Athenians say Olympics improves living conditions

One week after the closing ceremonyof the Olympic Games the majority of Athenians feel happy, saying the games were worthy of their sacrifices and stressing that the benefits will be long-term and will improve their living conditions, according to a poll published on September 4.

The survey, in the daily Ta Nea, found that 82 percent of those interviewed say the Athens Games were worthy of the hardships and sacrifices they endured in recent years, while 54 percent believe that living conditions will improve in the Greek capital after the games.

No margin of error was given in the Global Link poll conducted from August 30 to 31. It involved phone interviews with 400 people over the age of 18.

Aside from the venues that were built for the Summer Games, the government also constructed a suburban railway system linking the capital with its international airport, and a tram network that links the center of Athens with several seaside suburbs. New roads were also constructed, while new stations were built for the subway, which now also has a link with the airport.

The government is also considering a plan to maintain the 24-hour operation of the tram and other public transport. According to the poll, 74 percent of those polled support the idea.

Saturday's poll also found 61 percent of Athenians believe that the Olympics will help the country in the long term, while 27 percent say that the cost will be far greater from any benefits.

The government has not given a final figure for the cost of the Athens Games, but officials have noted that the overall price tag is expected to exceed the massive security and overruns on delayed construction projects.

Athens spent more than security, or four times more than Sydney spent in 2000. Of that, images and audio from an electronic web of over 1,000 high-resolution and infrared cameras, 12 patrol boats, 4,000 vehicles, nine helicopters, a sensor-laden blimp and four mobile command centers.

The poll found that most Athenians were pleased with the security of the games, with 70 percent saying that it was tolerable and with no exaggerations. Only 21 percent of those polled found the measures as excessive.