As government chiefs review all financial aspects of staging the Games, it now seems certain the event will overrun the original $5.6bn budget.
Said Greek finance minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis: “We will impose fiscal discipline but, I repeat, we will not derail the priority which our country has for Olympic Games.”
It is just the latest headache for the local organisers. Construction on many of the facilities are behind schedule – a situation not improved by national strike action last month which saw all work grind to a halt as one of the largest unions called its members out in protest over pay.
The new Greek government is bracing itself for a Olympic budget overspill – and has committed itself to picking up the extra costs.
