Athens Seeks to Land the Centennial Olympics

With Barcelona out of the way and Paris seen as a reduced threat, Athens is planning, debating and lobbying for its “basic right” to stage the centennial Olympics in 1996.

Choked by traffic and lacking many facilities, the Greek capital has huge logistical problems as well as political and philosophical dilemmas to overcome in organizing the event, first held in 776 B.C. in ancient Olympia and revived here in 1896.

“As Greeks, we believe that holding the 100th anniversary Olympics is our significant, basic right,” Lambis Nikolaou, president of the Greek Olympic Committee, said.

But the Socialist government faces a political quandry: How to keep commercialization from infringing too deeply on the Games, which officials estimate will cost $3 billion.

“Investment is a necessity, but it’s a question of how you do the investment. We would like to see less interference by commercial interests,” said a senior government sports official involved in planning for 1996.

Greek officials say the 1984 Los Angeles Games, which turned a profit of almost $250 million, were “led by the heavy, private investors,” and that contributed to a boycott by the Soviet Union and other East-bloc countries.

The Greek government’s anger over sponsorship o the 1984 Olympic torch relay across America to raise money for charity, forced cancellation of the traditional run from Olympia to Athens.

“It’s not a matter of avoiding or just saying no to investors, it’s a matter of control,” said the sports official, who declined to be identified. “That may mean telling an investor he can’t put his name or sign on a stadium.”

Money from government coffers and state-run gambling would make up the difference if potential sponsors are turned away or turned off.

The 100th anniversary has made Athens the frontrunner for 1996. The choices for the 1992 Summer and Winter Games also helped.

Barcelona, home of International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch, made three unsuccessful bids before being chosen last month as the ’92 summer host.

The Winter Games went to the French alpine town of Albertville. Paris, where French Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1892 called for the Olympic Games’ revival, bid unsuccessfully for the 1992 Summer Games and is expected to bid against Athens, along with Belgrade and possibly Toronto.

Greek officials hope the Winter Games in Albertville will take some of the strength away from Paris when the IOC selects the centennial host at its meeting in Tokyo in October 1990.

The Greek Olympic Committee already is circulating a brochure publicizing its claim, and Nikolaou, who is also an IOC member, has lobbied Samaranch for the Games.