by New Zealand composer John Psathas.[25] The gigantic cauldron, which was styled after the Athens 2004 Olympic torch, pivoted down to be lit by the 35-year-old, before slowly swinging up and lifting the flame above the stadium. Following this, a fireworks display commenced to conclude the ceremony.
Participating National Olympic Committees
Participating nationsTeam numbers
All National Olympic Committees (NOCs) except Djibouti participated in the Athens Games. Two new NOCs had been created since 2000 and made their debut at these Games (Kiribati and East Timor). Therefore, with the return of Afghanistan (who had been banned from the 2000 Summer Olympics), the number of participating nations increased from 199 to 201. Additionally, Yugoslavia had changed its name the year prior to Serbia and Montenegro and its code from YUG to SCG;[26] the country would dissolve two years later,[27][28] making this its only Olympics appearance under the new moniker. Georgia's new flag made its debut at the Olympics by unfurling it at the opening ceremony on 13 August. It replaces the post-Soviet flag, which had been used since Lillehammer 1994.
In the table below, the number in parentheses indicates the number of participants contributed by each NOC.
The sports featured at the 2004 Summer Olympics are listed below. Officially there were 301 events in 28 sports as swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo are classified by the IOC as disciplines within the sport of aquatics, and wheelchair racing was a demonstration sport. For the first time, the wrestling category featured women's wrestling and in the fencing competition women competed in the sabre. American Kristin Heaston, who led off the qualifying round of women's shot put became the first woman to compete at the ancient site of Olympia.
The demonstration sport of wheelchair racing was a joint Olympic/Paralympic event, allowing a Paralympic event to occur within the Olympics, and for the future, opening up the wheelchair race to the able-bodied. The 2004 Summer Paralympics were also held in Athens, from 17 to 28 September.
In the men's football group stage game where Serbia and Montenegro faced Tunisia, a penalty taken by Tunisia had to be retaken five times.
Greek sprinters Konstantinos Kenteris and Ekaterini Thanou withdraw from the games after allegedly staging a motorcycle accident in order to avoid a drug test.
The shot put event was held in ancient Olympia, site of the ancient Olympic Games (this was the very first time women athletes competed in Ancient Olympia), while the archery competition and the men's and women's marathon finish were held in the Panathenaic Stadium, in which the 1896 Games were held.[31]
Women's wrestling and women's sabre made their Olympic debut at the 2004 Games.[31]
With 6 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze medals, Greece had its best medal tally in over 100 years (since hosting the 1896 Olympics), continuing the nation's sporting success after winning Euro 2004 in July.
Australia became the first country in Olympic history to win more gold medals (17) immediately after hosting the Olympics in Sydney 2000 where they won 16 gold medals.
World record holder and strong favourite Paula Radcliffe of Britain, crashed out of the women's marathon in spectacular fashion, leaving Japan's Mizuki Noguchi to win the gold.
Kenyan runners swept the medals in the 3000 meters steeple chase.[31]
The Olympics saw Afghanistan's first return to the Games since 1996 (it was banned due to the Taliban's extremist attitudes towards women, but was reinstated in 2002).
German kayakerBirgit Fischer won gold in the K-4 500 m and silver in the K-2 500 m. In so doing, she became the first woman in any sport to win gold medals at 6 different Olympics, the first woman to win gold 24 years apart and the first person in Olympic history to win two or more medals in five different Games.
Swimmer Michael Phelps became the first athlete to win 8 medals (6 gold and 2 bronze) in non-boycotted Olympics.[31]
United States' gymnast Carly Patterson became the second American woman to win the all-around gold medal, and the first American woman to win the all-around competition at a non-boycotted Olympic Games.
Chilean Tennis players Nicolás Massu and Fernando Gonzalez won the gold medal in the Doubles Competition, while Massu won the gold and Gonzalez the bronze on the Singles competition. These were Chile's first-ever gold medals. With these victories, Massú became the thirteenth Tennis player (and the eighth male player) in history to have won the gold medal in both the Singles and Doubles Competition during the same Olympic Games. He also became the second Tennis player, and first male player, to have achieved this feat in modern Olympic Tennis (1988 onwards). The first player to do so was Venus Williams in 2000.[31]
Usain Bolt of Jamaica, in his first career Olympic Games, finished fifth in his 200m dash heat in 21.05 seconds, failing to qualify for the second round. In the years to come, he would go on to become the world's fastest man, with multiple world records in the 100m, 200m and 4 × 100 m and a medal count of over 29 global medals, including 8 Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championships gold medals.
Closing ceremony
Balloons falling at the Athens 2004 Olympics closing ceremony
The Games were concluded on 29 August 2004. The closing ceremony was held at the Athens Olympic Stadium, where the Games had been opened 16 days earlier. Around 70,000 people gathered in the stadium to watch the ceremony.
The initial part of the ceremony interspersed the performances of various Greek singers, and featured traditional Greek dance performances from various regions of Greece (Crete, Thessaly, etc.). The event was meant to highlight the pride of the Greeks in their culture and country for the world to see.
A significant part of the closing ceremony was the exchange of the Olympic flag of the Athens Games between the mayor of Athens and the mayor of Beijing, host city of the next Olympics. After the flag exchange a presentation from the Beijing delegation presented a glimpse into Chinese culture for the world to see. Beijing University students (who were at first incorrectly cited as the Twelve Girls Band) sang Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower) accompanied by a ribbon dancer, then some male dancers did a routine with tai chi and acrobatics, followed by dancers from the Peking Opera and finally, a little Chinese girl Chen Tianjia singing a reprise of Mo Li Hua and concluded the presentation by saying "Welcome to Beijing!"
The medal ceremony for the last event of the Olympics, the men's marathon, was conducted, with Stefano Baldini from Italy as the winner. The bronze medal winner, Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima of Brazil, was simultaneously announced as a recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin Medal for his bravery in finishing the race despite being attacked by a rogue spectator while leading with 7 km to go.
A flag-bearer from each nation's delegation then entered along the stage, followed by the competitors en masse on the floor. All of them were led by Pyrros Dimas (weightlifter) and Liu Xiang (hurdler).
Short speeches were presented by Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of the Organising Committee, and by President Dr. Jacques Rogge of the IOC, in which he described the Athens Olympics as "unforgettable, dream Games".[6]
Dr. Rogge had previously declared he would be breaking with tradition in his closing speech as President of the IOC and that he would never use the words of his predecessor Juan Antonio Samaranch, who used to always say 'these were the best ever games'.[6] Dr. Rogge had described Salt Lake City 2002 as "superb games" and in turn would continue after Athens 2004 and describe Turin 2006 as "truly magnificent games."
Army Maj. Zhanbo Jia from China (center) took the gold medal in the Men's 50m Three-Position Rifle, Michael Anti from the United States (left) took the Silver and Christian Planer (right) from Austria took the Bronze
These are the top ten nations that won medals in the 2004 Games.
To commemorate the 2004 Olympics, a series of Greek high value euro collectors' coins were minted by the Mint of Greece, in both silver and gold. The pieces depict landmarks in Greece as well as ancient and modern sports on the obverse of the coin. On the reverse, a common motif with the logo of the Games, circled by an olive branch representing the spirit of the Games.
Preparations to stage the Olympics led to a number of positive developments for the city's infrastructure. These improvements included the establishment of Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, a modern new international airport serving as Greece's main aviation gateway;[33] expansions to the Athens Metro[34] system; the "Tram", a new metropolitan tram (light rail) system[35] system; the "Proastiakos", a new suburban railway system linking the airport and suburban towns to the city of Athens; the "Attiki Odos", a new toll motorway encircling the city,[36] and the conversion of streets into pedestrianized walkways in the historic center of Athens which link several of the city's main tourist sites, including the Parthenon and the Panathenaic Stadium (the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896).[37][38] All of the above infrastructure is still in use to this day, and there have been continued expansions and proposals to expand Athens' metro, tram, suburban rail and motorway network, the airport, as well as further plans to pedestrianize more thoroughfares in the historic center of Athens.
The Greek Government has created a corporation, Olympic Properties SA, which is overseeing the post-Olympics management, development and conversion of these facilities, some of which will be sold off (or have already been sold off) to the private sector,[39][40] while some other facilities are still in use, or have been converted for commercial use or modified for other sports.[41]
As of 2012 many conversion schemes have stalled owing to the Greek government-debt crisis, though many of these facilities are now under the control of domestic sporting clubs and organizations or the private sector.[citation needed]
Ongoing maintenance costs for the facilities were problematic due to the Greek government-debt crisis, leading to facilities falling into disrepair, and, according to reports during the crisis period, many Greek Olympians at the time chose to train in Cyprus instead, owing to its then superior facilities.[42]
The legacy of the facilities is also debated: although many facilities had plans for post-games utilisation, many of these plans never materialised, while questions remain about whether the initially limited post-games usage of certain facilities is outweighed by the significant initial expenditure on the facilities, alongside the ongoing maintenance costs[43] (such arguments were mostly presented during the country's debt crisis, which had affected many aspects of its functions[44]).
The table below delineates the current status of the Athens Olympic facilities:
Domestic and international tennis matches, training courts open to the public and home of the Athens Tennis Academy, currently the best-kept facility in the complex[61][62]
Turned over to a private consortium (J&P AVAX, GEP, Corfu Waterparks and BIOTER). Plans to convert it to a water park never materialised,[67][68] and as of 2014 it sits abandoned.[69]
Originally planned to be part of new Hellinikon metropolitan park complex, but these plans never materialised.[70] As of 2017, abandoned, and with damaged turf.[71][72]
Currently out of use, turned over to the private sector (Seirios AE), will become marina with 1,000+ yacht capacity[74] and will be part of Athens' revitalized waterfront[75]
Concert and theater venue, it hosted Helena Paparizou's concert on 13 August 2005 to celebrate the first anniversary of the Olympic Games.[78] Plans to turn it into an ultra-modern outdoor theatre never materialised, and as of 2024, the facility stands abandoned and vandalised.[60][79]
After 2004, was the home court of AEK BC (basketball) before the team moved to the Athens Olympic Indoor Hall. Turned over to the private sector (Acropol Haragionis AE and Sonae Sierra SGPS S.A), being converted to a shopping mall and retail/entertainment complex.[83]
Has hosted fencing competitions in the years following the Olympics,[60] but has recently been turned over to the University of Piraeus for use as an academic lecture and conference center.[77][91]
One of only three FISA-approved training centers in the world, the others being in Munich and Seville.[74] Hosts mainly domestic rowing and canoeing meetings.[94][95] Part of the Schinias National Park, completely reconstructed by the German company Hochtief.[60]
Home pitch for Iraklis FC (football; Greek Super League)[96] and temporary home pitch for Apollon Kalamarias FC (football; Greek second division).[97] Also in use for track and field meets.[98] Hosted the 2007 Greek football All-Star Game.
Home pitch for Panahaiki FC (football; Greek third division).[100] Also used for various track-and-field events, concerts, conventions, and friendly matches of the Greece National Football Team.[60]
Home pitch for OFI FC[101][102] and Ergotelis FC (football; Greek Super League).[102][103] Hosted the 2005 Greek football All-Star game. Also home to various track-and-field meets.[60]
Site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. One of Athens' major tourist attractions, also used for occasional sporting and concert events.[104][105][106][107]
Half of it (the section fronting Kifissias Avenue) has been turned over to the private company Lambda Development SA and has been converted to a luxury shopping, retail, office and entertainment complex known as the "Golden Hall."[109] The remaining section, facing the Olympic Stadium itself, will become home to the Hellenic Olympic Museum and the International Museum of Classical Athletics.[60][77][110]
Olympic Athletes' Village
Housing
2,292 apartments were sold to low-income individuals and today the village is home to over 8,000 residents.[60] Several communal installations however are abandoned and heavily vandalised. Only half of the apartments were ever sold, and significantly fewer schools ended up being built than initially promised, thereby resulting in residents facing significant journeys to take their children to schools. Most of the shops to serve the village's residents closed within months of the Olympics finishing, and concerns were raised over sewage, damp and building material quality.[111]
Olympic Press Village
Housing
It has been turned over to the private sector and namely Lamda Developments S.A. (the same company which owns and runs the Mall of Athens and the Golden Hall), and has been converted to luxury flats.
Arguments about possible effects on Greece's debt crisis
There have been arguments (mostly in popular media) that the cost of the 2004 Athens Summer Games was a contributor to the Greek government-debt crisis that started in 2010, while a lot of focus has been on the use of the facilities after the Games.[112][failed verification] This argument contradicts the fact that Greece's Debt to GDP ratio was essentially not affected until the 2008 world financial crisis,[113] while according to Olympic officials and some financial experts, the cost of the Games, which was spread over years of preparation, was insignificant compared to Greece's GDP and public debt.[114]
Furthermore, the aforementioned arguments do not even take into account the profits (direct and indirect) generated by the Games, which may well have surpassed the above costs. Finally, popular arguments about "rotting" of many of the facilities, appear to ignore the actual utilization of many of these structures. On the other hand, the general government's deficit increase between 2000 and 2004 from 4.1% to 8.8% was a result of multiple factors and, until 2008, the effect of Greece's chronic - and widely fluctuating - deficits was counterbalanced by high GDP growth rates, leaving the Debt to GDP ratio essentially unaffected - see chart).
^The 2004 Olympic Games emblem is a wreath made from an olive tree branch, or kotinos. The emblem is a reference to the ancient Olympic Games, where the kotinos was the official award of Olympic champions. In addition, the olive was the sacred tree of Athens. The colours of the emblem symbolise the shades of white and blue found in the Greek countryside; Down below the word "ATHENS 2004" was put above the Olympic ring.
^The national teams of North Korea and South Korea competed separately in the Olympic events, even though they marched together as a unified Korean team in the opening ceremony. Later, in Beijing, the two Koreas marched separately. In Pyeongchang, these countries marched and competed together as host, bearing the name United Korean.
^Figures in table reflect all official changes in medal standings.
^Rowbottom, Mike (6 September 1997). "Athens wins 2004 Olympics". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
^"Madonna.com > Home". Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"event details". Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Amber Liu劉逸雲Amber Liu pada acara Style Icon Asia 2016Nama Tionghoa劉逸雲Nama Tionghoa劉逸雲 (Tradisional)Nama Tionghoa刘逸云 (Sederhana)PinyinLiú Yìyún (Mandarin)JyutpingLau4 Jat6 Wan4 (Kanton)Nama LahirAmber Josephine LiuLahir18 September 1992 (umur 31)Los Angeles, California, Amerika SerikatNama Lain엠버 (Amber)Pekerjaan Penyanyi-penulis lagu rapper penari Genre K-pop InstrumenVokalrappinggitardrumLabel S.M. Entertainment Situs webamber.smtown.com Amber Liu Hanzi tr...
هذه المقالة عن التطور في علم الأحياء. لمعانٍ أخرى، طالع تطور (توضيح). هذه المقالة عن التطور العام وليس عن تطور الإنسان فقط. لمعانٍ أخرى، طالع تطور الإنسان. تطورمعلومات عامةصنف فرعي من عملية حيويةevolution (en) أنماط في الطبيعة يدرس بواسطة علم الوراثة العرقينظرية التطو
También conocido como ratón Lepob, el ratón ob/ob es un roedor genéticamente mutado en el que un cambio fortuito en su genética causa que no se produzca la hormona leptina[1] (del griego 'leptos', delgado), que es producida en su mayoría por los células grasas, aunque también se expresa en el hipotálamo, los ovarios y la placenta. La mutación es recesiva autosomal y se encuentra en el cromosoma 6.[2] El ratón ob/ob es extremadamente obeso y tiene muchos de los defecto...
Not to be confused with Columbus North High School. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: North High School Columbus, Ohio – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Public high school in Columbus, Ohio, United StatesColumbus ...
Islamic and pan-Arabist armed organization in Iraq This article is missing information about the group from after 2015. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (January 2018) Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Orderجيش رجال الطريقة النقشبنديةThe emblem of the JRTN.Parenthesised text reads A Victory from Allah and an Imminent Conquest. Bottom text reads Army of The Naqshibandi WayLeadersIzzat Ibrahim al-Douri...
Jürgen Klinsmann Informasi pribadiNama lengkap Jürgen KlinsmannTanggal lahir 30 Juli 1964Tempat lahir Göppingen, JermanTinggi 184 m (603 ft 8 in)Posisi bermain PenyerangKarier junior1972–1974 TB Gingen1974–1978 SC Geislingen1978–1981 Stuttgarter KickersKarier senior*Tahun Tim Tampil (Gol)1981–1984 Stuttgarter Kickers 61 (22)1984–1989 VfB Stuttgart 156 (79)1989–1992 Inter Milan 95 (34)1992–1994 Monaco 65 (29)1994–1995 Tottenham Hotspur 41 (20)1995–1997 Bayer...
Wikisumber memiliki naskah asli yang berkaitan dengan artikel ini: Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Peraturan Pemerintah (disingkat PP) adalah Peraturan Perundang-undangan di Indonesia yang ditetapkan oleh Presiden Republik Indonesia pada tingkat pusat sedangkan di tingkat wilayah dan daerah ditentukan oleh eksekutif untuk menjalankan peraturan dan Undang Undang sebagaimana mestinya untuk dijadikan pondasi landasan pedoman dasar. Materi muatan Peraturan Pemerintah adalah materi untuk m...
Hieronymus Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights, lukisan minyak pada panel kayu ek, 2.055 cm × 3.849 cm (809 in × 1.515 in), Museo del Prado, Madrid Taman Kenikmatan Duniawi adalah judul modern dari lukisan minyak triptych pada panel kayu ek yang dilukis oleh pelukis Belanda Awal, Hieronymus Bosch, antara 1490 dan 1510, ketika Bosch berusia antara 40 dan 60 tahun. Lukisan ini disimpan di Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spanyol sejak 1939. Karena sedikit yang diketahu...
Lester MatthewsMatthews dalam Werewolf of London (1935)LahirArthur Lester Matthews(1900-06-06)6 Juni 1900Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, InggrisMeninggal5 Juni 1975(1975-06-05) (umur 74)Los Angeles, California, Amerika SerikatPekerjaanPemeranTahun aktif1931–1974Suami/istriFrances WalperAnne Grey (1931–1938) (bercerai) Arthur Lester Matthews (6 Juni 1900 – 5 Juni 1975) adalah seorang pemeran Inggris kelahiran Nottingham. Sepanjang karirnya, ia tampil lebih dari 180 f...
Київський стоматологічний інститут — інститут, що діяв у Києві в 1931–1955 роках. 1955 року реорганізований у факультет Київського медичного інституту. Історія У 1931 році стоматологічний факультет Київського медичного інституту було перетворено у самостійний інститут, яки
Emmanuel des EssartsInformación personalNombre de nacimiento Emmanuel Alfred Langlois des Essarts Nacimiento 5 de febrero de 1839 París (Francia) Fallecimiento 17 de octubre de 1909 (70 años)Lempdes-sur-Allagnon (Francia) Sepultura Lempdes-sur-Allagnon Nacionalidad FrancesaFamiliaPadre Alfred Des Essarts EducaciónEducado en Escuela Normal Superior de París Información profesionalOcupación Poeta, escritor y profesor universitario Cargos ocupados Mayor's adjunct de Clermont-Ferrand Miemb...
2001 novel by Yann Martel This article is about the novel by Yann Martel. For the film adaptation, see Life of Pi (film). For the theatrical adaptation, see Life of Pi (play). Life of Pi Life of Pi coverAuthorYann MartelOriginal titleLife of PiCountryCanadaLanguageEnglishGenreAdventure fictionPublisherKnopf CanadaPublication date11 September 2001ISBN0-676-97376-0 (first edition, hardcover)OCLC46624335Preceded bySelf Followed byBeatrice and Virgil Life of Pi is a Cana...
Main protagonist in the first four seasons of 'Fear the Walking Dead Fictional character Madison ClarkFear the Walking Dead characterKim Dickens as Madison ClarkFirst appearancePilot (2015)Last appearanceThe Road Ahead (2023)Created byRobert KirkmanDave EricksonPortrayed byKim DickensIn-universe informationAliasLarkOccupation Bartender Guidance Counselor Leader of the Rosarito Beach Hotel Second-in-Command of the Broke Jaw Ranch Militia Leader of the Dell Diamond Baseball Stadium community Sp...
Peter Del VechoPeter Del Vecho (kiri), Jennifer Lee (tengah), dan Chris Buck (kanan) di penayangan perdana film Frozen pada 19 November 2013.Lahir5 April 1958 (umur 65)Quincy, Massachusetts, Amerika SerikatAlmamaterUniversitas BostonPekerjaanProduser filmDikenal atasFrozen, Winnie the Pooh, The Princess and the Frog, Treasure PlanetSuami/istriJane Del VechoAnak2 Peter Del Vecho, p.g.a. adalah seorang produser film di Walt Disney Animation Studios. Ia dikenal karena memenangkan Penghargaa...
Голова Служби безпеки України Штандарт Голови СБУ Посаду обіймаєВасиль Малюквід 18 липня 2022 — по 7 лютого 2023 т.в.о.з 7 лютого 2023 голова[1]Абревіатура Голова СБУЧлен РНБОУПідзвітний Президенту та Верховній РадіМісце м. КиївПризначає Верховна Рада Україниза поданн...
Cimetière d'OuluLe cimetière.Pays FinlandeCommune OuluMise en service 1781Patrimonialité Site culturel construit d'intérêt national en Finlande (d)Coordonnées 65° 01′ N, 25° 29′ EIdentifiantsSite web (fi) www.oulunseurakunnat.fi/oulun-hautausmaaFind a Grave 2185487modifier - modifier le code - modifier Wikidata Le cimetière d'Oulu (en finnois : Oulun hautausmaa) est situé à dans le quartier de Intiö à Oulu en Finlande. Présentation Le cimetière...
TeraGridType of siteScientific supportAvailable inEnglishURLwww.teragrid.orgCommercialNoLaunched2004 TeraGrid was an e-Science grid computing infrastructure combining resources at eleven partner sites. The project started in 2001 and operated from 2004 through 2011. The TeraGrid integrated high-performance computers, data resources and tools, and experimental facilities. Resources included more than a petaflops of computing capability and more than 30 petabytes of online and archival dat...
Place on Wawel Hill, Kraków, Poland This article may present fringe theories, without giving appropriate weight to the mainstream view and explaining the responses to the fringe theories. Please help improve it or discuss the issue on the talk page. (September 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Renaissance courtyard of Wawel Castle. The Chakra - near left corner. The Wawel Chakra (Polish: czakram wawelski) - a place on Wawel hill in Kraków in Poland which is believed...
Former island of England Looking towards the Isle of Oxney Isle of Oxney is an area in Kent, England, close to the boundary with East Sussex. Up to the 13th century, the island was part of the coastline bordering what is now the Romney Marsh.[1] As that silted up, and until the later 17th century, the River Rother which enters the sea beyond Rye and flowed across Kent in a west–east direction, was in a channel to the north of the island. By the late 17th century, the river had chang...
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