Greece's Olympic Problems Now Blowing in the Wind

Seasonally high winds in Greece tossed rowers competing at the world junior championships into the water this week putting a stop to the event and raising concerns that the same could happen at next year's Olympic Games.

Rowers at the Schinias Olympic rowing complex, half an hour out of Athens, were thrown into the water on Wednesday from the waves stirred up by 51km-per-hour (32 miles) wind gusts, known locally as meltemia. Organizers had to cancel the event Wednesday and Thursday and faced criticism that the winds could not only affect world record hopes, but create additional havoc when Athens hosts the Olympic Games next August.

"High winds could disrupt much else in August 2004," wrote one commentator in Kathimerini, a national daily. "Tourists trying to get from nearby islands to events could have their boats cancelled due to rough seas … Runners may have world records disallowed."

Olympic rules state that if wind speeds exceed 2 meters per second during a record-breaking performance, then that performance doesn't count as a record. One official told Reuters that such a case would "seriously, very seriously affect the Games."

Games organizers rushed to defend the debacle, saying that this week's meltemia were an exception, not the norm. They said a study showed that over the past 11 years, such gusty conditions had only come up during eight of the 339 days.

The winds start shortly before sunrise, and continue throughout the day until sunset, cooling off a country that has baked through the summer months.

Officials failed to take winds into account

Following the problems this week, organizers mulled planting rows of trees to protect the lake. They cancelled those plans after discovering that the rows would only protect the outer lanes. A roof is also being discussed, but nothing has been confirmed.

Critics have been quick to denounce the fix-as-you-go planning philosophy of the committee.

"Everything seems to point to the fact that competent officials at all levels failed to take the summer winds into account," read a Kathimerini editorial.

Many observers say this week's events, the second of 40 test events leading up to the games, are symbolic of the country's greater problems in preparing for next year's games.

Symbol of greater problems

Building on most event locations remains in the early stages, if it has been started at all. Last-minute money problems have forced the size of some locations to be reduced and questions remain on where the hotel-poor city will house the millions of visitors expected. The International Olympic Committee, after hesitating in recent years has proclaimed the Athens Games on track and optimism has begun to surge.

Even the rowers at this week's events dismissed concerns over a repetition of the wind problems come this time next year.

"The general test for Syndey 2000 back then also ran into problems and everyone predicted a horror scenario," Michael Müller, the logistics man for the German rowing team told the Berliner Zeitung. "The wind exists. You just have to accept it. We have to adjust to the adversities."