Athens Isn’t Quite That Desperate Yet

I take exception with Mike Hiserman’s comment in the June 13 Morning Briefing that the Athens 2004 organizers must be desperate to allow those who have not fulfilled the required mandatory military service to serve as volunteers in the Athens Games.

Over 85,000 applications have already been filed, and it is projected that they will surpass the 100,000 mark and representatives of the Organizing Committee will be traveling to the USA and elsewhere to interview the applicants, before a final selection is made.

The measure that you mentioned is offered periodically, with the support of all political parties, allowing those individuals living abroad to visit their families in Greece for a short period of time, usually one-two months.

Theodossis Demetracopoulos

Greek Embassy, Los Angeles