Diary from Athens - The Acropolis Will Have To Wait!

Jan Mansfield

I had today’s diary submission all written – riveting editorial about life in the media village, security, etc., which I was going to e-mail in to Kerri McGregor at EquestrianConnection.com and then go off and see some of the sites on a rare slow day at Markopoulo Equestrian Centre.  And then yesterday happened! You can read all the details about the eventing Medals dust-up in the various articles on this site.  The story will probably keep unfolding in the days to come, I am sure.

And then there was that column in the National Post by Barbara Kay, which was less than flattering to our sport.  Our team leader Mike Gallagher hadn’t seen it, and I could almost feel the steam rising through the phone line as I read it to him and asked him for his reaction.  My article is on the front page of this website.

Dressage competition begins tomorrow.  Earlier this week I ran in to Ashley Holzer who was taking the opportunity to watch the eventers compete before she starts competing in her second Olympics.  She was a member of the 1988 Bronze Medal Team in Seoul, Korea.  She said that everything is going perfectly, with the horses doing well.  She said they were actually were fresh when they arrived in Athens.

Security is taken very seriously at the entrance to the media villages where people, possessions and vehicles are checked continuously and thoroughly.

Ashley had high praise for everything she has seen at the Olympics so far - the venue, the organization and all the volunteers and support staff, as well as the security arrangements.  She said that she did have some concerns about coming to Athens as far as safety goes, but has absolutely no concerns now.  She said the security has been made very user friendly.

That is my experience also.  I am staying at one of five media villages, Ag Andreas, on the coast outside of Athens.  Army personnel and police are very much in evidence as we enter or leave the compound, which is totally fenced with barbed wire in some places.  I can see army personnel patrolling the perimeter of the village.  And I do believe those guns and rifles are real!  Having said that, the security is unobtrusive wherever you go, whether in a venue or in downtown Athens.  I suspect a lot of the security personnel are blending in with the general public.  Athens is spending 1.2 billion euros (1.4 billion dollars) on guarding the Games, making it the biggest security bill in Olympic history.
 
Accreditation is scrutinized very carefully, and if you aren’t supposed to go somewhere, you just are not going to get in.  An example:  On cross country day a couple of days ago the media had to leave the media centre and enter the course from across the parking lot.  There was an entry for the general public (with scanners, etc, as there is at all entry points) and then one for the media and one for the “Olympic Family” (the “important” people!) just beside it.  There was a long lineup at the media entrance and no one going through the Olympic Family entrance.  So I nipped over to the other entrance.  When they said I couldn’t enter there and I tried to convince them otherwise, I was immediately faced with a wall of assorted security personnel, with the aforementioned not-fake guns.  I thought it best to slink back over to the media entrance!  And I’m sure it was only my imagination that the security helicopter hovering overhead was spending a lot of time directly over me!

One of the highways around Athens where a specific lane has been reserved for Olympic transportation vehicles. The blue line on the road indicates the route the marathoners will be taking on Sunday.

A word about one of the photos I have sent today, which shows the special lane on the highway reserved for Olympic transport. Since they came into use on August 1, 51 drivers of accredited vehicles have been fined for speeding, and 811 Athenians have been caught driving inside the lanes without authorization.  These lanes have made a big difference in us being able to get around.

But now, because I really do want to see the Acropolis, this will have to do for today.  More in the coming days about the venues and the really wonderful Greek volunteers who can’t do enough to help.  And of course, bright and early beginning tomorrow morning, I will be giving you the news from the dressage ring.

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Equestrian journalist Jan Mansfield is attending the Olympics under accreditation from Gaitpost Magazine.  Known for her ability to find interesting behind-the-scenes stories, Jan brings extensive knowledge and insight into covering the equestrian events. Jan will also be sending stories and photos from other venues in Athens as she works on her assignments with various mainstream publications. Jan can be reached at januscom@shaw.ca