What role does the fate of the symbolic Olympic sites play in its international image?
Dr. Hadjiemmanuil: Before the Olympics, Athens lacked large-scale, publicly accessible facilities. I am not necessarily talking about free-access facilities, but about facilities where big public events can be hosted. Athens is one of Europe’s great metropolises; it ranks with a handful of similarly-sized cities, coming just below the great urban centres of London and Paris. However, the city lacks open spaces and the possibility of easy expansion, as it is surrounded by mountains and contains very few greenfield or brownfield sites. It is therefore difficult to build facilities proportionate to the size of the city and up to the standards of 21st century cultural, sporting, recreational and tourist needs. The great thing about Hellenic Olympic Properties is that its core portfolio includes the majority of properties of this scale in Athens and Attica. It comprises very large-scale athletic and non-athletic properties, which, regardless of their Olympic origins, offer a unique opportun
